Plastic, an integral part of our daily lives, poses a growing threat to our planet. Microplastic pollution spans from the deepest oceans to the highest peaks, infiltrating our food, water, and air. The urgency to address this issue is evident, with 80% of adults found to carry PET plastic and polystyrene microparticles in their bloodstream. The United Nations issues a stark warning: plastic pollution is ecologically and health-wise out of control. Here we delve into actionable steps for businesses to lead the charge with strategies for plastic neutrality and against plastic pollution.
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The Current Landscape
Between 1950 and 2017, the world produced a staggering 9.2 billion tonnes of plastic, with 7 billion tonnes turning into waste. In the UK alone, over 5 million tonnes of plastic are consumed annually, but only 25% is recycled. The repercussions are felt globally, with marine life and ecosystems bearing the brunt of our plastic excess.
Reducing Plastic Pollution: A Business Imperative
To combat this crisis, businesses must proactively reduce their plastic footprint. The goal is clear: a complete transition away from unnecessary single-use plastics, embracing sustainable alternatives, and using easily recyclable materials like PET, HDPE, LDPE, and PP.
Strategies for Businesses
Transitioning Away from Single-Use Plastics
Identify and eliminate unnecessary single-use plastics in your business.
Collaborate with suppliers to adopt sustainable alternatives.
Measure, Reduce, Mitigate: The Plastic Neutral Approach
Measure: Conduct a thorough plastics audit, focusing on weight and type.
Reduce: Develop a plan to reduce plastic usage, prioritizing high-volume items.
Mitigate: Offset unavoidable plastic usage through investments in initiatives tackling plastic pollution.
Circular Economy and Recycling
Embrace a circular economy model to maximize resource usage.
Advocate for initiatives like Smol's packaging return system, promoting recycling and reuse. Rinse and Return (smolproducts.com)
Education and Employee Engagement
Segregate recyclables on-site and educate employees on proper waste management.
Encourage participation in plastic reduction initiatives.
The Path to Plastic Neutrality
Step 1: Measure
Conduct a comprehensive plastics audit, identifying single-use items and assessing their impact. Measure plastic usage by weight and type, distinguishing items destined for waste and those handled by end-users.
Step 2: Reduce
Develop a strategic plan to reduce plastic usage. Prioritize the elimination of unnecessary single-use plastics. Collaborate with suppliers to incorporate sustainable alternatives and transition to easily recyclable materials.
Step 3: Mitigate
Offset unavoidable plastic usage by investing in initiatives combating plastic pollution. Similar to carbon offsetting, this strategy aligns with the goal of achieving "plastic neutrality." Focus on reducing the plastic footprint first, considering offsetting as a complementary measure.
Step 4: Reuse and Recycle
Embrace a circular economy model, ensuring resources are maximized through reuse and recycling. Support schemes like Smol's packaging return system, promoting the return, cleaning, recycling, and reuse of containers.
Conclusion
Becoming plastic neutral is not just a choice; it's an imperative for businesses committed to environmental stewardship. By measuring, reducing, mitigating, and embracing circular economy principles, companies can lead the way towards a sustainable future, free from the shackles of plastic pollution.
Carbon Literacy Training
Carbon Literacy Training is a great way to start your journey towards carbon net zero. It is a way to engage you staff and encourage then to help you identify ways to reduce your carbon emissions and very often reduce your business expenses.
To find out more about Carbon Literacy Training click here: Carbon Literacy Training
Special Offer to Businesses
We are keen to help as many people as possible become Carbon Literate. To make this financially viable for the businesses we will consider accepting payment for the training in the form of inventory or store gift cards. By doing this we reduce the cash expense to the business, move some inventory and we receive value for our efforts. For more information about this please contact me at ian@positivecarbonimpact.com
To find out more about Carbon Literacy Training click here: Carbon Literacy Training
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