Recycling alone is not enough to #BeatPlasticPollution. Creating a circular economy for plastic is critical to tackling the triple planetary crisis and improving lives for everyone, everywhere. Ahead of #WorldEnviromentday, see how you can be part of the solutions: https://lnkd.in/e7qSQkTZ
UN Environment Programme Great work. The supply chains approach to plastics and other materials wastes management seems to be quite appropriate. Our production and consumption systems are interlinked in the form of supply and value chains. And we not only have plastic products but plastics are also in the products like package and parts. For charting out an effective supply chain based plastics management strategy the following steps may be taken: Identify and engage the stakeholders, Map the particular supply chain to identify plastics inputs and waste generation process and volumes at each node, check for change (4or5 Rs) and analyze the outcomes. Calculate improvements to develop a business case alongside environmental case for moving towards sustainable supply chains.
But in the process, we often ignore the capability of recycled plastics to create microplastics pollution when used in clothing and other daily used products. What we should look forward is to create sustainbale- pollution free future for existing plastic products.
Sorry folks but I disagree a 100%. A really circular economy is trying to avoid hazardous plastic as much as possible. And there isn't any plastic recycling just Greenwashing. First of all we have a few thousand types of plastic and a lot of it is extremely harmful to nature. And every product in a plastic container will be contaminated by it and will also contaminate the plastic container itself. So every recycled plastic container will be cross contaminated. Jane MunckeFood Packaging Forumhttps://greenuniverse.ch/plastikfrei/
Two articles to add to this conversation as they bring important points about plastic usage, reclycling and waste management: NYT article written by the Ocean Cleanup founder defending the need to have better strategy to plastic waste management as the usage of plastic is predicted to increase over the next decades and a The Gardian’s scientific-based article showing the dangerous of recycled plastic being used for food packaging. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/25/opinion/river-plastic-ocean.html https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/27/recycled-reused-food-plastic-toxins-study
UN Environment Programme my friend Polina Vyniavska has written her Bachelor Thesis about Bacteria which can create a bio plastic from Co2 and Electricity + a nutrient. Why are we not replacing all plastics with Co2 storing bio plastics that will decompose or can be decomposed, or with carbonauten polymers - they have polymers made from old furniture/ wood waste from which we could make car cockpits and cutlery…
We seriously World around plastic ban in India . Thanks to leadership. But eventually it is reversed as I see as a common man. We have good data of accomplishment . But, need to join hands in making it a sustainable practice in supply chain. I see consumers demanding for plastic bags in the market leading to sellers embracing the re usage of plastic bags, plastic containers etc. let's come together reinforce the ban of plastic products ...
We can each individually help and #refuseplastic to begin with. Companies could help by using #reusables instead of #singleuseplastics for packaging, beverage containers, and other items. I also just read about a study that found dangerous chemicals in recycled plastics. I think we need to reduce plastic production and seriously reconsider how recycled plastics are used in products.
I love that you are now massively campaigning against plastic pollution, but you never answer me when I write under these posts, please answer: Plastic pollution is only ONE aspect of global warming, why are you posting about phasing out plastics, but never about the other big issues: 100 companies are responsible for 70% of emissions, what should we do about that? Fossil fuels are the huge issue as well, what should we do about it? And building is a huge problem, why are you not propagating to phase out concrete, there are a lot of climate positive materials that we can build with, which STORE carbon instead of causing emissions. BEST, Julia
Monica Kolopen Ishmael Hinae Timothy MAROME Jay Jerry Some good ideas 💡
Director and Consultant at Enviro Solutions Ltd
11moThe problem is we can never keep plastics in the loop forever. The macromolecule is not all that stable and continuously shedding smaller chains of molecules...micro plastics. The only answer is to stop producing most of it.