Strategic Management and Sustainability #30
To prevent ocean pollution, avoid single-use plastics
Good morning,
Today we present different initiatives that can help to mitigate the plastic issue.
The use of plastic and how it ends on the oceans was already featured in Strategic Management and sustainability #17. The single-use plastic problem was also addressed in several of our newsletters too.
In the current newsletter Álvaro Mohedano Esparza shows some alternatives for the progressive elimination of single-use plastics.
Hayal Guloglu tells us about which country has banned its use. While governments continue to debate the issues of single-use plastics, some countries are leading the way and this type of unsustainable plastic will no longer be used in them.
Finally, Michele Piamontese explains the collaboration between Adidas and Parley for the Ocean to produce one of the most iconic Real Madrid kits.
Enjoy reading and Happy Christmas!
Gloria Álvarez Hernández
Today's newsletter is 871 words, about a 3-minute read.
How can we reduce the impact of single-use plastics on ecosystems?
Álvaro Mohedano Esparza
Single-use plastic products may be synonymous with convenience, but the damage they cause, as well as the waste generated by their manufacture and distribution, make them a major threat to the environment and human health.
Open burning of plastic waste, consumption of fish and seafood contaminated by plastic waste and the emergence of harmful microplastics are just some of the reasons to phase out these disposable plastics.
In addition, eliminating plastic pollution is an important objective of the UN Decade of Ecosystem Restoration.
The recent United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report, From Pollution to Solution: A Global Assessment of Marine Litter and Pollution, shows that there is currently between 75 and 199 million tonnes of plastic debris in the ocean. Plastics are the most voluminous, harmful and persistent marine litter, accounting for at least 85% of all marine litter.
So, some of the alternatives for phasing out single-use plastics could be:
First, prioritising reusable products is not only essential for environmental health, but can also be cost-effective.
Non-woven cotton and polypropylene shopping bags are becoming more common, as are reusable and portable plastic and stainless-steel bottles, cups and tableware.
Second, moving from single-use to multi-use items.
The more any product is reused, the less environmental impact it generates. When consumers cannot avoid disposable plastics, they should mitigate their environmental impact by reusing them whenever possible instead of throwing them away immediately. For example, single-use plastic bags, bottles, cups, tableware and food packaging can be reused or re-disposed.
Finally, consumers should not bear the entire burden of reducing the impacts of disposable plastics. Guided by action by policy makers and retailers, products should be designed to be lightweight and durable to maximise reuse. Production should be sustainable, for example through the use of renewable energy and recycled materials. Sourcing locally and avoiding airfreight goods is another way to reduce the environmental impact of products throughout their life cycle.
Source:
Works, E. (2021). Cómo podemos reducir el impacto de los plásticos de un solo uso en los ecosistemas - Actualidad RETEMA. RETEMA.
No more single-use plastic allowed in England
Hayal Guloglu
Single-use plastics, which threaten nature the most, continue to be the subject of discussion by governments. This unsustainable type of plastic will no longer be used in the UK. Banned items include plastic cutlery, knives, plates, and glasses
This is just the beginning
This step taken by the UK is only seen as the beginning. The country still has not reached its full sustainability policy. For this reason, new laws to reduce plastic use are still a matter of curiosity by companies and citizens.
What do these laws mean for companies?
We know that millions of tons of plastic are used in the fast-food, beauty, and even pharmaceutical markets. Companies should review their sustainability policies if they do not want to lose the UK market. Some companies, such as Starbucks, have already taken their place on this journey by starting to use paper straws instead of single-use plastic.Let's see what awaits us in the future.
Sources:
https://ec.europa.eu/environment/topics/plastics/single-use-plastics_es
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/aug/27/single-use-plastic-plates-and-cutlery -to-be-banned-in-england
Images:
https://packagingeurope.com/eupc-calls-for-postponement-of-single-use-plastic-directive/
How Adidas prevents ocean pollution
Michele Piemontese
Ocean pollution is a serious issue that everyone, particularly many fashion companies, is concerned about and working to address.
Since 2015, Adidas has been addressing this issue in collaboration with the environmental organization Parley for the Oceans, releasing shoes and clothing made entirely of plastic ocean waste; furthermore, the sports brand is working to ensure that by 2024, all of its products will be made from recycled plastic in order to combat ocean pollution.
The third kit of Real Madrid, worn for the 2018/19 football season, is one of the most iconic products made by Adidas in collaboration with Parley, thanks to the use of recycled plastic. The shirt is coloured in various shades of coral to represent the beauty of the oceans and to make consumers understand that in order to preserve this beauty, they must be protected.
This joint initiative by the two companies is intended to raise public awareness and awareness about the issue of ocean pollution. That is why the Real Madrid shirt was chosen, as this club has the ability to spread the message far and wide.
Source:
https://www.dezeen.com/2018/08/17/real-madrid-kit-2018-ocean-plastic-adidas-parley/