A CIRCULAR PLASTIC ECONOMY
06 June 2019
By Beth Greenwood, Account Manager
In recent years you may have seen many manufacturers and distributors of plastic products, like Manupackaging, pledging their allegiance to the creation of a circular plastic economy. But what exactly does this mean, and how can you get involved?
A circular economy is ‘based on the principles of designing out waste and pollution, keeping products and materials in use, and regenerating natural systems’1; a recuperative and renewing closed-loop system encouraging us to break the traditional take-make-waste business mindset by choosing renewable and reusable options. This involves keeping the value of plastics within the economy while simultaneously preventing plastic waste leaking into our environment.
Despite previous efforts to reduce the amount of plastic waste, like identifying recyclable products through the introduction of the green recycling symbol (the 'mobius loop') in 19702, only an estimated 14% of plastic products globally are collected for recycling leading to a loss of $80-120 billion per annum.3 The cost to our environment is even worse, with plastic waste believed to cause up tpp £33,000 per tonne of reduced environmental value with its destruction of natural habitats and marine life. 4
Companies committing to national and international initiatives aimed at producing a circular economy are developing more environmentally friendly plastic options, as well as re-granulating plastic waste. You can help achieve these goals by mindfully consuming plastic warehouse packaging and encourage the recycling of plastic products in your day-to-day business operations.
Manupackaging are constantly developing films to be more refined and sustainable than ever and working with every customer to achieve reduced plastic consumption. Our STATS auditing scheme for one, can propose positive changes to existing systems such as moving to lower and more efficient film thicknesses (where possible) or maintaining wrapping machine integrity through checking the right settings are used. We are also promoting using products from our environmentally friendly Manunature® range, which includes bio-based, biodegradable and recycled content inclusive options.
Call our Sales Team on 01225 812200 today to see how we can help you reduce your plastic consumption.
Manupackaging – Where we have A Natural Passion for Protection
* The views and opinions expressed within this article are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those of Manupackaging.
[1] The Ellen MacArthur Foundation, What Is The Circular Economy?, https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/circular-economy/what-is-the-circular-economy
[2] Jones, P., and Powell, J., Gary Anderson Has Been Found!, Resource Recycling: North America's Recycling and Composting Journal(Sacramento: Resource Conservation Consultants, 1999), pp.1-2 https://logoblink.com/img/2008/03/recycling_symbol_garyanderson.pdf
[3] De Smet, M., Gravis, L., and Churchill-Slough, S., The New Plastics Economy: Rethinking The Future of Plastics and Catalysing Action (Barcelona: GAM Digital, 201