Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues as the booming production of disposable plastic products overwhelms the world’s ability to deal with them.
Many of these plastic products produced, such as plastic bags and candy wrappers, have a lifespan of mere minutes to hours, yet they may remain in the environment for hundreds of years.
The environment plays a crucial role in the sustainability of life on Earth and all living things depend on the resources the planet provides in order to survive. One of those resources is the ocean. Scientists estimate that 50-80% of the oxygen production on Earth comes from the ocean.
About eight million tons of plastic enters our oceans each year, having a devastating impact on the marine environment.
Millions of animals are killed by plastics every year, from birds to fish. In most cases, the animals are killed by entanglement or starvation due to the plastic pollution. Either these animals get caught and tangled up in plastic products like discarded six-pack rings and are strangled to death or they are mistaking the plastic products for food. When animals ingest plastic, they are unable to digest it and end up dying of starvation.
The first thing that is needed is to cut off the supply of plastic entering our oceans. What we do in the developed world is important.
Becoming plastic neutral is the most effective way you can help stop plastic entering the oceans. Plastic neutrality is the concept of measuring, reducing, and offsetting a company’s plastic footprint. A plastic footprint is a certain weight of plastic in kilograms that is used every year. Being plastic neutral means that for every amount of plastic produced, an equivalent of plastic waste is recovered and removed from the environment by an individual or company through recycling and waste management efforts. This means that for every purchase of a product from that individual or company will have a net-zero plastic footprint. Keep in mind, being plastic neutral is not the same as being plastic free which implies that a company doesn’t use any plastic at all in its business operations.
As companies around the world aim to boost their credentials in regards to helping the environment, more consumer goods groups continue to undertake pledges on recycling plastic.
Evian, Danone’s popular mineral water brand, has made the pledge to go plastic neutral. Danone is the world’s third-largest bottled water company. The company offers a uniquely sourced spring water that is refreshing and naturally hydrating, with nothing added for taste, so you can reach your natural peak.
The French company has made the pledge to only produce bottles which are 100 percent recycled by 2025. Compared to the present bottles of Evian, which make up only 25 percent of recycled material.
Not only does Evian state they are going plastic free, but carbon neutral as well. The company recently introduced their new zero-carbon bottling plant, the first action for change in the business. Evian became certified as carbon neutral by measuring and reducing their carbon emissions at each stage of the bottle’s life cycle, from the materials used, to production, transportation and recycling. The remaining emissions of carbon are then offset through the company’s work with Livelihood Funds, in which it has planted more than 130 million trees.
Last year, Evian was globally certified as carbon neutral by Carbon Trust. Carbon Trust’s mission is to accelerate the delivery of a sustainable, low carbon economy by helping businesses worldwide to reduce carbon emissions and increase resource efficiency.
Nestlé Waters has announced its collaboration with the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS), a global member collaboration of businesses committed to local water resources through the adoption and promotion of a universal framework for the sustainable use of water.
Nestlé has made their commitment that 100 percent of their packaging will be recyclable or reusable by 2025. Compared to their current plastic packaging being made up of only 62 percent recyclable or reusable materials.
The company is working with different packaging concepts to shape a waste-free future.
Being the world’s largest food and beverage company, such system-wide change takes time but Nestlé is committed to achieving these aims and to creating a world without waste.
Nature’s Logic is an all-natural pet food brand and has become the first certified plastic neutral brand within the pet food market. Nature’s Logic has also become the first pet food to contain 100 percent natural ingredients, sourcing all of the nutrition from whole foods.
The brand manufactures dry, wet and lightly cooked frozen cat and dog foods, baked dog treats, freeze-dried cat treats and raw dog formulas. Nature’s logic even makes supplements for dogs and cats as well as all-natural and biodegradable cat litter.
CEO David Yaskulka, shows his devotion to growing the business in an environmentally and socially responsible direction by going plastic neutral and the use of renewable energy to create the product.
The company is a part of the Pet Sustainability Coalition, a nonprofit organization that accelerates sustainability in the pet industry as well as sponsors initiatives like the Free The Ocean in order to help the removal of plastic from the oceans.
Plastic neutrality is what helped separate Nature’s Logic from its competitor brands.
The plastic neutral framework allows for companies to assess their plastic footprint and take action to change it. If the ecosystem of brands continues to work together, we can reduce waste and reinstate nature’s balance.
