Global solutions to fight plastic pollution
In 2018, the World Environment Day organized in India was mainly focused on the fight against plastic pollution. In particular, the World Bank had invested heavily in improving urban waste management systems.
And since regulatory constraints are tightening, large companies are also getting involved. Nestlé, Coca-Cola or PepsiCo, considered to be some of the biggest plastic polluters on the planet, are now aiming to increase the proportion of recycled material in packaging by up to 35% by 2025. Everywhere across the world, we prefer to attack non-recyclable plastics rather than seek to banish indiscriminately all the variations of this material which is now ubiquitous.
Alabama nature protection
In 2015, the United Nations adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) divided into a global timetable that each signatory State has committed to respecting. At the heart of the initiative, the guarantee of food and water security for all peoples of the world, the improvement of the balance of ecosystems and the reduction of inequalities perpetuated by plastic pollution by 2030.
Since then, Bangladesh has been the first country in the world to ban plastic bags and around 60 others have adopted measures to curb pollution.
Controlling plastic waste is a major challenge that involves in-depth rethinking of all transformation processes, from the design of products to their recycling, including the use made of them by the consumer. This would already involve improving mapping and research related to the negative effects of plastic in order to offer international aid programs where they are most needed. Especially in developing countries.
There is also talk of modernizing and developing sorting centers and recycling technologies, as well as offering a tax credit to make recyclable plastic a more economical solution. Like the carbon budget mentioned in the early 2010s, others waste management solutions finally mention the need for a plastic budget aimed at limiting the quantity emitted on world markets.
Proposals currently being studied by the various governments of the world and mentioned in part in the WWF report seeking to put an end to plastic pollution in nature by 2030. The reuse, the elimination of toxic additives and the manufacture of Sustainable alternatives made of cellulose fibers in particular also constitute broad pillars of reflection.
Local initiatives in Birmingham
As for the local level like in Birmingham, AL, initiatives are multiplying. In Colombia, a company has chosen to transform waste into plastic bricks from which houses are built for the poorest populations, while in Chile, fishing nets abandoned in ports are recovered, transformed into pellets of plastic then molded into skateboards whose shape is reminiscent of a fish. On the Kenyan side, the Ocean Sole company has been responsible for collecting the hundreds of plastic flip flops strewn on the beaches for a few years to transform them into works of art. 70% of them are now exported all over the world.
Alternatives to traditional plastic
Bioplastic obtained from algae or flax seeds, compostable or biodegradable plastic…Many startups have chosen to put their creativity at the service of plastic materials that are more respectful of the environment. Companies already hampered by certain limits, most of these alternatives cannot be processed in conventional recycling and waste management facilities.
Towards a global plan to limit plastic pollution
In Alabama, as part of the ecological and solidarity transition, the state government made a commitment in 2018 to move towards 100% recycled plastic. Straws, disposable cutlery, polystyrene boxes or inflatable ball rods are starting to gradually disappear from our supermarkets while bulk is progressing on the territory. Eventually, a bonus-malus should be imposed on manufacturers for any plastic over-packaging, while 2022 will see the disappearance of tea bags and plastic toys distributed with children’s menus in fast food chains, i.e. an overall reduction in production of waste by 57% by 2030.
The anti-waste law for a circular economy proposed by the government has set 2040 as the target to put an end to the marketing of single-use plastic packaging. According to Dumpster HQ Birmingham, among its key measures are:
- A state 3R strategy for the Reduction, Reuse and Recycling of plastic packaging. With objectives updated every five years, in collaboration with the Ministry of Ecological Transition.
- The ban on the free distribution of plastic bottles in establishments open to the public.
- The disappearance of plastic toys offered in children’s menus.
- The use of waste management incentives.
- Prohibition of plastic over-packaging of fresh fruits and vegetables weighing less than 1.5 kilograms.
- The development of bulk trade.
- Better consumer awareness.