Plastic is ubiquitous. It is cheap, flexible and a durable way to hold, transport, carry, and store things. It also has critical and valuable uses. Unfortunately, the consequence of such a durable material, multi-use or single-use is now the huge environmental, social and business challenge of disposal of plastics.
The South Australian Business Chamber member KESAB highlights that we have a recognised plastic cycle, like the carbon cycle, which shows plastic in our water, soil and air. Chief Executive Wendy Bevan says that studies show that we could be eating a credit card size worth of plastic every week and much of this is from plastic pollution.
“Plastic Free July is a global movement and participants challenge themselves to reduce single-use plastics (SUPs) over the month. That is good and of course the intention is much broader, to change people’s behaviour and reduce single-use plastics use, she says.
“SA is leading the way in progressively banning challenging SUPs. SA also does a great job of recycling plastics. Soft plastics are remanufactured into items such as playground furniture and plastic cartridges are used in asphalt road mixes. We have some incredibly innovative and proactive businesses in SA doing outstanding and valuable work in this field.”
Avoiding waste is the cheapest and most environmental option but not always possible in business. As part of Plastic Free July, KESAB provide some ideas to help reduce your reliance on plastics and try to avoid single-use plastics in your businesses and homes.
Provide crockery, utensils, Keep Cups and/or reusable water bottles for your staff. Brand the bottles and you have free advertising.
Where possible provide clean inviting spaces where staff can eat and encourage them to bring their (plastic free) lunch from home.
Look at your packaging options. Is it all necessary? Are there better alternatives than plastic? Compostable bags exist for packaging your goods before they are sent out. Make sure they are certified with the home composting or seeding logo. Can you reuse the packaging you receive your goods in?
Speak to suppliers. If you can reduce single-use items coming in, you do not need to manage them. Can you return the packaging for them to use again?
Are you up to date with the SUP bans? Currently plastic straws, beverage stirrers, cutlery, as well as expanded polystyrene cups/plates/clamshells and all oxo-degradable plastics are banned. And where you cannot simply avoid them, alternatives exist.
Do you have a waste management (bin) system in place? Check your waste management contracts to see what is possible and make sure bins are clearly labelled and colour coded. Consider a bin systems assessment (BSA) and get some advice about how to set up a good system and educate your staff.
What is your waste generation? A physical audit of your waste gives you a baseline understanding of what and how much waste you are paying to dispose of. You can only manage what you measure so start tracking and/or reach out for help. (KESAB can help with advice and conduct a BSA, or audit and education for your staff).
If you reduce waste volumes, get recyclables into recycling and food/compostable material into organics/compost bins it will reduce landfill and associated costs. Landfill is the most expensive waste stream.
The community cares about these issues so tell people what you are doing. Would they visit you more if they knew that you allow BYO containers or compost/donate any food waste? Use doing the right thing to your competitive advantage.
Identify your recycling champions and support them.
Collect 10c containers and return them to depots. The funds you earn can be donated to charity.
Take soft plastics (consumer not industrial quantities) back to most major supermarkets including 52 Foodland stores.
