Count Your Plastic Packaging
A recent YouGov poll reveals that 71% of consumers think retailers and supermarkets use too much packaging. If you agree that there is too much packaging waste, what action can you take to drive change?
Reduce and Recycle to Minimise Packaging Waste
The majority of consumers are aware of the environmental impact of excessive and/or non-recyclable packaging. However, retailers and supermarkets do not always stock loose products, refill options and other alternatives. This makes it difficult to make sustainable choices.
It can make you feel powerless. You want to minimise packaging waste, but can’t always visit local producers or refill shops. So, convenience leads to a compromise of values. However, there is one step that you can take this month that could make a difference. That is to join the Big Plastic Count.
What Is The Big Plastic Count?
The Big Plastic Count is an initiative organised by Greenpeace and Everyday Plastic. Running for the week commencing Monday 11 March 2024, participants are simply asked to record every item of plastic packaging that they dispose of over the week. Then, you submit the final data on Sunday 17 March.
Each participant’s plastic packaging count will be collated with others. The goal is to have over 100,000 UK households, schools and community groups taking part. The project last took place in 2022 and around 250,000 people got involved. The results revealed that 83% of plastic waste was from food and drink packaging.
What’s the Point of Counting Plastic Packaging Waste?
This year, Greenpeace intends to share the final data with the UN Global Plastic Treaty. It will provide evidence of the scale of the plastic packaging waste issue. In addition, it is hoped to inform decisions as the Treaty is in its final stages.
Greenpeace is campaigning to ban plastic waste exports by 2027 and reduce plastic packaging production by at least 75% by 2040. They want to see the Government, producers and packaging manufacturers working together to reduce waste.
At present, only 12% of plastic waste is recycled, even when it is correctly disposed of in recycling bins. So, if we can’t successfully recycle it, we need to greatly reduce it. As there are an ever-growing number of alternatives to plastic packaging, companies should be incentivised and/or fined to prompt action.
Alternatives to Plastic Packaging
As a packaging manufacturer, we have to count and record all plastic used in production. We’ve not eradicated it, but we have minimised it. We’ve also helped many customers to switch to plastic packaging alternatives.
If you are a retailer, it’s time to review your packaging. Why not speak to us about alternatives to plastic packaging? Our boxes are made from a high percentage of recycled fibres and are 100% recyclable after use.
What’s more, UK paper and card products recycling facilities can process the vast majority of this waste on our shores. Paper-based packaging is biodegradable and can be coated with fully recyclable moisture-resistant finishes.
At Aylesbury Box Company, we’ve made it part of our policy to inform all customers of ways to minimise volume. Helping you is part of our environmental and social policy. So, we’ll let you know if there is a better packaging solution for your products. Contact us on 01296 436888 or enquiries@abcbox.co.uk to start the conversation.
It doesn’t matter if you run a small side hustle or a big business, have a physical shop or sell online. Every company that takes steps to reduce and recycle helps to make a difference. As a positive aside to the environmental benefits, changes can also boost your brand reputation and encourage sales.
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