The Ellen MacArthur Foundation says that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the oceans, and that is without the possibility of giants like China and India increasing their plastic usage. Even plastic which claims to be biodegradable can take years to decompose – yet today’s modern households are widely dependent on plastic.
Plastic is a dynamic and versatile resource that offers convenience, peace of mind, and stability to numerous industries that consumers rely on every day. Shaping a plastic-friendly consumer mindset requires our collective investment in rethinking our systems, improving our plastic handling and continually educating our end users on the benefits of plastic.
In the US, 66% of recyclable packaging is not recycled1. With many environmental claims on retailer shelves, GreenBlue’s Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC) developed consumer friendly recycling instructions through the How2Recycle label program. In this shift toward more transparent claims, this program alleviates concerns regarding recycling procedures to better support consumers in their packaging disposal practices and showcases efforts to create group norms for recycling.
As Americans, we create an enormous amount of trash. The average person produces about 4.4 pounds per day, and most of it is comprised of recyclable items.1 To keep up with the increase in curbside pickup volume, landfills have grown in number. We are hearing more about recycling today amidst industry transitions impacted by sustainability initiatives.
Retailers have remarkable political and economic influence in the food system and an integral responsibility to demonstrate good corporate citizenship through corporate social responsibility (CSR). CSR refers to a company’s practice of taking responsibility for its effects not only on the environment but also on people’s social well-being, going beyond just sustainability.
