Plastic waste and pollution have captured the attention of the public, governments, and businesses around the world. The search for solutions has started, and there is growing recognition that quick-fixes that address the symptoms is not enough. To effectively switch off the tap on the plastic problem, a systemic shift to tackle the root causes is needed.
To further accelerate the sense of urgency and momentum gaining around marine plastic litter, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation has launched the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment.
Driven by our commitment to build a sustainable future, Quantis is proud to be an endorser of the Global Commitment and its common vision, which provides businesses and governments the opportunity to step forward as global leaders and put an end to marine litter and microplastic pollution to shape a sustainable future.
“The Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s New Plastics Economy Global Commitment is a clarion call for businesses to make strong and ambitious commitments to closing the plastic tap. The timing couldn’t be better — more and more governments are proposing tough legislation targeting plastics, consumer demand for responsible products is on the rise and the latest science has found that microplastics have now entered our ecosystems and even our food. It is clear that inaction is no longer an option. The problem is complex and forging the path ahead won’t be easy, but the good news is that there are already tools and solutions available to help get us there. This is a real opportunity for companies to innovate, build resilience and establish themselves as leaders — and we’re ready to help get them on the right path,” says Quantis Senior Sustainability Consultant Carole Dubois.
Circularity by Design: How to Influence Sustainable Consumer Behaviors
Join us Thursday, December 5, at 1pm ET for a free webinar on making circular behaviors the easy choice! Nudge & behavioral design expert Sille Krukow will explore the power of Consumer Behavior Design to drive circular decision-making and encourage behaviors including recycling and using take-back services. She will share key insights on consumer psychology, behavior design related to in-store and on-pack experiences, and how small changes in the environment can help make it easy for consumers to choose circularity.
250 organizations, including of the world’s largest packaging producers, brands, retailers and recyclers, as well as governments and NGOs have already signed onto the Global Commitment. By doing so, businesses agree to publish annual data on their progress to help drive momentum and ensure transparency, while governments are expected to put policies into place that support the Global Commitments targets and vision.
The New Plastics Global Commitment targets include:
- Eliminating problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging and moving from single-use to reuse packaging models
- Innovating to ensure 100% of plastic packaging can be easily and safely reused, recycled, or composted by 2025
- Circulating the plastic produced, by significantly increasing the amounts of plastics reused or recycled and made into new packaging or products
Quantis is also proud to be doing our part to close the plastics tap. Later this year, Quantis, together with Shaping Environmental Action:EA, will launch a multi-stakeholder initiative to find operational solutions and define effective actions on plastic pollution. Rooted in a full life-cycle and systems approach, the Plastic Leak Project offers companies an opportunity to transform their commitments into action by taking an in-depth look at the circular economy of plastics, assess existing knowledge gaps and find, compare and develop relevant solutions and robust metrics, using a collaborative approach.
Let’s shift the plastics conversation from crisis management to metrics-based problem solving to fuel positive change. Become a signatory of the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment by visiting NewPlasticsEconomy.org. Contact Carole Dubois to learn more about the Plastic Leak Project and how to join.
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Sustainable Brands Staff
Published Oct 29, 2018 5am EDT / 2am PDT / 9am GMT / 10am CET