May 11, 2023

The Responsibility of Reducing Plastic Waste

Should the responsibility fall on individuals or corporations?

Why So Much Plastic?

When one sees the images of heaps of plastics accumulating in landfills or on the surface of the ocean, one question that might immediately come to mind is “where did all these plastics come from?”.

Perhaps it was due to the excitement over the then newly discovered synthetic “miracle material”. For several years, the world was oblivious to the growing amount of plastic waste accumulating in the environment.

Plastics are indeed great. They are lightweight, water resistant, cheap, and easily processed into a wide variety of products in every industry. With such desirable properties, manufacturers found plastics irresistible and soon everything that could be made from plastics was, well, being made from plastics.

However, the best attributes from plastics also turn out to be the worst parts about them; plastics don’t go away. In fact, they can take hundreds to thousands of years to degrade. Considering that they have only been around for some decades, this indicates that every petroleum based plastic that has ever been synthesized, if it has not been incinerated or chemically recycled, is still out there somewhere.

The world went from just 2 million tonnes produced in 1950 to an annual average of 400 million tonnes of plastic in recent years. Plastic packaging, mostly single use plastics, account for 36 percent. The plastics from the textiles industry contribute about 14 percent - with many fast fashion products discarded every fashion season.

Added to these are consumer products and institutional products such as hospital supplies which make up 10 percent of global annual plastic production. These are things such as toys, utensils, and appliances that are eventually be discarded at the end of life.

Similarly, the electronics such as phones, refrigerators, alarm clocks, and others that get thrown out once they develop a fault or go out of trend make up 4 percent. Building and construction plastics make up a further 16 percent, while transportation makes up an additional 7 percent.

We can see that the products making up the largest proportion of plastic are those designed for shorter usage life. The most common plastics found littering the environment are water and beverage bottles, bottle caps, straw, stirrers, cigarette butts, food wraps, foam food packaging, and shopping bags.

This article, the third in a series examining plastic waste, discusses ways in which companies and individuals can reduce plastic waste.

The Companies Taking Responsibility for Reducing Plastic Waste

Providing Sustainable Options and Solutions for Customers

Often, companies create the demand for certain products through marketing. Customers are also inclined to use what is available or most accessible. It is therefore up to the companies to innovate and develop plastic-free options for customers. Unilever, for example, now offers refillable packaging. In selected trial locations, Unilever provides facilities for customers to bring in their packages for refilling at the stores. It started this in 2020 in Europe and in 2019 in Mexico for products like shampoo and laundry products. These trials are being run in the UK, Pakistan, Australia, and Mexico. Reports show that customers have responded well and embraced these options in the trial stores. An example of the impact of this is that 170 tonnes of plastic have been saved since the refill for the Cif Power and Shine spray bottles were introduced.

Recycled plastic and sustainable content

Where plastics are being recycled, they need to be used in products that are used at the same rate as the plastic waste is being generated to minimize the need to create more plastics or have an accumulation of waste plastics. The supply and demand for recycled plastics need to match up.

One way companies do this is to recycle the plastics back into the parent product. Recycled PET (rPET) is now increasing in popularity as companies are under pressure to increase recycled content in their products.

Coca Cola, for example has made the switch to produce all its bottled products from recycled plastics in Sweden, Norway, and Netherlands. The transition is estimated to reduce annual virgin plastic production in Norway and Netherlands by 140,000 tons. The company also recently introduced a new Sprite bottle with improved recyclability into some markets. The new bottle makes use of a clear PET bottle with an easy tear label. Clear bottles are easier to recycle than colored bottles since the coloring in the plastic products often acts as impurities and alter the properties, and this can be exacerbated when the product is recycled.

Corporate Social Responsibility

Companies can contribute towards making plastics more sustainable in various ways. These can be through funding start-ups with innovative sustainable products, providing recycling facilities, or funding research to advance plastic waste management technologies. For example, research into converting synthetic plastics into energy sources using sunlight can help move the world closer to the ideal of a truly circular plastic economy.

Tetra Pak, for example supports some recycling projects in partnership with companies such as Europlasts, Alag Karo, Palurec, OPI, Recon, Green Earth, and Bio Pappel, amongst others. Such support facilitates innovations and technical capacity that can accelerate advancement toward a more circular plastic economy. For example, the partnership with Bio Pappel is directed at building a carton recycling facility in Mexico, while the partnership with Green Earth is dedicated to building facilities for recycling single-use plastic composites into products such as furniture and roofing sheets.

Individuals Taking Responsibility for Reducing Plastic Waste

Responsible Consumption and Conscious Demand

Companies try to meet the demand and desire of consumers. It is therefore important that the consumers educate themselves on the impact of plastics on the environment and make more sustainable product choices. This can, in turn, drive the production of more sustainable products.

The government can also play a role in creating public awareness and shifting the mindset of consumers toward more sustainable choices. Consumers are already demanding better, and recent studies show an increasing trend towards more conscious consumption in recent years.

Some plastics designated as single-use plastics can be reused. Reusing a single-use plastic bag at least 50 times followed by recycling can make it a more eco-friendly option when compared to paper shopping bags which require more water and resources to produce. Likewise failing to reuse a reusable shopping bag and simply discarding it after one user has a worse environmental impact than just using a single-use plastic in the first place.

Consumers can also ease the collection and sorting process for recycling companies by cleaning and sorting their plastic waste.

When presented with a variety of options while in a supermarket aisles or shopping for products online, consumers can take care to consciously choose sustainable products that are plastic-free, recyclable, and/or reusable.

Public Pressure

Individuals can apply public pressure on companies to drive more sustainable plastic management through means such as joining pressure groups, signing petitions, donations to pressure groups, volunteering, and posting to social media.

Public pressure can be in the form of publishing research data and videos on plastic pollution which reveal the role of companies and the scale of plastic pollution. In 2019, the environmental group Break Free From Plastics named the beverage company Coca-Cola as the worst plastic polluting company. This was based on the data collected from plastic waste clean-ups in over 50 countries.

By 2020, Coca-Cola announced its decision to make the shift to using 100% recycled PET in 30 markets and make their beverage bottles more recyclable. While no evidence suggests a direct relationship between the Break Free From Plastic report and the new changes the company making towards reduced plastic waste, it is undeniable that public pressure can be a driving force in achieving a more circular plastic economy.

Active Engagement

Individuals can actively engage in tackling the plastic waste crisis. Activities that individuals can take part in include beach clean-ups, recycling runs, and collection of plastics from the waterways by boat or helicopter.

There are various organizations individuals can volunteer in. For example, for the past 30 years, Ocean Conservancy has collected over 136,000 tonnes of plastics from beaches across the world with the help of tens of thousands of volunteers. Individuals can also actively help track and generate data on plastic pollution using apps like the Debris Tracker App that was developed in partnership with the University of Georgia.

The app helps individuals to send in data on the location and quantity of plastic waste using images. Data from individuals across the world can be compiled and analyzed for the purpose of developing data-driven solutions to plastic pollution.

Some supermarkets, like Tesco in the UK, now offer consumers the option of returning specified plastic packaging and bags to be recycled. It is therefore up to the individuals to actively engage in such initiatives.

Reducing Plastic Waste – A Shared Responsibility

Both the companies and individuals have roles to play in reducing plastic waste. Individuals have the consumer power to demand that companies be more sustainable, while the companies have the power to fund and support innovative sustainable options.

Either way, reducing plastic waste must be a priority going forward to ensure that this incredible material can still be used sustainably and in an environmentally friendly way.

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Is Canada Really in a Recession?

23 Dec, 2023

Context A CBC News article discussed the possibility of the Canadian economy heading into a recession, or whether the country has already passed that threshold. The article discussed this possibility based on slowed growth, high inflation, and the Bank of Canada’s continued interest rate hikes. Analysis A recession is a significant reduction in economic activity that occurs over a length of time, usually months or years. One of the most accepted definitions of a recession comes from the economist Julius Shiskin in 1974, who identified the threshold to an economic recession as two consecutive quarters of declining GDP, although economists often argue about the comprehensiveness of this measure. The causes of a recession can be quite complicated and have many contributing factors. Some common examples include a sudden economic shock such as the recent COVID-19 pandemic, excessive debt, asset bubbles, inflation, deflation, or large technological changes. One major factor influencing the probability of an economic recession includes rising interest rates from the Bank of Canada, which has implemented the highest hike in the shortest amount of time in all of the bank’s history, raising the rate over eight times since 2022. The Bank of Canada increased interest rates in order to curb inflation since rising interest rates discourage taking on debt and spending. This further encourages companies to lower prices or slow inflation to increase demand. Currently, the Bank of Canada is keeping at the 5.0 percent rate but has said that further hikes are not off the table as inflation may continue to exceed acceptable rates. Increases in interest rates can certainly contribute to or precede a recession. In fact, the Bank of Canada has raised interest rates three times to slow inflation since the 1960s and all three times this action led to an economic recession. Current fears of a looming economic depression are also not unique to Canada, as following the COVID-19 pandemic, the global inflation rate increased to 8.73 percent in 2021. This was due to supply chain issues, as well as the effect of the Russia-Ukraine War creating rising food and energy prices, as well as general fiscal instability. A majority of the World Economic Forum’s lead economists agreed earlier this year that we could see the beginning of a global recession starting in 2023, which would certainly affect the Canadian economy. The article also discusses the Canadian economy’s slowed economic growth, as the GDP has stagnated in the second quarter of this year. However, it suggests other factors may explain the decrease, including striking port workers in British Columbia, and the resulting negative effect on economic activity. An RBC report mentions how on a per-person GDP basis, there has already been a decline for four straight quarters despite a surge in population growth, and concludes overall predictions for GDP growth do not look promising despite local factors including Canadian wildfires and strikes. They also point to a 0.5 percent increase in the unemployment rate over the past few months, which has historically tended to indicate a looming recession.

Ottawa Mayor and Lansdowne Park

21 Dec, 2023

Context The City of Ottawa Mayor, Mark Sutcliff released a statement about a revised plan for the redevelopment of Lansdowne, an urban public park containing historic landmarks and commercial venues. The project includes the demolition of a sports arena complex, stadium stands, and the building of a new event center, residential units, and retail space. Despite suggesting the new plan has addressed the concerns of residents, many issues remain. Analysis The City of Ottawa and the Ottawa Sports and Entertainment Group (OSEG) have been in partnership to develop Lansdowne since 2012 and finished an original redevelopment of the park back in 2014. A few years later in 2019, the financial sustainability of the park came to the city council’s attention, and in 2020 the partnership was extended another 10 years with direction to develop a new plan to revitalize Lansdowne. Consultation with community members started in 2020, with the original concept released last year in 2022, and a revised version released this month. Community feedback was acquired through various platforms including public information sessions, an open email for feedback, and public surveys. A summary report of that feedback was published on October 6th, which highlighted the six most common themes of community residents’ concerns. The first concern was related to the size and number of the multiple high-rise apartments which were designed to exceed 30 floors. In the new plan , they have removed one of the three planned buildings, with fewer total units in each, and only one tower with the potential to be built at 40 stories. Residents were also concerned about the loss of greenspace due to the new event center construction. Many people suggested they wanted that greenspace allocated elsewhere, or alternatively, an accessible greenspace roof on the event center. Although in the original plan the city had conceptualized a greenspace rooftop on the event center, this was scrapped in the new plan as it was deemed too expensive to maintain. Respondents wanted a restriction of vehicles to the premises to promote pedestrian safety, a concern that has existed since Lansdowne was first renovated back in 2014. They also wanted more public transportation infrastructure to and from the park, whether that is the local city buses, trains, or cycling infrastructure to reduce congestion on connecting roads. Relatedly, residents also desired more accessible public use space from washrooms to water fountains to usable and free space for people to occupy. The new plan has reduced the number of parking spaces for the residential buildings to meet the Bylaw limit of 0.4 spaces per unit, down from 739 to 336 spaces, while they added 36 new spaces for the event center. In terms of accessible public space, the new plan includes 27,000 square feet of space originally earmarked for the third residential building, now available for an unspecified “public realm.” Residents also wanted more local and less corporate or big-box businesses, to reflect the unique local community better. The new plan does suggest the amount of retail space has been reduced from 108,000 square feet to 49,000 square feet but does not directly address the desire to attract smaller, local businesses. Finally, there was also a concern about financial transparency of how the project is being funded and the resulting impact on the City. The Federation of Citizens Association (FCA) which represents over 70 community groups voted unanimously to oppose the new plan, which comes with a very costly price tag of $419 million, increased from $332 million of the first plan. They cite that the debt comes at a time when the transit system is facing major issues, and the city is struggling with a housing affordability crisis.

Danielle Smith - Conflict of Interest

20 Dec, 2023

Context Newly elected Premier of Alberta Danielle Smith has defended her cabinet which is coming under fire over conflict-of-interest concerns. Environment and Protected Areas Minister Rebecca Schulz’s husband, Cole Schulz , may be lobbying the government in the areas that the Minister works in. Cole Schulz's firm is working on removing the protection of a threatened caribou range to make room for the oil and gas industry – which has raised concerns over who has Minister Schulz’s ear. Analysis The company that Cole Schulz is a partner with, Garrison Strategies, was hired by the Explorers and Producers Association of Canada and is working to influence the government on the issuing of reclamation certificates for oil and gas sites. The lobbyists are working to gain more access to protected caribou habitats to expand the oil and gas industry. They are hoping to “ address the moratorium on tenure in caribou regions ” which would effectively give them better access to land and investments. The Little Smoky and A La Peche herds in northwest Alberta were protected by a moratorium in 2013 which stopped the granting of new energy leases in this area. At the time, 95 percent of the herd’s range was heavily damaged. Phillip Meintzer of the Alberta Wilderness Association found that though records show that Garrison didn’t contact Environment and Protected Areas directly, the firm’s causes are “ too close for comfort ”. Meintzer also notes that as Garrison works on opening the protected caribou land for Alberta Energy, Environment and Protected Areas should be working on a protection plan for the federally and provincially designated threatened animal . Minister Schulz is working closely with the ethics commissioner, however, Danielle Smith confirmed that “ the ethics commissioner has looked at it, given guidance and there’s no violation [of the Conflicts of Interest Act]”. Cole Schulz also indicated that his firm wasn’t aware that Minister Schulz breached the Act at any time. Meintzer suggests that this situation “ calls for a further look ” from a third party. Sources https://globalnews.ca/news/9988998/alberta-premier-danielle-smith-rebecca-schulz/