Today, as we celebrate this special day dedicated to our planet, we want to focus on a crucial issue: plastic pollution. Our collective efforts can bring about positive change and help us preserve the environment for future generations.
Facts about plastics from our Lead Environment Sustainability Advisor, Jamie Thomson
Reduce, reuse and recycle is at the heart of our waste management efforts and plastic is a significant element of this. Sending waste plastics to landfill or for incineration both fuel its ubiquitous and negative environmental impact, so stopping waste going via these disposal routes is essential in the battle against plastic.
Since the launch of our new Sustainability Plan > Health, Safety, Quality & Environment- MJ Quinn, and through a number of initiatives including office based recycling, we have seen a 5% increase in recycling and increased landfill diversion by 7%, which also equates to a carbon emissions saving of approximately 3.5 tonnes per quarter.
We have also started to make improvements around product consumption such as the way we order materials. For example, by opting for bulk orders instead of smaller and therefore more frequent consignments, we expect packaging for certain items to be reduced by as much as 50%. This is only the beginning with further plans to introduce long-life storage coupled with once monthly bulk stocking, which will significantly reduce packaging and courier emissions.
Help Reduce Plastics
Remember, every action counts. By incorporating these practices into our daily lives, we can help combat plastic pollution and create a healthier, cleaner planet.