Sustainability
Every time a new product is made from raw materials, large amounts of energy are consumed. There are 4 key stages of energy consumption throughout product development: extraction of raw materials, the manufacture of these materials into products, product use by consumers and finally product disposal.
In most cases, recycling uses less energy, which translates into fewer fossil fuels burned and reduced emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Products being recycled usually require much less processing to turn them into usable materials.
However, much like product development, every stage of recycling requires energy, and although recycling is better than discarding to the landfill, the whole process still contributes significantly to the climate crisis - especially if systems are not slick or machinery used is old. It’s a better option than proceeding to landfill, but it’s not the best…
Whilst a product may be created with the intention to be recycled, this doesn’t always happen. In fact, 80% of plastic produced has been sent to landfill or ended up in our natural environment. Plastic is not biodegradable; it breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces called microplastics, which accumulate over time.
Let’s “turn off the tap” on plastic pollution, using the same container multiple times to save our planet and in turn, communities all around the world.