Companies Leading the Plastic-Free Movement & Actions that YOU Can Take to Live a Plastic-Free Lifestyle
Many companies are getting rid of single-use plastic products, enacting sustainable initiatives, leading the movement against plastic.
Companies Leading the Plastic-Free Movement
Starbucks announced that it would phase out plastic straws from more than 30,000 stores. The new, lightweight, strawless cold drink lid is anticipated to eliminate over 1 billion straws a year, an important milestone for reducing plastic waste. The new cold drink lid uses nine percent less plastic than the former lid and straw combined. Starbucks is currently testing alternative materials to replace plastic straws as part of its goals to double the recyclability, compostability, and reusability of its cups and packaging by 2022.
Ikea is planning to eliminate all single-use plastic products from its stores and restaurants and replace it with disposables made from 100% renewable resources. For example, Ikea is replacing plastic cutlery with recyclable forks, spoons, and knives made from responsibly sourced wood and switching plastic straws to sustainable paper straws made from renewable resources such as sustainably managed forests and cane sugar. Watch this video to see the new and more sustainable disposables for their restaurants, cafes, and bistros.
Love Beauty and Planet is a sustainable brand that uses 100% recycled plastic for its bottles. Their mission is to have a carbon footprint so small, that it’s like they weren’t even there. But any business is going to make some sort of footprint. So, until they find a way to leave no footprint, they’ll quantify their CO2 emissions along every step of production and tax ourselves for going over their goals. That money will support third-party programs that help reduce landfill waste and overall carbon emissions.
The Walt Disney Company’s commitment to environmental stewardship actually goes back to their founding more than 60 years ago. Disney is planning to eliminate single-use plastic straws and plastic stirrers at owned locations across the globe, amounting to a reduction of more than 175 million straws and 13 million stirrers annually. They announced that they will replace plastic straws and stirrers with biodegradable and more environmentally friendly paper-made straws. Disney is also planning to install permanent, refillable shampoo and shower gel dispensers within guests’ bedrooms at hotels.
As a well-known brand, Disney is using their platform to positively influence others by “showing millions of kids and adults from around the world the many ways we can change our daily habits to care for the oceans and protect nature that sustains us all.”
Evian, the world’s famous brand of bottled mineral water has made a pledge to become a full circular brand, making all of its plastic bottles from 100% recycled plastic, seeking zero plastic bottle waste by 2025. Evian has determined to leverage its global voice to drive consumer behavior change around plastic waste and recycling and currently stands on the frontline in the battle to reduce plastic waste.
Evian global brand Director, Patricia Oliva commented, “Rooted in its pioneering spirit and long-lasting commitment towards sustainability, Evian will drive a step-change to address the critical issue of plastic. We want to use the power of our global brand to take a leadership position, drive collaboration across the industry and, together with partners, transform our approach to plastic. We’re committed to moving the mindset of today’s generation from ‘we can’ to ‘we do’.”
Nestle’s Japan Branch had committed to exclusively issue 100% recyclable packaging for its candy by 2025. As part of that goal, Nestlé recently released new packaging for its popular miniature KitKat chocolate bars, which will now be wrapped in paper instead of plastic.
Japan is the biggest market for KitKats, with 4 million being sold every day. By swapping out the candy bar’s shiny plastic wrap for eco-friendly matte paper, Nestlé expects to cut down on roughly 380 tons of plastic each year.
In an effort to attract KitKat lovers to buy this newly matte version, Nestlé Japan has designed the updated packaging to include instructions for how to turn the packaging into an origami crane, a traditional Japanese messenger of thoughts and wishes.
What YOU Can Do to Live a Plastic-Free Lifestyle
- Use metal straws when drinking cold beverages.
- When ordering ice cream, order a cone instead of a cup.
- Carry around a water bottle, refrain from using plastic water bottles.
- Carry around a reusable shopping bag; say no to plastic bags.
- Choose plastic-free chewing gum (almost all gum are made of plastic!).
- Switch from liquid soap to bar soap.
- Carry lunches in reusable containers.
- Support the above businesses that are taking initiative in reducing plastic waste!
Sources
Evian. “Evian 100% Circular Brand.” Evian Hub, circular.evian.eco/.
“Home.” Whitelabel UK, www.lovebeautyandplanet.com/us/en/home.html.
Penning, Mark. “Disney Expands Environmental Commitment By Reducing Plastic Waste.” Disney Parks Blog, disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2018/07/disney-expands-environmental-commitment-by-reducing-plastic-waste/.
“Phasing out Single-Use Plastic by 2020.” IKEA, www.ikea.com/gb/en/this-is-ikea/sustainable-everyday/phasing-out-single-use-plastic-pub4e600ed1.
Starbucks, stories.starbucks.com/stories/2019/say-hello-to-the-lid-that-will-replace-a-billion-straws-a-year/.
Young, Sarah. “New KitKat Wrappers Can Be Folded into Origami.” The Independent, Independent Digital News and Media, 14 Aug. 2019, www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/kitkat-japan-nestle-plastic-packaging-paper-wrapper-origami-cranes-waste-a9057356.html.
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