Due to this extreme overproduction, the toxic legacy of virgin plastics is sadly irreversible. But this doesn’t have to continue, and the latest global and national agreements to tackle this issue offer hope.
Last month, during the biennial U.N. Environment Assembly in Nairobi, world leaders agreed to to create a treaty tackling plastic waste by the end of 2024.
This progress is being hailed as “historic.”
“This is the most significant environmental multilateral deal since the Paris accord,” said Inger Andersen, executive director of the UN Environment Program. “It is an insurance policy for this generation and future ones, so they may live with plastic and not be doomed by it.”
As well as this, the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has called on the Government to do more to prevent greenwashing and is encouraging businesses to collaborate on environmental projects.
The Code provides consumer-facing businesses with recommendations on avoiding greenwashing and businesses who flout the Code will see the CMA considering whether they are infringing on UK consumer protection law.
The CMA is recommending that the Government introduce legislative definitions for some of the sustainability terms that are most commonly used on products and packaging – but which consumers find the most confusing. Such terms include ‘carbon-neutral’, ‘recycled’, ‘recyclable’, ‘biodegradable’ and ‘compostable’.
“Consistent” information, the CMA is arguing, is important to ensure that consumers are properly informed. “Complete and accurate environmental claims are essential for enabling consumers to make sustainable choices, and in turn have a wide impact on sustainability and net-zero goals,” its statement reads.
Circularr was born out of a need to provide transparency and traceability to legitimize sustainability claims and eliminate greenwashing by individuals and organisations. As well as end the need for Single-Use plastic.
We fully track disposal of plastic and ensure that it is entered into a fully circular economy, where consumers can track exactly where their recycling ends up.
Get in touch to learn how we can work with you and your company to help put an end to plastic pollution and manage any plastic responsibly.