Tag: plastics

Managing the future of plastic: key recommendations for Government

Stuart Mitchell

Creating a successful circular economy for plastics will help the economy as well as the environment, and the UK Government has a pivotal role to play.   Experts from the University of Birmingham, together with specialists from across different plastics sectors have collaborated on a series of recommendations which calls on Government to take the initiative on finding solutions to the plastics problem.  Their recommendations are published today [Monday 18 March 2024] in a Policy Commission report, The Sustainable Plastics Policy Commission: Key findings for the UK government, launched at the…

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Lifetime cost of plastic 10 times higher for low-income countries than rich ones, revealing crippling inequities in plastics value chain

Stuart Mitchell

A WWF–commissioned report developed by Dalberg warns that the true cost of plastic on the environment, health and economies can be as much as 10 times higher for low-income countries, even though they consume almost three times less plastic per-capita, than high-income ones. The report estimates that the total lifetime costs of a kilogram (2.2.lbs) of plastic is around $150 in low- and middle-income countries, which is eight times the $19/kilogram (2.2 lbs) incurred by high-income countries. When comparing just low-income countries and their wealthier counterparts, the cost differential rises…

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New campaign to clear up citizen confusion on plastics

Stuart Mitchell

A new campaign to share the latest evidence and insights on plastics packaging with citizens has been launched today by sustainability not-for-profit WRAP. Clear on Plastics has been designed to give citizens clear information about the complex world of plastics and the environment, helping them to make their own informed choices. For example, it will explain the role of plastic packaging in protecting the products we buy, and demonstrating the balance between the benefits and drawbacks of alternatives. It will also give tips and advice on how citizens can reduce…

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Sky Ocean Ventures invests in 10 innovative UK businesses fighting the plastics epidemic

Stuart Mitchell

Sky Ocean Ventures has teamed up with the Government to invest in ten UK companies that have identified innovative solutions to solving the ocean plastics crisis. The ideas range from biodegradable water bottles and packaging made from seaweed, right through to an ingenious way of reducing the plastic microfibre waste that comes from the clothes we wear – by developing clothes that grow with children. Launched in March 2018, Sky Ocean Ventures is a £25m impact investment fund committed to accelerating young companies and entrepreneurs who are developing ideas that…

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HP Expands Efforts to Reduce Ocean‐Bound Plastics

Stuart Mitchell

HP has announced a $2 million investment to expand its ocean-bound plastic supply chain. The company will build a new plastic washing line in Haiti that will allow it to produce cleaner, higher quality recycled plastic locally for use in HP products. This investment continues HP’s longstanding commitment to diverting ocean-bound plastic and contributing to a lower-carbon, circular economy while providing jobs and education opportunities locally. HP has been actively reducing ocean-bound plastic in Haiti since 2016, when the company began partnering with the First Mile Coalition to convert plastic…

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