Plastics and plastic packaging are an integral part of our daily lives, but plastic waste is having a devastating effect on our natural environment, in particular on marine life. Triodos strives to reduce both the use of plastics and plastic waste.
The use of plastics has grown rapidly from the 1950s. There are only few products that do not contain or are packed in plastic. As a result, the pile of plastic waste has grown. According to Time , approximately 8 million metric tons of plastic waste find their way into our oceans every year, creating what has become known as plastic soup. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), this plastic soup damages critical ecosystems such as coral reefs and causes chemical contamination of marine life.
Reduce and recycle
Given the damaging effect of plastic waste on the environment, Triodos aims to reduce the use of plastic by promoting alternative packaging materials and to stimulate recovery and recycling of plastic waste. A company we invest in is Tomra Systems. The company provides automated recycling systems for collecting, sorting and handling the return of plastic beverage containers in supermarkets. According to the company, 35 billion used beverage containers are captured every year by its reverse vending machines. Tomra also sorts and filters plastics out of packaging waste or mixed municipal solid waste. Another company selected for our sustainable investment universe is DS Smith, which specializes in design and manufacturing of recycled packaging for consumer goods. It collects plastics from businesses, sorts and bales them in its recycling facilities and then turns the plastics into new packaging products. Another exemplary company is carpet manufacturer Interface. With its ‘Mission Zero’ objective, it aims to eliminate any negative impact on the environment by 2020. It develops sustainable products by using recycled and bio-based raw materials, and recycles its’ products. Via its Net-Works Programme, Interface avoids adding to the plastic soup by sourcing redundant fishing nets from coastal areas that have been collected by local people, and recycles them into yarn for carpet. By doing so, it helps to clean up oceans and beaches and offers a source of income for impoverished communities.
Established in 2012, the programme resulted in the collection of more than 100 tonnes of waste fishing nets and providing 55,000 people with an income. The Net-Works model is proof that positive, sustainable change can be created when business, conservation and communities cooperate.
Note: The issues explored in this article are relevant for sustainable investments on the stock market. Triodos Bank believes that our socially responsible investments are a powerful means of promoting our values and working for greater sustainability, while enabling us to offer a complete range of attractive investment options to customers who choose to invest on the stock market.