The Enduring Impact of Our Actions: A Lesson in Sustainability

During our recent beach clean-up initiative, we unearthed one of our oldest Cosmaline products: a Satinett tube that had been discontinued some 30 years ago. Discarded decades ago, and left on the shore, it remained (un)disposed of for ages.

When we, Malians, found that plastic tube, we were overwhelmed. On one end, we felt pride: Cosmaline has been around for four decades now, and what are the chances of finding our product, a product dated 30 years nonetheless, grazing the shores of the Lebanese coasts? We took turns taking pictures with the tube and sharing it on all our company groups with: “Look what we found, can you believe it?” And a string of shocked, LOL, and smiling emojis as the most recurrent captions.

But when the high faded, a sense of gloom took over a few of us (the more environmentally conscious bunch) and the next thought we exchanged was: “Finding this tube is not really great, is it?” It suddenly became a sharp reminder of how, back then, as a manufacturing company, we, like the rest of the world, didn’t give much consideration to the resources used during production. This wasn’t an “issue”: not to the oblivious us, nor to the larger community. We were mainly focused on quality, feasibility, and consumer satisfaction. Alas, and like the world around us, the planet and environment were at the very bottom of our considerations list.

But now, however, we, the sustainability bunch, are looking at this find differently: it’s done, we can’t (un)unearth it, so let’s turn this 30-year-old find into a poignant lesson for those around us, especially those who are reluctant to change or simply not grasping the impact of a small act such as dumping waste in inappropriate places.

And that’s how it goes: this tube, which we are sure was discarded three decades ago, still lingers on our shores, representing the ongoing harm caused by improper waste disposal. It continues to occupy space, potentially leaching harmful chemicals into the ecosystem, and posing a threat to marine life through ingestion or entanglement. Additionally, its longevity underscores the persistence of plastic pollution.

So, when you resist sustainable practices (recycling in this specific case) because you’re not immediately rewarded or gratified, can you now at least see the long-term damage you’re causing?

Over time, the quality of our plastics has evolved, some of it can be reused in production, most of it can be recycled, and we’ve been quite vocal about our recycling initiatives both internally and externally. We will continue to advocate for these small changes that will ultimately lead to a big impact.

Our discovery of the 30-year-old Satinett tube serves as a powerful reminder of the long-term impact of our actions. As Malians and as humans, we have the ability to learn from our past and make changes that can undo some of the damage we didn’t intentionally cause. This story is not just about a piece of plastic; it's about the cycle of responsibility and improvement. We can pick up the pieces of our past mistakes and create a better, more sustainable future.

By adopting sustainable practices in production, and daily lives and by promoting responsible consumption and recycling, we can ensure that our legacy is one of positive change. Together, as Malians committed to sustainable manufacturing and as humans dedicated to responsible living, we can close the circle and leave a better world for generations to come.

Learn more about our social and environmental strides here