?? Greater Use - Greater Climate Protection

Mandatory Reusables for Less Plastic Waste

Did you know? Since January 1st of this year, Germany has implemented a mandatory reusable packaging requirement for all larger businesses with an area of over 80 m2 or more than five employees. While there is still room for improvement in terms of implementation and visibility of these offerings, it marks a significant step towards a reusable revolution. Non-profit organizations such as the German Environmental Aid (Deutsche Umwelthilfe) and WWF are advocating for the dissemination of climate-friendly packaging, and according to a survey, consumers also desire uniform reusable systems.

If the reusable revolution is given a real chance, it will be excellent news for the environment and climate. Disposable packaging generates massive amounts of waste, as well as increasing energy and resource consumption, leading to significant CO? emissions. For instance, if all "take-away" items were sold exclusively in reusable containers, we could save nearly 500,000 tons of CO? annually in Germany alone.

Assuming a general responsibility towards plastic production and plastic waste is indispensable in the fight for more climate protection - read about further developments that can drive this progress in this issue!

G7 Accelerates Climate Protection Goals

It's official: The G7 countries have agreed on an accelerated timeline in the fight against plastic pollution. The aim is to end plastic pollution by 2040. This is a huge step forward! But that's not all. They have also set concrete targets for the expansion of wind and solar energy. By 2030, a combined total of approximately 150 gigawatts of offshore wind capacity and an additional 1000 gigawatts of photovoltaic capacity will be installed. This is a real power move for clean energy! To learn more about these ambitious plans and how they could change our world, click here.

Less Plastic, More Responsibility: The New Plastic Levy

Green light for less plastic! The German Bundestag is discussing the introduction of a plastic levy for companies that produce single-use plastic. The idea behind it? Manufacturers should take more responsibility for their products and help reduce environmental pollution caused by plastic waste. It covers everything that is used once and then discarded - from plastic cups to carrier bags. The levy will flow into a special fund that aims to support municipalities in waste disposal. And the best part? The hope is that the plastic levy will curb the amount of single-use plastic and, thus, reduce CO? emissions in plastic production. It's clear that these changes won't happen overnight. However, step by step, we are moving in the right direction - towards a greener and cleaner future. Learn more about it here.

???Earthly Delights

Single-Use Plastic Ban: Canada and Sri Lanka Protect Environment and Wildlife

Canada and Sri Lanka have initiated measures to restrict the use of single-use plastic and reduce environmental pollution.

The residents of Canada generate approximately three million tons of plastic waste annually, of which only nine percent is recycled. To combat this problem, the government has introduced a phased ban on plastic products such as bags, plastic cutlery, disposable plates, and takeaway coffee cups. The goal is to eliminate plastic waste production by 2030.

In Sri Lanka, the issue of plastic pollution is particularly acute as it leads to the death of wildlife, especially elephants, each year. These animals search for food in open landfills and often accidentally consume plastic. In response, the government has banned the sale of single-use plastic starting from June 2023. Since 2017, the country had already prohibited the sale of non-biodegradable plastic bags.

Both countries are taking significant steps to reduce plastic pollution and better protect animals and the environment. They highlight the urgent need for a change in mindset and action regarding our plastic consumption.

???Number of the Week

200 tons

The Dutch organization "The Ocean Cleanup" has fished out 200 tons of plastic waste from the Pacific since 2018!

Using large nets, they collect plastic trash between the US mainland and Hawaii. The collected plastic is then brought ashore and recycled.

Unfortunately, these nets are only capable of capturing the surface-floating debris. According to the Foundation for the Protection of the Sea, 70 percent of the plastic in the ocean has already sunk to the seabed.

However, there are already some interesting research projects underway to reach the deeper layers of the sea. For example, attempts are being made to find solutions for cleaning the world's oceans using robotic fish made from 3D printers that filter microplastics through their "gills."

You can read more about the robotic fish here.

???Challenge of the Week

Stay true to your cup

In recent decades, the growing coffee-to-go culture has dramatically increased the use of disposable cups globally, leading to significant environmental impact. The amount of waste generated by these cups is enormous, and the effects on our environment are devastating. The demand for more sustainable options is growing louder.

Swiss start-up Kooky has developed a system aimed at reducing the consumption of disposable cups. Kooky offers deposit cups that can be returned at special vending machines. Each cup has a QR code that is scanned when the cup is returned.

Another alternative is to use a reusable cup.

That's exactly where we aim to support you with our Challenge of the Week.