During Heritage Month, the SA Plastics Pact is exploring the actions that citizens can take to play their part in creating a circular economy for plastic packaging in the country.
According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the circular economy is a system where materials never become waste and nature is regenerated. In a circular economy, products and materials are kept in circulation through processes like maintenance, reuse, refurbishment, remanufacture, recycling, and composting. The circular economy tackles climate change and other global challenges, like biodiversity loss, waste and pollution, by decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources.
Members of the SA Plastics Pact are tackling our current linear “take-make-waste” economy through a systemic approach, by addressing different parts of the plastic packaging value chain collectively (and therein is the beauty of our diverse range of business members). We’re working towards removing problematic and unnecessary plastic packaging items through our work linked to target 1. We’re working to ensure that all plastic packaging that enters the market is recyclable within the SA context, both in terms of technical recyclability and with respect to demand for the recycled content derived from that process. This is being delivered through our work towards target 2 and through our work on target 4, which aims to create demand for recycled content. Target 3, which focuses primarily on the collection of recyclable packaging poses an interesting challenge. It is the one target that is not exclusively within the control of our members. Indeed, this target has a strong conumer component. By committing to this target, the SA Plastics Pact members have made an indirect commitment to try and get consumers to play an active role in creating a circular economy for plastic packaging in the country.
When consumers are asked about the role they can play in addressing our plastic challenge, most will inevitably mention recycling. Recycling is a critical part of a circular economy for plastic packaging; Its socially responsible and the recycling industry supports many livelihoods. Nevertheless, it is daunting to consider and citizens are often left confused with what products are recyclable and with how to do so themselves. The sheer mental weight of thinking of how to do so can often stop someone from even starting in the first place
It’s important to recognise that recycling is just one step in an incremental process towards becoming an active and contributing citizen. Most importantly, it ISN’T step one! There are several things a citizen can, and should do, before focusing on recycling. Last week’s post, which initiated our Heritage Month Active Citizen’s campaign, highlighted some of these actions.
When it comes to plastic, Individual actions make a difference and small steps shift systems
One thing is critical to emphasise. As Active Citizens, you don’t have to go from zero to hero overnight. Changing your behaviour with incremental changes is still valuable and, indeed, will allow you to adjust and build confidence. There are several easy steps one can take in our everyday lives BEFORE recycling that may help educate ourselves about the circular econoy before tackling the complex world of recyclables. For instance:
- REDUCTION: An active citizen refuses unnecessary consumption. The only action here is to buy something that is unnecessary and which will generate unnecessary waste. This is often linked to items that are designed for single use. For example, do you really need the plastic cutlery that restaurants will provide you with when ordering a takeaway? We think you probably don’t – so simply say “no thank you” to free plastic items that you likly already possess at home!
- REFILL: An active citizen uses refillable containers where possible. Do you enjoy your morning coffee? Why not get a cup that you can reuse again and again, thereby reducing the need to make use of single use coffee cups and lids.
- MAINTAIN: MAny products can have mulitple lives with simple routine maintenance, thereby reducing the need to buy new versions of products you already have.
All of the above come with the added benefit that they likely save you money as well!
Nevertheless, recycling is an important activity that active citizens can contribute towards. Recycling is socially responsible. By recycling a consumer plays their individual role to ensure that recyclable materials are kept within the economy, thereby supporting a range of jobs along the plastic packaging value chain and keeping plastic out of the environment.
The plastic packaging recycling value chain involves many components including collection, transport, sorting, processing, remanufacturing, redistribution and more, but that entire process ultimately starts in the homes of consumers!
As active citizens focused on recycling, the single most impactful thing you can do is to separate your recyclables from othe rwaste; partiuclarly from wet, organic waste.
Follow us more next week as we dive deeper into the roles that active citizens can take on!
