What About Living Without Plastic Packaging?

What about living without plastic packaging? Transforming industries to reduce the use of plastic and single-use packaging in collaboration with Introduction Surfrider Foundation Europe is an This report aims to: NGO that has been working to protect the oceans, coastal environment and uses for over 27 years. As such, it pays parti- 1. cular attention to the marine pollution Assess the extent of pollution caused caused by manmade waste (packaging, by plastics and single-use packaging of microplastics, cigarette butts, etc.). manufactured goods. The packaging is harmful to the environment, dangerous for both human health and biodi- French Bureau is an agency that shapes versity, and expensive for businesses. the future with innovation — at the speed of a startup. We help businesses create products and services that address today’s economic, social and environmental challenges. 2. Show that recycling is an insuffi- We recognize manufacturers’ responsi- cient solution and that we need to bility towards the pollution of ecosystems. go further. It is necessary to reinvent As such, we want to help them transform consumer goods so that they reflect their business models to make them more both sustainable and desirable uses. sustainable. We want to implement the principles of the circular economy, where waste is seen as a resource rather than a loss. We want to trigger businesses’ 3. ecological transition by designing and Explore and imagine a city that could creating relevant, sustainable and exist today, a city that has eliminated economically positive innovations. all plastics and single-use packaging. Several innovations listed by French Bureau Produced by French Bureau in collabo- are already creating incredible oppor- ration with Surfrider Foundation Europe, tunities to reduce, remove or transform this report aims to show manufacturers that packaging to make it sustainable. they can transform their business models by reconsidering the role of packaging, particularly plastic and single-use packaging, to create virtuous and sustainable businesses. French Bureau in collaboration wit Surfrider Foundation Europe, May 2018 2 Table of contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................................2 Recycling isn’t enough, let’s tackle the root of the problem! 1. Assessment: the urgent need to tackle the impact of packaging ......................................4 2. The need to reinvent uses to transform models .................................................................11 Welcome to the city of sustainable packaging! 1. At home ..................................................................................................................................... 16 Bathrooms .......................................................................................................................................16 Kitchens ...........................................................................................................................................18 2. Shopping ...................................................................................................................................20 Distribution and supply chain .....................................................................................................20 Reducing packaging during sale to the consumer ......................................................................22 3. The workplace .......................................................................................................................... 25 4. Outings and outdoor dining ................................................................................................. 27 5. Industry .................................................................................................................................... 31 Rethink production .........................................................................................................................31 New production methods ..............................................................................................................33 Want to find the right solution for your industry? About us ........................................................................................................................................ 41 French Bureau in collaboration wit Surfrider Foundation Europe, May 2018 3 1. Assessment: the urgent need to tackle the impact of packaging In first part of the report, the analysis is sweet wrappers, food containers and cutlery.1 based on figures, data and analysis with the There is an absurd discrepancy between how contribution of Surfrider Foundation Europe. long packaging is used, its manufacturing cost and its negative impact. A 2007 study found #Packaging: a significant and that some products’ packaging could cost preventable source of waste three times more than the product itself.2 Vast continents of waste, dead birds suffocated by plastics, biodiversity under threat: the distressing images are wides- pread and the general public is increasingly 61% aware of consumerism’s impact on our of the plastic found on environment and health. The packaging beaches around the world is of products we consume generates a signi- single-use ficant proportion of the waste we produce. It is vital to address the waste generated by In France, packaging waste accounts packaging, as much could easily be avoided or for over 50% of what goes into our bins, reduced. Of course, packaging has an essential according to a 2004 estimate by the Ecology 3 role in protection, preservation and infor- Ministry. Every year, we use and throw away 4 mation, but too often manufactured goods the equivalent of our body weight in plastic. are overpackaged. With yogurts packaged twice in cardboard and plastic, unnecessary packaging is omnipresent in our daily lives. What’s more, the vast majority of packaging is only used for a ridiculously short time before being thrown away. 61% of the plastic found on beaches around the world is single-use, such as plastic bags, bottles, crisp packets, 1 https://www.zerowastefrance.org/fr/articles/438-un-nouveau-rapport-demontre-que-les-emballages-plastique-ne-permettent-pas-de-lutter- contre-le-gaspillage-alimentaire 2 http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-468022/Product-packaging-cost-times-whats-inside.html 3 https://www.actu-environnement.com/ae/news/451.php 4 https://theconversation.com/dechets-plastiques-la-dangereuse-illusion-du-tout-recyclage-90359#link_time=1517176581 French Bureau in collaboration wit Surfrider Foundation Europe, May 2018 4 The waste most commonly found on European beaches by Initiatives Océanes, a participatory science programme organized by Surfrider Foundation Europe It is astonishing to note that Although Asian and African countries since 1950, 42% of all plastics has have the largest share of mismanaged plastic been used for packaging, i.e. for waste (uncollected and unrecycled), the worthless perishable goods.5 main plastic producers are the U.S., Europe, Asia and China (49, 50, 41 and 60 million What’s more, most packaging is not tonnes produced respectively in 2015).9 recycled. In Europe, the plastic recycling rate is just 31%.6 Globally, that figure falls to 14%. 7 The remainder ends up in landfill, incinerators or directly in the environment. In total, over three quarters of used plastic 14% ends its life in the land, rivers and oceans.8 of plastic waste is recycled 5 https://www.plasticseurope.org/application/files/5715/1717/4180/Plastics_the_facts_2017_FINAL_for_website_one_page.pdf 6 http://www.journaldelenvironnement.net/article/recyclage-des-plastiques-la-france-fait-de-la-resistance,89521 7 https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/news/ellen-macarthur-foundation-and-the-prince-of-waless-international-sustainability-unit- launch-2-million-innovation-prize-to-keep-plastics-out-the-ocean 8 https://theconversation.com/dechets-plastiques-la-dangereuse-illusion-du-tout-recyclage-90359#link_time=1517176581 9 http://www.grida.no/resources/6923 French Bureau in collaboration wit Surfrider Foundation Europe, May 2018 5 #Plastic waste’s disastrous impact on the environment Packaging has a major environmental impact. It is strewn across our land, rivers, beaches, seas and oceans. Plastic packaging is particularly responsible for environmental pollution. 700 tonnes of plastics are emptied into the Mediterranean every day.10 Globally, at least 8 million tonnes of plastics pollute marine ecosystems every year, or 21,000 tonnes a day.11 A startling figure that explains the formation of the widely publicized «plastic continents» which represents just 3% of the total plastic consumed around the world.12 The problem is only the tip of the iceberg, as National Geographic magazine recently illustrated. Plastic continents are only the tip of the iceberg. Plastics represent 85% of the waste on Cover of National Geographic, May 2018. 13 beaches around the world. Plastic bottles, By 2050, almost all marine birds will have plastic bags and food packaging are the swallowed plastic. Causing strangulation, three most commonly found waste on ingestion or entanglement, the plastic in the European beaches. The hundreds of thou- ocean threatens over 800 marine species.14 If sands of tonnes of plastic reaching the ocean nothing is done, there could be more plastic destroy biodiversity. They are ingested than fish in the ocean by 2050. The amount by fauna and have a considerable impact of plastic

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