As much as we’d like to, it is impossible to discontinue plastic production today. However, there are methods to reduce its production. Our plan of action works around recycling.
In the Last 70 years, we have accumulated 8.3 billion metric tonnes of plastic and 6.3 billion metric tonnes end up as waste. Out of this waste, only 9% is recycled despite recycling being a known solution. It has a lot of potential. Recycling can successfully reduce waste generation and simultaneously increase sustainability.
Our enterprise would play the role of a mediator, between clothing stores and companies that require plastic for mass production. The prototype we have come up with so far, is a service (displayed on the home page). We will collect plastic waste from clothing stores (such as packaging and cloth hangers) and bring them to our warehouse where we will proceed to segregate and melt down the plastic waste. After that, we plan on selling it to companies that require plastic at a discounted price. For example, Plastic containing HDPE can also be supplied to pipe companies. It can be used to make non corrosive water pipes.
Is our Enterprise desirable? Are clothing stores and companies on board with reducing plastic consumption? Do they care about finding alternatives to plastic production? Where are you available?
These questions might strike you when you think about our solution.
Yes, our Enterprise is desirable. Our target audience (retailers and companies) are based in Australia, making it the location for our warehouse and service. Not only will we be targeting SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and 13 (Climate Action), we will also be generating employment- additionally addressing SDG 8 (Decent work and economic growth).
Our Enterprise is desirable to producers who are ethically and environmentally conscious.
The awareness of plastic pollution has increased massively and the fashion industry is responsible for 26% of the total plastic production every year, out of which 72% of plastic is generated as waste. Big fashion brands like H&M are looking for green packaging but understandably, it is not affordable to all small clothing brands and stores. This is where we come into the picture, helping them drastically reduce plastic generation.
Furthermore, profit driven companies prefer using virgin plastic because it is cheaper than recycled plastic. By offering plastic at a discounted price, we are making recycled plastic affordable.
As mentioned earlier, our service is desirable to ethically and environmentally conscious producers, increasing the feasibility rate of our enterprise. Two challenges in our path are getting retailers on board (to allow us to collect their plastic waste) and efficiently processing the plastic waste. The former can be met with retailers aiding our cause as a part of their CSR. If we can have the Government enforce and promote reutilization of plastic (providing tax exemptions, subsidies and incentives), it would help align our cause with that of companies requiring plastic. Proceeding in this manner would make our service highly viable.