Do plastic bag bans work?
Do plastic bag bans work?
This latest report has something to say about that
This edition is sponsored by SIXR, that’s on a mission to prevent waste in the fashion industry through its digital platform which incentivizes and streamlines the reuse and recycling of clothing
Along with George Brown College, Toronto, they released a FOR TOMORROW hoodie that is made using sustainabilty design principles .
They are running a kickstarted campaign and you can support them too.
Oh also, in the hoodie, they have built this cool secret stash pocket that quickly secures (& releases) your phone. Do check it out :)
Today’s eco snapshot👇🏽
Are plastic bag bans successful?
Startup of the week: KIUD Packaging
5 brands that sustainably stand out
Some good news from around the world
3 ways I can help you on your sustainability journey
⛔ Are plastic bag bans successful?
Plastic bags are known for causing pollution and harm to wildlife, and they are really hard to recycle.
Various cities and countries across the world have tried to put a ban on them in the last few years but do these bans work? Do they reduce the amount of plastic ending up in our landfills and oceans?
Well, according to this new report, they actually do.
A report published by Environment America, U.S. Public Interest Research Group Education Fund, and Frontier Group highlights the success of plastic bag bans in reducing plastic bag use.
The report draws on industry and government data to suggest that these bans can eliminate nearly 300 single-use plastic bags per person per year. It examines representative policies in New Jersey, Vermont, Philadelphia, Portland, and Santa Barbara, and finds that New Jersey's ban has had the greatest impact, eliminating over 5.5 billion plastic bags annually.
It emphasizes that plastic bag bans work, as people quickly adapt to bringing their own bags or skipping bags altogether.
It also recommends policymakers ban all kinds of plastic bags, including thicker ones that are nominally reusable but often not reused. Overall, plastic bag bans are an effective strategy for reducing plastic waste and its negative environmental impacts.
It's time for us to bag the habit of using single-use plastics and embrace a more reusable future 💚.
Time for the quiz of the week ⌛
Answer at the end of the newsletter. No one (including me) can see your response so feel free to vote 😉
✨ Startup of the week: KIUD Packaging
Textile Trouble…Every year, millions of tons of textiles are discarded, but only a small percentage is recycled. The majority is disposed of in landfills and incinerators, which contributes to carbon emissions in the atmosphere.
From Threads to Boxes…KIUD is addressing this issue by recycling textile waste. It collects used textiles, such as old clothes and fabrics, and transforms them into packaging boxes using an innovative thermo mechanical process. This process does not involve the use of any chemicals or water.
Boxing Sustainability…And that's not all! This solution addresses another problem: the issue with conventional cardboard boxes. Cardboard production contributes to deforestation and habitat loss, while also consuming significant amounts of water and chemicals. Additionally, a large portion of cardboard ends up in landfills and incinerators, resulting in greenhouse gas emissions. KIUD boxes have the potential to eliminate all of these issues.
✅ Brands that sustainably stand out
🇨🇱 Algramo: Refilling service for essential goods.
🇮🇳 Bare Necessities: Making zero-waste personal, home care & lifestyle products.
🇺🇸 Caraway: Ceramic-based cookware to replace the toxic Teflon-coated pans.
🇮🇳 Thaely: Making sneakers from recycled plastic.
🇬🇧 Sojo: Makes clothing alterations and repairs as easy as ordering food from an app.
Engage with hundreds of sustainable brands like these by upgrading to a paid subscription. It comes with access to a database of planet-friendly brands worldwide.
😹 Some Good News
🚫 EU Puts an End to Greenwashing: The EU cracks down on deceptive eco-friendly claims by producers, bidding adieu to murky greenwashing. Its new legislation promotes transparency by banning climate-neutral claims based solely on offsetting, ensuring concrete evidence, and protecting consumers from being misled.
🇺🇾 Uruguay's Transition from Energy Challenges to Wind-tastic Success!: Uruguay, once faced with energy challenges, has undergone a remarkable transformation in the past 15 years. With a focus on transitioning to renewable energy, particularly wind power, the country now generates a staggering 98% of its energy from renewable sources. By changing the narrative around renewables and highlighting their cost-effectiveness and reliability, Uruguay has tackled climate change and set an inspiring example for the world.
🤑The US Oil and Gas Industry to be Fined for Excessive Methane Emissions: The oil and gas industry, the largest industrial emitter of methane in the US, may face fines for exceeding emission levels under a proposed rule by the EPA. The Waste Emissions Charge, established by the Inflation Reduction Act, would gradually increase the penalty for excess emissions. This new regulation aims to hold operators accountable and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
🌎 3 ways I can help you
📞 Interested in chatting about sustainability and climate change? Book a free call here
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Click that 💚 if this added some value to you.
Enjoy your weekend, and see you next week😊