STABILO International GmbH’s Post

Today is Earth Day! It’s time to find out how you did in our Earth Day plastics quiz! 🌎 Check out the answers below. Did any of the results surprise you? Let us know in the comments…💬 Q1: Which sector is the biggest source of microplastics in the Netherlands? Answer: Tyres 🛞 A study by the Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research showed that car tyres provide the greatest plastic contribution, followed by packaging and agricultural plastic. Q2: What type of plastic produces the most microplastics? Answer: PMMA (PolyMethyl MethAcrylate) PolyMethyl MethAcrylate produces the most microplastics. This type of plastic is used for a wide range of applications, such as lenses, rear lights, indoor and outdoor signs & more. Polystyrene comes in second place – used in protective packaging for goods, containers for food products, bottles etc. Q3: Which cucumber has the largest impact on the environment? 🥒 Answer: Unwrapped cucumber left to rot Researchers found that the environmental impact of the plastic wrap is significantly less than the impact of growing the cucumber, shipping it, and letting it rot. In fact, one wasted cucumber has roughly the same environmental impact as the plastic wrap used to cover 93 cucumbers. Q4: Which European country has the highest post-consumer plastics waste recycling? ♻️ Answer: The Netherlands 🇳🇱 The Netherlands is a powerhouse in plastic recycling, with well-developed pre-sorting and post-sorting systems resulting in high recyclability. #EarthDay #PlanetVsPlastics #Microplastics #Plastic #Sustainability #Environment

👀 Are you also wondering what happens to your plastic bottles, kayaks, diapers and car bumpers at the end of their life? Currently, the plastics value chain operates primarily in an "open loop" system. This means that due to inadequate collection and sorting infrastructures, only 48 million tons of plastic waste are collected globally for recycling, while a staggering 𝟑𝟎𝟕 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝, 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝, 𝐨𝐫 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐟. However, there's hope on the horizon. Regulatory and private-sector initiatives are fostering a growing awareness among stakeholders about the necessity of promoting circularity in the plastics industry. We're witnessing the emergence of new technologies and projects aimed at transitioning the plastics value chain towards a more circular model. Attached are some infographics taken from Blunomy’s recent work, illustrating the plastics value chain. 💡 Would you like to learn more about how Blunomy can help you navigate the plastics economy? Contact us! #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #EURegulation

♻ The Future of Plastic: Responsible Use and Innovation As a plastic manufacturer, we understand the current conversation around plastic waste. However, we believe plastic itself isn't the villain – it's our approach to its use. High-quality plastics, when used responsibly, offer numerous benefits: - Durability: Plastic products can last for decades, reducing the need for frequent replacements and minimizing environmental impact. - Versatility: Plastics are lightweight, adaptable, and can be shaped into innovative solutions across industries. - Safety: In medical applications and food packaging, plastics play a crucial role in hygiene and extending product shelf life. The key lies in responsible use and a shift towards a circular economy. Here at Quan Kiet Plastic, we're committed to: - Investing in recycling: Supporting initiatives that promote effective recycling infrastructure and technology. - Developing sustainable solutions: Exploring bio-based and recycled content plastics to minimize environmental footprint. Plastic has its place in a sustainable future, but only through responsible use and continuous innovation. What are your thoughts on this topic? Let's discuss in the comments! #plastics #sustainability #innovation #responsiblemanufacturing

♻️ Can a bottle come back as a bottle, over and over again? Plastic, which is made from oil and gas, is notoriously difficult to recycle. Recent research highlighted on The Guardian blog suggests that plastic producers and the oil and gas industry have been advocating for recycling despite knowing for over 30 years that it's not a viable waste management solution. In recent years, industry lobbying groups have also advocated for chemical recycling, which breaks plastic polymers into smaller molecules to create new plastics, synthetic fuels, and other products. However, this process is more polluting and energy-intensive than traditional recycling methods. The key solution to the plastic problem lies in halting the introduction of new plastics into the supply chain, entirely. That's why we support innovative ventures like One.five and Wayout. 🌿 one • fıve: A pioneering biomaterials research and development company, offering circular, cleaner, and custom packaging solutions, thus eliminating plastics from the  consumer packaged goods industry. 💧 WAYOUT: Revolutionizing water treatment with container-sized facilities that transform local contaminated water into safe, drinkable water. Wayout's localized approach tackles multiple sustainability challenges across the water production value chain while eliminating the need for plastic bottling. If you're a startup dedicated to creatively eliminating plastics from our world, we encourage you to connect with us.  #sustainability #plasticpollution #plasticalternatives Martin Weber, Claire Hae-Min Gusko, Ulf Stenerhag, Doerte Hirschberg, Morten Halborg, Malin Carlstrom, Stefan Maard

More than simply highlighting the devastating effects of #plasticpollution, some of Monday's #EarthDay threads resurfaced what could be highly influential and action-prompting initiatives to address the longstanding issue. A few of these include: ✍🏽 the "Federal Plastics Registry” which will collect data on the type, quantity, and reuse of plastic materials. This tool puts onus on plastic producers and suppliers to provide key info that can improve life cycle assessments and post-consumer collection efforts 💡 guidance documents for limiting and avoiding use of “unnecessary and problematic plastics” + improving circularity where possible 💸 the proposed $183.1 million investment by the federal government (from the 2022-2023 budget, spread over five years) to reduce plastic waste Resources like these provide much-needed direction to tackle bits of the problem, but there's always more to be done and there's a long list of questions to help figure out what those next steps are. Here are some of my curiosities... - How might plastic materials be manufactured differently to overcome current challenges with reuse and recyclability? - What technologies can improve recycling infrastructures as they exist today? What's preventing these from being developed and/or implemented? - How could large-scale plastic manufacturers support emerging bioplastic producers to scale up development and integrate new materials into the market?

“When you talk about plastics, you will have to decide what you want to play with, there are so many types and so many ways…” - Lillian Lee In tackling the big waste problem, plastics are undoubtedly the most notorious, but merely calling plastic the devil and not using it won’t solve the problem. To find a holistic solution, we need to understand each part of the problem thoroughly, which includes the step where plastic is turned from feed to materials like plastic sheets, pellets, etc…. WAMECO aims to learn how we can recycle plastic into reusable materials to be sold to manufacturers, which is in line with our vision to empower and incentivize local communities and partner foundations like Clean up the World to collect waste locally to be sorted and sold to recycling plants to create new value for discarded materials. Where better to learn this than with plastic extrusion machinery experts… What do you think? #plasticextrusion #ecofoundations

Our latest blog post, "Plastic Consumption: Understanding Its Global Impact and Challenges," provides a thorough examination of the widespread global use of plastic and its significant effects. We explore several key areas to offer a complete understanding of this pressing issue: 🔍 Why We Rely so Heavily on Plastic 🌍 Global Perspective ♻️ Complexities in Recycling Different Types of Plastics 🚀 The Urgent Need for Sustainable Alternatives Join us in this crucial conversation on how we can collectively address this environmental challenge. Read the full article and share your thoughts in the comments! #PlasticConsumption #Sustainability #EnvironmentalImpact #Innovation

What's the importance of triangle in plastic products I.e RIC? #awareness #recycling #eprcertification The Resin Identification Code (RIC) is a numerical system implemented for the identification of plastic materials. It consists of a symbol with a number ranging from 1 to 7, usually enclosed within a triangle of arrows. Each number corresponds to a specific type of resin used in the production of plastic items. This coding system was introduced by the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI) to facilitate recycling processes and to provide consumers, recyclers, and waste management facilities with valuable information about the materials used in plastic products. The significance of the Resin Identification Code lies in its role in promoting efficient recycling practices. Different types of plastics have distinct chemical compositions, and recycling processes vary accordingly. By categorizing plastics through RIC, recycling facilities can sort materials more effectively, ensuring that similar plastics are grouped together for processing. This enhances the overall efficiency of the recycling chain and minimizes contamination, contributing to a more sustainable and environmentally friendly approach to waste management. For consumers, the Resin Identification Code serves as a quick reference guide, helping them make informed choices about the recyclability of the products they use. It empowers individuals to participate in responsible disposal practices by encouraging the separation of recyclable materials from general waste. Moreover, the RIC aids in raising awareness about the environmental impact of different types of plastics, fostering a culture of conscious consumption. The Resin Identification Code is a crucial tool in the broader context of sustainable living, aligning the interests of manufacturers, consumers, and recyclers towards a more circular and environmentally responsible economy.

🔜 Reducing Plastic and Microplastic: Our Solutions for a Sustainable Future We offer innovative solutions in the field of packaging and bags, actively engaging in reducing plastic and microplastic in the environment. Our packaging materials enable BIOTRANSFORMATION: 🌏 “The world’s first technology for the biological conversion of polyolefin packaging materials in the open environment” ➡ Packaging – Current Status Global Plastic Production - 78 million tonnes (25%): Plastic packaging - 283 million tonnes (75%): Other plastics ➡ Global Plastic Packaging Material Flow - 8%: Cascaded recycling - 4%: Process losses - 40%: Landfilled - 32%: Leaks to nature - 14%: Incineration and/or energy recovery - 14%: Collected for recycling - 2%: Closed-loop recycling - 98%: Virgin feedstock ✅ Our Solutions We offer eco-friendly packaging solutions made from BIOTRANSFORMATION materials in the following areas: - Shopping bags - Pouches - Packaging solutions for various sectors - For industry and commerce ➡ Our products are designed for industry and commerce, providing the following benefits: ✔ No further chemical treatment required: The natural transformation process needs no additional treatment. ✔ Reduction of plastic waste: Our materials help minimize plastic waste. ✔ Environmental protection: Reduces microplastic pollution and protects the environment. ✔ Sustainability: Supports an eco-friendly future. 🌍 Do you want to live in a plastic-free world? ⬇ Contact form: https://lnkd.in/erD_2kd6 ⌛ It's time to take responsibility and provide solutions for the future. #Sustainability #EnvironmentalProtection #PlasticReduction #Microplastic #PackagingSolutions #Industry #Commerce #Innovation #Biotransformation #Recycling #PlasticFree #verpackung #industry #eco #madeingermany #tips #natural #nature #earth #mikroplastik #abfallwirtschaft #umweltschutz #umwelt

Many believe that compostable plastics offer a more sustainable alternative to non-degradable plastic. We think differently. In 2022, we looked into the science behind compostables and discovered some problems. - Right now, it’s difficult to reliably dispose of compostables responsibly, due to a lack of recycling infrastructure in the UK. - It’s not always clear which materials are used in compostable plastics. - And there’s a growing body of evidence doubting their claims of breaking down. These points convinced us that most compostable plastics don’t end up where they should, and can even pose a risk to our efforts to be more circular. So we made the decision to eliminate all single-use compostable packaging from our range – on the basis that we couldn’t guarantee it would be dealt with appropriately. Instead, we’ve encouraged our suppliers to move to single-material plastic films that we can collect through Plastic Pick-Up, or to opt for a refillable container through Club Zero. Find out more about our decision to move away from comppostables in our blog, here: https://bit.ly/4ctMHAd #AbelandCole #Sustainability #Compostable #Packaging