Nico Den Ouden, chief commercial officer at ELeather says to make the right environmental decisions we all need to do our research, which means understanding the “full supply chain”
To make the right environmental decisions we all need to do our research. This means understanding the full supply chain – from working practices and raw materials to processing and disposal. By doing this, we can make the correct ethical choices in how we live and conduct our lives…
It’s ironic that when Swedish engineer Sten Gustaf Thulin created the first plastic bag in 1959, he did-so with the intention of saving the planet. The invention was designed to reduce the use of paper and curb deforestation. But rather than reuse the same bag over and over again, consumers came to regard them as single-use disposable items.
To make the right environmental decisions we all need to do our research. This means understanding the full supply chain – from working practices and raw materials to processing and disposal. By doing this, we can make the correct ethical choices in how we live and conduct our lives…
According to the National Geographic, in 2018 shoppers in the US used almost one plastic bag per resident per day. In contrast, shoppers in Denmark used on average, four plastic bags per year. So, is being eco-conscious just a matter of psychology and education?
Today, we have a new class of consumer, their primary motivation is in the preservation of the planet and the promotion of the circular economy of reuse, recycle and repair. People are using events like Veganuary and the One Million Women Carbon Challenge to set personal goals for the year, with an aim to become more environmentally responsible.
Even with the best intentions however, both consumers and businesses need to look beyond the environmentally friendly sticker to ensure they are making sustainable choices. So, what do they need to look out for?
The final (plastic) straw
The plastic straw has become the symbol of the green movement. We used more than 4.6 billion of them in England alone, before the Government banned them. We can call that a victory for public opinion. Many have consciously switched to alternatives, like paper and bamboo, as a result.
Bamboo quickly become a fashionable alternative to paper straws which have been criticised for not lasting long enough. But here lies the rub. Bamboo is not a native UK crop. To ship and produce it in vast quantities creates an enormous carbon footprint. Does this start to outweigh any environmental benefits its usage provides?
By checking the origins of the products you’re purchasing – where it’s come from, how it compares to alternative options – businesses and consumers can ensure that they’re not giving with one hand and taking with the other.
This means considering things like factory emissions and waste from the production process, and carbon emissions related to the shipping of products.
Animal instinct
Vegan leather presents a similar challenge. While the material may eliminate the use of animal products, it is also likely to contain high quantities of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), and polyurethane, which are hard to biodegrade and release harmful dioxins if burnt.
So, as eco-conscious businesses and consumers, what can we do? The process must begin once again by looking beyond the label. If a material appears to be an ethical choice at face value, dig a little deeper to understand the full lifecycle.
If you are swapping a natural product for a purely synthetic alternative, the environmental impact can do more harm than good.
Businesses and consumers: Taking positive steps together
Today, both businesses and consumers are working hard to make more sustainable and environmentally friendly decisions on a daily basis. For consumers this can be as simple as re-using a plastic bag, while for businesses it can mean taking a more ethical approach to the supply chain.
KLM, the oldest airline in the world, is just one example of a business looking for ways to become more sustainable. It’s Biofuel Programme enables corporate customers to ensure that sustainable biofuel is used for a portion of their air travel.
Participants pay a surcharge that covers the difference in price between sustainable biofuel and regular kerosene. Where it isn’t possible to reduce CO2 emissions through the use of biofuel, airlines are also trying to encourage conscious travel through Carbon Offsetting schemes.
Sustainable to the core
Estimates show that a circular economy could save European businesses more than $630bn a year. If only consumers and businesses knew how to cut down consumption and reuse waste. It is a little like the Danes and their plastic bags – we need to learn how to use things more responsibly.
While we’ve all become familiar with negative headlines, there are also reasons to be optimistic. The emergence of top environmental company lists are proof of a growing understanding of the environmental challenges that businesses face, as well as the important steps that they are taking to solve them.
What’s clear is that to drive real change, it has to be about more than just a tick-box exercise. The true leaders in this space are those that take responsibility for what, where and how they manufacture products.
Companies need to introduce schemes that improve the planet and embed sustainability into their culture. It’s about being responsible for all actions, at all stages.
Going beyond a buzzword
It’s easy to get sucked into the hype surrounding sustainable practices and products.
To make a difference however, industry as a whole needs to make sure that product sustainability isn’t just a marketing buzzword.
It’s about making responsible use of the world’s natural resources and ensuring that our actions don’t negatively impact the planet for future generations.
Businesses must focus on reducing CO2 where possible, increasing the recycling of materials in both pre and post-production and reducing waste. In parallel of course, they must ensure that the performance of the product is not compromised.
To make the right environmental decisions we all need to do our research. This means understanding the full supply chain – from working practices and raw materials to processing and disposal. By doing this, we can make the correct ethical choices in how we live and conduct our lives…
