We will not create a world without plastics because it is such a good material. But we can aim for a future without plastic waste and pollution. A globally coordinated approach is vital to this effort.
We need to transition to a circular economy that allows us all to reuse, recycle and reduce our plastic footprint. In a circular economy, materials would be effectively recycled and reused to create new products, reducing the impact of waste on the environment. Five years ago, WWF set an ambitious goal to see no new plastic in nature by 2030. And thanks to the efforts of millions of people like you across the world, we’re on track to meet that goal. At home, WWF is advocating for strong policies to tackle the problem of plastic pollution from both federal and state governments such as Extended Producer Responsibility.
Using recycled plastic to make clothing can help reduce waste and create new products. Some brands that use recycled plastic in their clothing include:
Patagonia One of the first companies to make fleece clothing from recycled plastic bottles
Ecoalf Uses recycled materials like ocean plastic to create sustainable fashion
Batoko Makes swimwear from recycled plastic trash that would otherwise end up in landfills or oceans
Mara Hoffman Uses recycled fibers and organic fabrics to make dresses and swimwear
Tentree Uses recycled plastic bottles or manufacturing waste to make recycled polyester, which can reduce CO emissions by up to 75%
Ellie Evans Uses regenerated nylon, called ECONYL, made from plastic waste like fishing nets, carpet, and industrial plastic
Veja Uses fabric made from recycled plastic bottles to make sneakers that are breathable, waterproof, and light
Most coffee shops are happy to fill your personal reusable cup instead of supplying a paper or styrofoam cup that they have to pay for and can’t charge you for. Many coffee shops (at least in the U.S.) will give you a small discount for using your personal cup
This commitment isn't just for show. Lego sees its core customers as children and their parents, and sustainability is fundamentally about ensuring that future generations inherit a planet as hospitable as the one we enjoy today.
So it was surprising when the Financial Times reported on Sept. 25, 2023, that Lego had pulled out of its widely publicized "Bottles to Bricks" initiative.
This ambitious project aimed to replace traditional Lego plastic with a new material made from recycled plastic bottles. However, when Lego assessed the project's environmental impact throughout its supply chain, it found that producing bricks with the recycled plastic would require extra materials and energy to make them durable enough.
I'm sad to learn this, but thank you for providing an explanation of Lego's decision. This highlights how much research we still need to fund to improve the process of plastics recycling.
I believe if Lego suspended the project, it was for legitimate reasons and not financial ones. I would like to think that they are going to find another way for this to work OR find an alternative.
The entire lifecycle of disposable cups, from raw material extraction to production and transportation, requires significant energy, contributing to environmental degradation,” Preetam Basu and Thanos Papadopoulos, professors at the Kent School of Business and co-authors of a 2022 report on coffee cup waste, said in an emailed statement. “The slow decomposition of disposable cups, especially those with plastic linings, can lead to the release of microplastics into the environment,” and on the off chance that your disposable cup winds up in waste bound for incineration, that process “can release pollutants into the air
The introduction of plastic bottles in 1968 made the packaging of larger water volume possible, including 1.5-liter bottles, the most popular size today in many countries. In the late 1960s, Perrier, with its signature small green bottle, further transformed the industry through the use of mass advertising.
Stephanie Steppie Royes 7/31/2024 8:34 AMWe will not create a world without plastics because it is such a good material. But we can aim for a future without plastic waste and pollution. A globally coordinated approach is vital to this effort.
Guy Tillis 7/31/2024 3:00 AMToday is the last day of this challenge. Hope everyone did well. I'm so sad to see it end.
Mary Hanks 7/27/2024 12:47 PMI'm sad to learn this, but thank you for providing an explanation of Lego's decision. This highlights how much research we still need to fund to improve the process of plastics recycling.
Alyssa Tyree 7/27/2024 2:20 PMI believe if Lego suspended the project, it was for legitimate reasons and not financial ones. I would like to think that they are going to find another way for this to work OR find an alternative.
