Article extracted from Asian Diver Issue 02/2020 (155)
It’s not just on a national level where change is being implemented. Several evolved and active brands have derived, produced or presented products to the world that take on an environmentally friendly angle by promoting sustainability. Let’s celebrate the respective initiatives taken up by commercial brands, non-governmental organisations, non-profit organisations, and social and technical enterprises, as we attempt to capture some of the most unique and memorable ones.
Check out International Brands Against Plastic – Retail & Fashion here!
Check out International Brands Against Plastic – Entertainment here!
FAST-MOVING CONSUMER GOODS
ÉVIAN
Évian has pledged to produce entirely recycled bottles by 2025. They are attempting to graduate from a linear model to a circular one with the aid of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. A collaboration with the Veolia waste management company will also ensure that they speed up their rates of recycling and their bottles don’t end up in the ocean.
NESTLÉ
KFC’S PLASTIC PROHIBITION
MCDONALD’S
A McDonald’s spokesman said there would be no replacement straws offered for now, and that they would monitor consumer response. He said: “During this period, we will monitor the sentiments of our valued customers closely and keep track of its feasibility in Singapore before making the decision to implement this change in all our restaurants islandwide.” The trial is a part of the chain’s attempt to “drive environmentally sustainable practices in our restaurants, including packaging, energy efficiency, waste management, and green restaurant design”.
COCA-COLA
In 2018, the mega-company announced a goal to collect and recycle the equivalent of every bottle or can that they sell by the year 2030. As part of their “World Without Waste” initiative, they are trying to change the system of the packaging life-cycle. Right now they’re focused on developing 100 percent recyclable packaging and mitigating the amount of plastic in their bottles.
CARLSBERG
STARBUCKS
Starbucks is inviting you to enjoy your favourite coffee guilt- and plastic-free by the end of this year as it eliminates plastic straws from all its outlets globally. Single-use plastic straws will be replaced with new recyclable strawless lids and straw options made from alternative materials. While the coffee chain will eliminate a staggering one billion plastic straws annually, the fate of the replacement “recyclable” strawless lids remains in question, given that less than one-tenth of the world’s plastic is recycled.
GUINNESS
“For 260 years Guinness has played a vital role in the communities around us. We already have one of the most sustainable breweries in the world at St. James’s Gate [in Dublin, Ireland] and we are now leading the way in sustainable packaging,” said Mark Sandys, Global Head of Beer, Baileys, and Smirnoff.
FAIRPRICE
Shoppers who want to use plastic bags will have to pay 20 cents for every transaction at FairPrice, FairPrice Finest, and FairPrice Xtra stores. For Cheers and FairPrice Xpress stores, they will be charged 10 cents per transaction. The FairPrice chain will donate the collection of the plastic bag levy to the Singapore Children’s Society and The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund.
UNILEVER, DOVE
Liked this post? Stayed tuned for Airlines’ initiatives on mitigating plastic use!