“It’s not just about reducing our impact, but about being a force for regeneration to address the challenges of plastic waste, water scarcity and biodiversity loss.” Procter & Gamble, 2020.
To generate a sustainable Supply Chain, you must know your alternatives. Bio and waste-based feedstock, for example, will be the basis of sustainable industries.
Like Procter & Gamble (P&G) projections, that is trying to drive a Circular Supply Chain Economy approach for recycled-plastic through the use of circular-resin in its liquid-substance containers and hair care products packaging. Their ambitious goals for 2030 are to support and motivate positive impact on the environment and the society throughout the Supply Chain (SC) process, while creating value both, for the company and consumers.
The new packaging uses recycled-plastic element for these products, also called “circular pet,” meaning the possibility of using such material in different packaging several times. A waste management company will produce the material suitable for all brands filling-in PET bottles. Considering this partnership, P&G plans to prevent the use of 200 million bottles of virgin-plastic over five years. By engaging to use this material, P&G is driving a new Circular Supply Chain and building a promising market for recycled plastics.
The target is to use the resin to meet 50% recycled-content bottles by the end of this year. By 2022, they pretend to produce all packaging to be recyclable, and 30% plastic-usage reduction by 2025.
Creating cooperative partnerships with multi-stakeholder will put forwards suggestion and collaborative actions to transform and innovate the plastic economy in many countries. 2020 is a challenge putting us on the right course, not only to reducing industries impacting the environment. The principal purpose is to influence and repairing what biodiversity loss represents today, as well as water scarcity and the escalating plastic waste, bringing long-term impact on global changes.
The intelligent packaging is encompassing digital watermarks to qualify material-recycling facilities easily to classify and recycle. This smart packaging, barely visible to the human eye, can be uncovered by intelligent phones or optical scanners; the technology supports consumer and brands long-lasting commitment at every stage.
By 2030 goals the compromise is 100% recyclable and reusable packaging, hopefully worldwide, as it is to cut greenhouse gas emissions and purchasing enough renewable electricity to power 100% of industries, focusing on sourcing water from circular sources.
Global innovation platforms – Partnerships with renowned venture capital firms to grow and connect partners and investors can open many doors globally when investing directly.
Talking about Transportation, the purpose is to focus on vehicle drivers, drive loads half full or almost empty, and investment in an innovative-software-providers solution for Logistics managements.
For example, data consolidate shipments to assure each vehicle has the optimal fill-level, as to reduce the number of lorries required. Downgrading greenhouse-gas emissions due to more sustainable loads, reduces transport cost, whilst enhancing environmental benefits all over SC.
The commercialisation of the bio-economy
Governments, consumer’s brands, bio-based chemical companies, are all trying to put plastics out of their business. They are no longer looking at how unique clothing materials are made of, but the effort behind making it, based on comfort, sustainability and simple design. Innovation and sustainability are vital elements when designing a product.
There is a need to start manufacturing from bio-based materials whilst ensuring full transparency throughout the SC. For instance, industries using solar energy that receive lots of incentive for that; or companies using the bio-based product.
Bio-based goods come from plants and other renewable agricultural, forestry or marine elements and are an alternative to petroleum-derived products. These products, combined with the successful application of technology, are environment-friendly (e.g. cleaning products, lubricants, fertiliser, bioplastic, or inks.)
Fermentation has given us a new level of production, such as unequalled lower-cost-value processes, exceptional-low risk, and real ecological benefits. Their research and development, together with process optimisation, ensure the most sustainable and efficient use of raw materials possible, avoiding harmful materials and reducing waste.
Further comments: the term Circular Supply Chain is a forget one; Bio-derived and sustainable are words never before applied at different industries which have no health-related concerns on how damaging it could be to the environment. Commonly, businesses produce several harmful waste products, including solvents, soils, carbon, dyes, grease, and powdered filter material.
Until now, developments are making a little better for the environment, and a lot more bio-based research. Circular Supply Chain and Economy add an outmost and significant advantage for our clients, and mainly for our environment.
Is your company committed to become greener by applying a Circular Supply Chain?
Photo credit: Paula Prekopova / Unsplash