The consumer product impact scoring platform, Dayrize has made clear its position on a ‘Zero Plastic Policy’ to end the persistence of single-use plastics and explore the use of viable alternatives, as an “imperative” in tackling escalating environmental crises.
In a post to mark Plastic-Free July, the data and technology experts are putting their weight behind a commitment from companies and organisations “to eliminate the use of plastic materials in their products entirely.’
A Zero Plastic Policy – the team suggests – would therefore aim to reduce plastic pollution, minimise the impact on ecosystems and wildlife, and promote sustainable practices that contribute to a cleaner and healthier environment.
To reach this zenith, Dayrize has called upon the need now to take on the ‘formidable global challenge’ of recalibrating our approach to product design, production, and consumption.
It’s according to some estimates that 9.2 billion metric tons of plastic were produced between 1950 and 2017 and that global production is on course to reach over 1.1 billion tons per year by 2050 if its current trajectory remains unaltered. It’s also understood that 99% of plastics are derived from fossil fuels meaning the production of plastic is a process that contributes to climate change at every stage of its lifecycle.
Current projections suggest that plastic production and incineration will account for between 10-13% of the global annual carbon budget by 2050.
At the end of April this year, the fourth round of negotiations to develop an international legally-binding instrument on plastic pollution – a Global Plastic Treaty – came to its conclusion with agreement reached upon an ‘advanced draft text’ ahead of the fifth and final round of talks in November this year.
The discussions – held in Ottawa, Canada from April 23 to 29 – brought together more than 2,500 delegates representing 170 Members and over 480 observer organisations including NGOs, intergovernmental organisations, and UN entities, marking the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee’s largest and most inclusive gathering to date. In fact, observer participation increased by almost 50%.
Delegates discussed – among other things – emissions and releases; production; product design; waste management; problematic and avoidable plastics; financing; and a just transition into a zero single-use plastic society.
Both the Treaty and Dayrize’s position on plastics recognise that ‘recycle is not enough’ and that ‘if we want people to consumer zero plastic, we need to rethink product design, production, and consumption.’
“For the last – consumption – it’s important to note that consumers can only buy what industries produce,” stated Dayrize’s team.
Speaking on behalf of Dayrize, Bart Nollen, the tech company’s co-founder, said: “In the face of escalating environmental crises, it’s key to tackle the imperative of a “Zero Plastics Policy, confronting the formidable global challenge of redefining our approach to product design, production, and consumption.
“We need to unravel the complexities inherent in eliminating single-use plastics from our daily lives and explore innovative, sustainable alternatives that not only defy conventional manufacturing norms but also foster a paradigm shift towards a world where every concept of disposable plastics is rendered obsolete.“Join us in creating a future where the design and production of products no longer contribute to the plastic epidemic, paving the way for a more sustainable and responsible era in product development.”
