New UN resolution provides opportunity to explore plastic alternatives

While plastics were once seen as a daily convenience, they are now obviously the source of a planetary crisis. In fact, more than 8 million tons of plastic waste finds its way to our oceans each year. It’s a significant threat to the oceans’ diverse plant and animal life, and as such, it becomes a threat to our own existence as well.

That’s why the United Nations at its Environmental Assembly just days ago adopted a resolution on marine litter and microplastics. With all 193 member states approving the measure, it’s a bold pledge to put an end to plastic waste in our world’s oceans.

DATA CAN NO LONGER BE IGNORED

Environmental experts and environmentally conscious consumers tout the resolution as a hugely positive move. “All nations on the planet are now aware of the problem, and there is no excuse for not acting,” says Erik Solheim, head of UN Environment.

The next step, experts say, is for UN representatives to transform this research and data into policy action. Some countries, like the UK, are considering banning microplastics in cosmetics. Other countries, like Kenya and Rwanda, have already enforced bans on single-use plastic bags.

TIME TO TRANSFORM PRODUCT PACKAGING

That policy action in many other countries may also take the form of changes in product packaging requirements. “We need to see companies take responsibility for the full lifecycle of their product packaging,” Solheim says.

That sentiment is an echo of the world’s environmentally-aware consumers, who have long recognized that achieving sustainability is not just a beneficial benchmark—it’s a planetary necessity. The good news is that environmentally-friendly and affordable packaging options already exist. Creating them is our company’s purpose.

If your company has traditionally used man-made plastics, we at Paptic believe that now is the time for you to explore durable yet sustainable product packaging alternatives. To learn more or contact us, go to paptic.com.