Alan VanderMolen
Chief Communications Officer, SC Johnson
Experts estimate that by 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean. It’s imperative that businesses, government, NGOs and individuals work together to tackle this problem before it’s too late.
Over the past few years, society and industry at large have grappled with a paradox on plastic.
Since the advent of the modern form of plastic in the 20th century, the world has witnessed a boom of societal advancements in areas ranging from food storage to medical devices.
Yet, plastic pollution is one of the most pervasive issues facing our ocean ecosystems and planet as more than 8 million tonnes of plastic are estimated to pollute our oceans every year. This plastic breaks down into tiny particles, known as microplastics, that can harm sea life, enter our food chain and even the air we breathe. At SC Johnson, we’re not OK with that.
Creating a more sustainable world
So, how do we balance the many uses and benefits of plastic while reducing our reliance on virgin plastic? As one of the many companies that packages its products in plastic, we have a responsibility to take action to address this question and help create a more sustainable world.
That’s why we’ve introduced solutions like concentrate refills, which use 80% less plastic compared to a typical trigger bottle. We are innovating to create closed-loop recycling models and use more post-consumer recycled plastic in our packaging, like our Mr Muscle® glass cleaner bottles in the UK that are made from 100% ocean-bound recycled plastic.
Plastic pollution is one of the most pervasive issues facing our ocean ecosystems and planet as more than 8 million tonnes of plastic are estimated to pollute our oceans every year.
To tackle this global issue we need businesses, government, NGOs and individuals to work together.
We have partnered with Conservation International to shed light on this issue. Through our latest project, The Blue Paradox, we brought together business leaders, government representatives and sustainability experts for a live broadcast discussion to address the growing issue of ocean plastic pollution and what actions must be taken to protect these vulnerable ecosystems.
How individuals can make a difference
Taking place just two months before COP26, The Blue Paradox is a two-week immersive exhibition in London that invites the public to better understand the ocean plastic crisis.
We want to bring people together to explore the role plastic plays in society, alternative sustainable options to eliminate unnecessary plastic waste and the small changes all of us can make to help protect the largest ecosystem on our planet.
No one individual or organisation can solve this problem alone, but now is the time to act, together.
