Plastic: Environmental Enemy #1… Or Is it?
A look into how companies are actually utilizing plastic to create a more sustainable future and how your business could do the same.
The Reality of Plastic
No one is surprised to learn that sustainability is a super trend dominating the packaging world today. Individuals everywhere have expressed deep distress over the plastic waste clogging up coastlines and landfills. With movements all over the world urging people to make positive decisions for the environment, especially in the form of recycling, this trend is not one we should expect to disappear anytime soon.
So what does all this mean for the world of packaging? Should we all quit our jobs and pursue plastic-free, “eco-friendly” occupations? Actually, the contrary! There is a negative stigma towards plastic that actually shouldn't exist. See, the problem is not the plastic. The problem is what people are doing with the plastic!
Believe it or not, plastic is not the enemy. In fact, it can be a very useful tool in the pursuit of a more sustainable world. If businesses and consumers are faithful to take active steps in the reuse of plastics, drastic improvements to the environment can and will result. The responsibility for the outcome of our environment then falls on us, not on plastic like we originally thought. To reiterate: Plastic is not the problem; the problem is what we are doing with the plastic.
Big Names Using Plastic for More Eco-friendly Results
According to an international study done by Unilever, 33% of all consumers look to buy from companies that they perceive as doing social or environmental good. Likewise, according to IBM and the National Retail Federation, 70% of Canadian and American consumers value sustainability in their products and want to purchase from more eco-friendly businesses. As a result, eco-friendly practices can benefit companies financially. This is an exciting time for companies to make the initial leap and put themselves ahead of their competitors. Three businesses that are making headlines with sustainable approaches are PepsiCO, ZenWTR, and Swiss Miss.
PepsiCo has pledged to reduce their use of virgin plastic by 35% by 2025. Along with this goal, PepsiCo also promises to make 100% of their product packaging reusable, compostable, or biodegradable. This is a huge announcement and has been well-received by consumers and others in the packaging realm. According to PepsiCo’s Vice President of sustainability, their motivation in setting these lofty goals was to ensure their company’s active work in creating a better society.
ZenWTR packaging is a post-consumer recycled bottle made from certified ocean-bound plastic. And if that's not enough, ZenWTR is also promising to donate 1% of all sales to clean and restore marine environments that are plagued by the terrors of single-use plastic.
Swiss Miss recently launched their new cube shaped container for its hot cocoa product that is made entirely of polypropylene, a recyclable material. The company's Sr. Director of sustainability, Katya Hantel, explained how this was just one small step toward Swiss Miss’ ultimate goal: “producing good food, responsible sourcing, better planet, and stronger communities” (Packaging World).
These companies aren't attempting to eliminate plastic altogether. Rather, they are utilizing reusable plastic and packaging to facilitate healthier environmental outcomes. As a result, they are winning big in the arena of public opinion. These are three HUGE companies. So what would an eco-friendly approach mean for medium to small businesses?
Here are 3 major advantages that eco-friendly businesses are guaranteed:
Displaying their care for social and economic responsibilities.
Meeting growing consumer demand.
Creating consumer loyalty. 61% of U.S. consumers and 57% of UK consumers reported eagerness to support and remain loyal to companies that were working toward bettering the environment.
Tango’s Personal Commitment to Eco-Friendly Action
It’s evident: the real problem is not plastic, it's what we do with plastic.
Our team at Tango is not perfectly sustainable - no company is. There is not a perfect answer for sustainability. Still, some options are better than others; the goal is to work together towards a more circular economy.
Here are just a few of our guiding principles:
View Sustainability from a holistic perspective - we want to know how a solution will affect EVERY part of the whole, not just one specific area.
Avoid greenwashing - Greenwashing, by definition, is when a brand or organization makes false or misleading sustainable claims regarding their products, goals, and policies, often as a marketing ploy.
Search for BETTER solutions, not PERFECT ones - Rather than searching for a nonexistent PERFECT solution to sustainability, our team focuses on creatively exploring and testing BETTER solutions for sustainability. This requires a holistic perspective and a commitment to avoid all forms of greenwashing.
We understand that there is no perfect solution yet, but we still all have a social and environmental responsibility. Luckily these responsibilities can also create incredible opportunities to differentiate from our competitors.
Let's go green AND beat out the competition at the same time!