Common sense to implement circular economy

Yearbook 2020 Would you like plastic with that sir?

As impatient optimists unwilling to dwell on the past, it’s appropriate to recognized climate change, culminating in public demonstrations of disappointment at the lack of collective progress towards meeting the ambitions of the 2016 Paris Agreement.

The frustrations of predominantly younger protestors dominate the media, particularly social media, unfettered by the need for balance and accuracy, despite offering few practical examples of meaningful improvements.

Only the Marshall Islands, Norway and Suriname have so far submitted the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) required by the UN for a November 2020 environmental gathering to confirm national reductions Chemical suppliers welcome the new decade as a fresh opportunity to increase our major contributions to protecting Spaceship Earth and its crew

embraced by the public, generating overdue plastic waste cleanup campaigns, while turning the spotlight on inadequate waste treatment capabilities. Sensibly, great effort must be put into anti-littering campaigns to keep waste out of the environment.

In New Zealand, we cannot reuse, recycle or repurpose the bulk of the plastic waste we generate and hitherto exported for disposal. The wait for the ‘perfect solution’ will extend beyond the ‘many years’ now cited by authorities, unless we accept interim, pragmatic solutions. Environmentally conscientious Norway and Singapore have advanced waste to energy plants, consuming the household rubbish and hazardous waste causing problems here. A US company is successfully demonstrating the practical repurposing of the polystyrene packaging overwhelming our landfills. Why not investigate licencing arrangements? It is time that ideology and procrastination yielded to pragmatism and progress, at least until emerging technologies, courtesy of industry research and de

“We haven’t the money so we have to think” - Sir Ernest Rutherford

in greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) by some 200 Paris signatories.

The condemnation of plastic waste is highlighted as evidence of progress towards protecting our endangered species by removing the contamination of our waterways and oceans. Bans on single use plastic bags (reportedly 10% of the litter and now creating waste treatment issues) have been globally velopment, can offer better solutions.

The proactive international chemical industry is participating in major, UN supported plastic cleanup operations such as the Alliance to End Plastic Waste, involving more than 30 leading multi-national companies committing more than US $1 billion to remove, reduce, recover and repurpose waste and prevent future pollution

with environmentally friendly substitutes.

Will the reduction of food packaging increase illness and disease? A chemical industry initiative is the Micro-plastics Task Force, committing industry experts to evaluating the risk to human health and the environment. Micro-plastics occur when plastic litter disintegrates in the environment and reappears in the air, soil and water and is being ingested throughout the food chain. Industry has established micro-plastics do not carry pathogens and routinely pass through our digestive system. What is not known is the effect on respiratory and digestive functions of humans.

This multi-year collaboration will advance our understanding of the overall impact of these micro-particles on people and wildlife, including seafood.

Responsible Care NZ provides practical products and services to enable compliance with New Zealand’s world class chemical management regime. Talk to us today about your compliance requirements. Phone: +64 4 499 4311 Email: info@responsiblecarenz.com Website: www.responsiblecarenz.com Compact nuclear energy devices the size of a shipping container and capable of providing electricity to 10,000 dwellings, are being developed in the UK To successfully manage our waste, we need leaders to provide appropriate policy to enable industry to provide the necessary solutions. As our landfills near capacity, public opinion will not condone dumping our waste on Third World economies. Given the time required to change public behavior, high-tech w together with encouraging recyclable products, demand our urgent attention.

Compact nuclear energy devices the size of a shipping container and capable of providing electricity to 10,000 dwellings, are being developed in the UK and offer many advantages without compromising safety. Economy of scale is a challenge, not an excuse, as the cost of doing nothing far exceeds that of (say) one centrally located facility.

It would be nice to believe small teams of our best and brightest are already exploring the exciting possibilities. Our industry are ‘impatient optimists’ who believe science will resolve our most important challenges, as chemistry continues to deliver solutions and benefits, while others pontificate. No-one wants a landfill at their back fence, nor will micro-plastics enhance your tea or coffee; our trash is being sent back us or burned. It’s time for action. Let’s not be having this same conversation in 2021.

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