An Introduction to Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is a policy approach designed to make manufacturers responsible for the lifecycle of their products, including post-consumer disposal. The concept places accountability on producers to manage the environmental impact of their goods, encouraging sustainable practices from design to end-of-life management.
A 2023 study by The Recycling Partnership investigated how Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) influenced the outcomes of seven global paper and packaging recycling initiatives. Results indicated that implementing EPR policies significantly increased the collection of designated materials. Specifically, British Columbia, Belgium, Spain, South Korea, and the Netherlands demonstrated rates surpassing 75%, while Portugal and Quebec achieved rates exceeding 60%.
EPR stands as a powerful mechanism to align economic growth with environmental sustainability. Its adoption by manufacturers worldwide is a critical step toward creating a circular economy that conserves resources, minimizes waste, and fosters a more sustainable future.
Understanding the Key Points of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
EPR significantly departs from conventional waste management, transferring responsibility from public entities to producers. This approach transforms waste management into an integral aspect of the product lifecycle, alleviating the burden on governments and the average consumer. The following are the 5 most impactful benefits of Extended Producer Responsibility.
Environmental Impact Under the umbrella of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), producers shoulder the responsibility for the entire journey of their products, mainly focusing on end-of-life considerations. This paradigm urges a comprehensive examination of environmental consequences, from raw material extraction to disposal, ensuring meticulous management of products in an ecologically sound manner.
Product Design Central to EPR is the cultivation of eco-friendly design practices. Producers are motivated to engineer products that facilitate disassembly, recycling, or repurposing, curtailing waste production and safeguarding precious resources. This proactive approach ensures that environmental consciousness is built into a product’s inception.
Production Accountability and Incentives EPR reshapes the production phase by infusing environmental responsibility into manufacturing processes. Manufacturers are compelled to design and produce with end-of-life considerations at the forefront. This approach catalyzes the integration of sustainable and circular principles from the product creation. EPR policies, introduce economic incentives like tax breaks or subsidies, counterbalanced by fines for non-compliance.
Influence on Consumer Behavior EPR possesses the potential to mold consumer behavior by fostering awareness about the environmental footprint of products and encouraging choices that align with sustainability. This involves active participation in recycling programs and making well-informed purchasing decisions.
EPR as a Circular Economy Catalyst Positioned as a pivotal tool in advancing the tenets of the circular economy, EPR propels producers towards crafting products that seamlessly fit into a circular production and consumption model—easy to recycle, repair, and reuse. This marks a deliberate departure from linear practices towards a more regenerative and sustainable approach.
Importance of Circular Supply Chains
With supply chain disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, enterprises are increasingly reevaluating the conventional supply chain model. The unprecedented global impacts of 2020 affected trade, finance, health, education systems, businesses, and societies, highlighting the need for a shift in supply chain management.
In a 2023 EY survey, 72% of companies reported experiencing a negative impact during the pandemic, with only 2% stating they were fully prepared. As businesses strive to mitigate the fallout of such disruptions, there is a growing recognition of the imperative to foster more adaptable and interconnected supply chains to navigate unforeseen challenges effectively.
Businesses increasingly turn to the circular economy to redesign their supply chains. This shift addresses the imperative for adaptability and allows companies to cut costs and mitigate their environmental impact. Circular supply chains require establishing distributed and interconnected networks, enabling local and global partnerships with suppliers, customers, and industry peers.
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and circular supply chains intersect at the core of sustainable and responsible product lifecycle management. They are convergent in their shared objectives of promoting responsible production, reducing waste, and maximizing the value of materials within a sustainable and circular economy framework. Here is where EPR and circular supply chains meet:
Supply Chain and Lifecycle Responsibility
EPR encourages manufacturers to design products with the entire lifecycle in mind, promoting durability, recyclability, and reusability. Circular supply chains aim to keep products and materials in use for as long as possible, aligning with the concept of responsible product design advocated by EPR.
Waste Management in Production
EPR programs hold producers accountable for the proper disposal and recycling of their products, fostering a circular approach to waste management. Circular supply chains emphasize reducing waste and maximizing the value of materials through recycling and other sustainable practices, aligning with the goals of EPR.
Collaboration Across the Supply Chain
EPR requires collaboration between manufacturers, consumers, and recycling facilities. This collaboration is fundamental to circular supply chains, where interconnected networks facilitate the efficient flow of information, goods, and materials. EPR and circular supply chains promote stakeholder partnerships and collaboration to achieve common sustainability and business goals.
Resource Conservation and Material Efficiency
EPR encourages responsible resource management by promoting the efficient use of materials and reducing environmental impacts. Circular supply chains inherently focus on resource conservation by extending the lifespan of products and materials, reducing the need for new raw materials.
Environmental Impact Reduction
EPR aims to reduce the overall environmental impact of products, especially in terms of end-of-life management. Circular supply chains, by promoting a closed-loop system, contribute to lowering environmental impacts through reduced waste generation and sustainable resource use.
EPR Challenges & Greenwashing Concerns
Implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) poses multifaceted challenges, navigating human and technical dimensions. People-related hurdles, including resistance to change, can hinder the smooth execution of EPR programs. Project management complexities arise from the various phases involved, such as planning, development, and testing, necessitating meticulous coordination among stakeholders. The involvement of multiple departments, each juggling diverse priorities, adds a layer of complexity, requiring practical project and people management. Successful EPR implementation hinges on realistic expectations, clear communication, and crucial backing from executives.
Another hurdle lies in technology and data integration, a fundamental aspect of EPR. Locating and migrating data from disparate sources into the ERP database demands meticulous planning. Challenges emerge in identifying the scattered data stored in various formats and systems across the organization. Data quality becomes a substantial concern, with potential issues such as duplicates, inconsistencies, and outdated information.
Change management presents a significant challenge in EPR implementation; resistance to change can impede progress, necessitating early buy-in from leadership and stakeholders. Additionally, EPR projects are notorious for cost overruns. Underestimating the resources needed, especially for customization and data migration, can lead to increased spending. Businesses should meticulously budget for overlooked expenses, ensuring finances for the entire project duration. Finally, EPR implementation demands continuous improvement, with periodic reviews to assess whether the system aligns with evolving business demands and technology.
Another critical challenge comes from Greenwashing in EPR, which occurs when companies make misleading claims about their commitment to environmental practices. This can involve incomplete or superficial commitments without genuine integration of EPR practices and goals. Stakeholders, including consumers and regulatory bodies, must scrutinize and hold companies accountable, questioning misleading marketing that overstates environmental responsibility or a lack of transparency in reporting on EPR initiatives.
Looking Forward and The Consumers’ Role in EPR
Consumers can influence the future of Extended Producer Responsibility and circular supply chains by making sustainable choices that drive market demand for environmentally responsible products. Their informed decisions and preferences encourage businesses to adopt robust EPR practices. Additionally, consumer awareness serves as a catalyst for advocating stronger EPR regulations, fostering discussions, and prompting policy changes. Consumers play a crucial role in driving a more sustainable and circular future by actively participating in and influencing the EPR landscape and market.
In conclusion, as we delve into the landscape of EPR, it becomes evident that this paradigm shift is not just about rethinking waste management; it’s about transforming the core of production and consumption systems. EPR challenges us to envision products not just as commodities but as entities with lifecycles demanding careful reconsideration.
To all stakeholders – from producers and policymakers to consumers and environmental advocates – the time to embrace EPR is now. The challenges are real, from navigating data integration to overcoming resistance to change, but the potential benefits are immense. We can pave the way for a more sustainable and circular future.
Through EPR, we have the opportunity to shape a world where the environmental impact of every product is not an afterthought but a fundamental consideration. The potential is within our grasp – let us seize it for a circular future.
Do you know that e-waste is considered the fastest-growing waste stream in the world? According to the Global E-waste Monitor Report in 2020, 53.6 million metric tons of e-waste were generated worldwide in 2019.
As technology has fueled our society, e-waste presents a rapidly-growing environmental problem. The amount of e-waste generated yearly is increasing due to higher consumption rates, shorter life cycles, and fewer repair options. Oddly, the hope for a more sustainable future lies in using technology to address the e-waste crisis.
This article will explore the future of e-waste and the solutions to help make our electronics landscape more sustainable.
Defining E-Waste
E-waste (Electronic Waste) refers to discarded electronic products. These products may be no longer in use, not functioning, outdated, and approaching or have reached the end of their “useful lifespan.” E-waste includes anything from consumer electronics like smartphones and laptops to industrial electronics like electric vehicle batteries and solar panels.
The Environmental, Economic, and Social Impacts of E-Waste
The improper disposal of e-waste has significant environmental, economic, and social implications. E-waste contributes to carbon emissions, and improper disposal means throwing away valuable resources.
Environmental Impacts
Climate change: the production and disposal of electronics contribute to climate change through greenhouse gas emissions.
Water and soil pollution: improperly discarded e-waste also leads to soil and water pollution due to toxic substances like lead and mercury in devices.
Resource depletion: nearly all electronic devices contain precious metals in trace quantities. Since precious and rare earth metals are scarce, not recycling these products can lead to resource depletion.
Economic Impacts
The increased cost of healthcare: the environmental impact of e-waste can lead to health issues like congenital disabilities, respiratory problems, and neurological disorders, leading to increased healthcare costs.
Loss of valuable resources: improper disposal leads to a loss of valuable resources, resulting in low supply and higher costs.
Social Impacts
Human rights violation: e-waste is often shipped to developing countries where it is processed under hazardous working conditions. Workers are routinely exposed to toxins, and many human rights, such as forced and child labor, are violated.
Disproportionate distribution of waste: low-income communities and communities of color are often unjustly exposed to e-waste, as most waste management facilities are near these communities.
Managing E-Waste
Following the waste management hierarchy, here are ways to properly manage electronic waste.
Reduce
The best way to minimize e-waste is by re-evaluating your decision to upgrade electronics. Before making a purchase, ask yourself if you truly need to upgrade. Additionally, buy products with a longer lifespan and multiple functions. Leading a minimalist lifestyle can help you leave a smaller carbon footprint.
Reuse
If you can’t avoid purchasing new electronics, consider donating or selling your old devices. If they’re still functional and in good condition, you can most likely find someone who needs them more than you do. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also issued a guide on electronics donation and recycling.
Recycle
Electronics recycling is an excellent way to avoid contamination and conserve valuable resources. However, it’s a complex and expensive process; in 2019, only 17.4% of e-waste was collected and recycled.
What makes this process complex is the nearly 60 elements from the periodic table that are present in the e-waste stream, including hazardous materials. Products that include various materials are generally difficult or impossible to recycle. And there still needs to be more knowledge and understanding about handling e-waste. Not only should e-waste be appropriately sorted, but the different streams must be dealt with individually.
Electronics include gold, silver, copper, platinum, and other high-value raw materials. When we dump or burn electronics instead of recycling or reusing them, we’re wasting valuable resources. We can recover 35 thousand pounds of copper, 772 pounds of silver, 75 pounds of gold, and 33 pounds of palladium for every million recycled cell phones.
Safely Dispose
Discarding tech is still sometimes unavoidable, and if that’s the case, we must ensure the safe disposal of devices. Generally, governments and local communities provide guidelines on safe waste disposal for electronics.
EPR – Extended Producer Responsibility for Waste Reduction
EPR is a protection strategy aiming to reduce the environmental impact of a product and its packaging. It considers all estimated ecological costs associated with a product and requires producers to take responsibility for the entire product lifecycle. Container-take-back programs are one example of EPR, where consumers generally pay a small extra fee when purchasing a product that is refunded when they return the container to the retailer. Asking the industry to take back products at the end of a product’s life encourages it to design products to enhance their reusability. It also incentivizes the development of designs that boost recyclability and minimizes the impact of products that could otherwise remain in and pollute the waste stream. EPR programs are becoming more and more established throughout the world and will help ensure industry accountability.
The Role of AI and Technology in the Future of E-Waste
An average person in the United States generates approximately 20 kg of e-waste annually. New York City alone generates nearly 14 million tons of e-waste each year. Now, more than ever, we need an efficient system to deal with e-waste.
Electronics recycling becomes much easier and more efficient with a well-sorted waste stream. Researchers think AI and machine learning can help significantly with recycling these products. AI and ML algorithms are training and improving by the day, and they work with up to 90% accuracy in identifying electronics.
Innovative tech startups are also creating solutions to recover, recycle and reuse the core components of technologies. Solarcycle, for example, is one company looking to solve the climate tech waste problem. Launched last year in Oakland, California, it has since constructed a recycling facility in Texas where it extracts 95% of the materials from end-of-life solar panels and reintroduces them into the supply chain.
In a world where technology becomes obsolete within months, it’s no wonder we have an e-waste crisis. We must drastically change our electronics habits, hold the industry accountable for their products, and support innovation to sustainably manage e-waste now and in the future.
While the sustainability movement continues to make huge waves across multiple industries, companies leading the charge are under an enormous amount of pressure to be transparent about what actions they are taking.
Consumers committed to change are demanding the same from companies, and they are becoming more vocal about their lack of trust in companies’ sustainability claims. A survey by Genomatica showed that nearly 9 in 10 consumers (88%) don’t immediately trust brands that say they’re sustainable.
The Bank of America labeled Gen Z (born between 1995 and 2010) as the most disruptive generation of our time. Thanks to the internet and social media, these digital natives are tech-savvy and customarily make informed purchasing decisions. Their ability to connect, convene, and create disruptions through their keyboards and smartphones has the potential for global impact. These are the generations that are questioning authority and compelling real change.
The Deloitte Global 2021 Millennial and GenZ survey showed that millennials and GenZ, as consumers, often put their wallets where their values are. They support companies based on how they treat the environment, protect consumer data, and position themselves on social and political issues. Bank of America also predicts that Gen Z’s income will surpass that of Millenials, and younger generations are focused more on sustainable shopping than on buying from popular companies.
In the business world, the consumer is king, and businesses are making moves toward sustainability to gain favor with customers. However, many companies are putting up a facade rather than doing real good. The act of exaggerating a company’s environmental credentials is known as greenwashing. Even large companies like Coca-Cola, Nestle, and H&M have been criticized for waste generation and pollution while claiming to commit to the climate cause.
A McKinsey report found that Gen Z values authenticity and ethical consumption practices. This gives companies a financial incentive to appear more socially conscious, which can lead to greenwashing. For example, a company in Australia marketed disposable diapers and diaper disposal bags as “100% biodegradable” while they contained plastic components that only broke down into smaller pieces. The company was ordered to publish a corrective advertisement and establish a trade practices compliance program by the ACCC (Australian Competition & Consumer Commission).
Make a Difference by Investing in Waste Diversion Technology
The world is becoming increasingly aware of the environmental impact of our waste. To that end, more and more organizations are committing to sustainability goals for their waste management. However, traditional waste management practices can often hinder sustainability efforts, leading to contaminated recycling streams and inefficient use of resources.
Here are a few ways that companies can demonstrate their sustainability commitments by investing in waste diversion systems, technologies, and data.
Implement a waste diversion system that separates waste streams into different categories.
Adopt waste reduction strategies, for example, using reusable or compostable packaging solutions.
Tracking waste data can help companies keep a record of waste generation and diversion rates to monitor their progress toward sustainability goals.
Conduct regular waste audits to identify areas where waste can be reduced, such as through source reduction, recycling, or composting.
Engage employees and stakeholders in waste diversion efforts by providing hands-on training.
Smart waste management solutions like TrashBot help companies with waste diversion and can qualify their sustainability commitment. TrashBot is a smart bin that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify and sort recyclables from non-recyclables in a waste stream, and with TrashBot’s technology, it can learn and adapt to new items over time. It also comes equipped with a dashboard that shows real-time data on a facility’s waste stream and provides on-demand waste audits.
TrashBot is designed to improve recycling and composting rates through accurate sorting at the source. It can also empower a facility’s zero-waste vision.
Technologies like TrashBot are an excellent waste management solution for brands and companies that want to demonstrate their sustainability commitment. Not only does it help improve recycling rates, but companies can collect data from the waste stream and track their progress. This data-driven approach to smart waste management can bolster a company’s sustainability position and show the public concrete impact to back up stated promises.
When you know that recycling helps reduce GHG emissions, it can be surprising that faulty recycling can also contribute to GHG emissions and harm the planet. Most Americans agree on recycling’s importance. The circular economy stresses the reusability of products, but at the current rate, it’s not complete without recycling.
This article will discuss the reasons behind recycling failure, its effect on landfills, and the environmental impact of higher recycling rates.
Current Recycling Rates and Reasons for Recycling Failure
A non-profit group, Project Drawdown, conducted reviews of climate solutions, including recycling to reduce landfill emissions. After analyzing more than 80 different methods that could help the world against climate change, the recycling industry fell below the median. To make a true impact via recycling, it needs to be more effective.
There are many reasons why recycling isn’t working, despite the efforts. One primary reason is a lack of education. In a recent survey by Republic Services, 88% percent of the participants said that recycling is important, but nearly all failed the basic recycling quiz.
Another essential part of recycling is sorting, which is a complex procedure. People often mix recyclables with non-recyclables, leading to contamination of the entire stream.
Even if people recycle with good intentions, wishcycling can result in lower recycling rates. Wishcycling, or mixing recyclables with non-recyclables hoping they will get recycled, causes recycling contamination, which reduces the quality of the materials, and most (or all) of them end up in landfills.
Inadequate recycling facilities and infrastructure also make it harder to recycle. On the other hand, a constant influx of hard-to-manage materials makes it difficult for recycling facilities with aging infrastructure to manage the waste stream. It’s also economically feasible for facilities to opt for landfilling or incineration. Proper regulations and support from local governments can sort this issue and make recycling a reality for communities.
Landfills and the Environment
Landfills, or dumps, are places where materials are disposed. They’re generally divided into three categories: municipal solid waste landfills, industrial waste landfills, and hazardous waste landfills. Landfills are a major contributor to climate change and bring about hazards like toxins, leachates, and greenhouse gases.
Waste materials in landfills often contain toxin substances. Over time, the toxins leach into the soil and contaminate groundwater, becoming an environmental hazard. The liquid formed during the waste breakdown is also highly toxic and can pollute the land, waterways, and groundwater.
However, the largest environmental threat is greenhouse gases (GHG). When green waste and food scraps break down inside the landfills, they produce methane — a greenhouse gas nearly 25 times more potent than carbon dioxide (CO2). Concentrated methane is also highly flammable, making the landfill site a potential fire hazard.
How Much Emissions Currently Come from Landfills
It is estimated that one million metric tons of waste landfilled produces about 274,000 tons of CO2-equivalent. The EPA reports that MSW landfills are responsible for nearly 14.5 percent of human-related methane emissions in the United States. After settling in a landfill, the MSW undergoes an aerobic (oxygenated) decomposition stage, as methane is generated in small amounts. Typically, anaerobic conditions are established within a year, and methane-producing bacteria start decomposing waste and generating methane in the process.
How Successful Recycling Can Reduce Landfill Emissions
The EPA estimates that nearly 75% of landfill waste is recyclable. Any waste diversion techniques are important, and reduction, recycling, reuse, and composting can all help ease the burden on landfills. Project Drawdown’s list of climate solutions focuses on strategies that are feasible to adopt and have room for growth within the existing market. Recycling presents much room for growth, as it’s the best way to convert waste into reusable products. Currently, nine-tenths of all solid waste in the US does not get recycled. Recycling lowers the amount of waste going into landfills, conserves energy, and creates new jobs within the recycling and manufacturing industries.
The Environmental Impacts of Higher Recycling Rates
Recycling is among the few climate-friendly practices that can reduce carbon or landfill emissions and benefit the environment. Positive environmental impacts of recycling include:
• Energy conservation • Reduced greenhouse gas emissions • Protection of natural resources • Reduced landfilling • Jobs in the recycling and manufacturing industries • Lower pollution levels and less litter • Effective waste management and improved public health
It’s important to acknowledge that even committed recycling is not the solution and has clear limits. However, despite the carbon footprint of collecting, transporting, and processing, recycling is still less energy-intensive and one of our best options for reducing landfill volume.
Recycling technologies like TrashBot can help facilities avoid recycling contamination by sorting waste at the time of disposal. Recycling education is also vital – learning what you can and can’t recycle and paying attention to your waste disposal can reduce recycling contamination and make recycling more effective.
Bringing about change is a process that requires dedication and support. Recycling is a system that has been around for decades, and it remains the best way to manage circular materials at the end of their lives. Poor recycling wastes money, resources, and energy and will only increase emissions as landfills continue to fill up. Implementing government policies and regulations to incentivize recycling and improve recycling infrastructure and processing can lead to higher recycling rates, reduced landfill emissions, and a healthier planet.
Did you know that food, packaging, and containers account for nearly 45 percent of the materials landfilled in the United States according to EPA. The food wasted in the United States is enough to fill the Rose Bowl Stadium every day. These numbers are astonishing for a world that’s already on the verge of a climate crisis. We require a shift in the consumer packaging industry for a zero-waste future now more than ever.
A report by McKinsey & Company revealed that sustainability is becoming a priority in the packaging value chain. Even though the COVID-19 pandemic changed the consumer perspective, and concerns about food hygiene and safety took the front seat, sustainable products and packaging are still an important issue for many.
In this article, we will discuss why reducing waste is important in the consumer packaging industry, how to reduce and eliminate packaging waste, and how companies and countries around the world are advancing sustainability in packaging by shifting to recyclable and compostable alternatives.
Why Reducing Waste is Important in the Consumer Packaging Industry
The most important reason for reducing packaging waste is that it is bad for the environment. In the United States, containers and packaging alone contribute to more than 23 percent of materials in landfills. Eliminating packaging or shifting to reusable or compostable packaging alternatives will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, conserve energy, and be better for the planet.
In addition, most of the litter on beaches and in waterways is packaging (mainly food packaging and containers). Fish, birds, and other aquatic creatures are often harmed by ingesting packaging and other such debris. Scientists have found large amounts of microplastic in the guts of deep-dwelling ocean mammals like whales. This debris can also cause navigation hazards for boats and losses to the fishing, shipping, and tourism industries.
Lastly, as people understand the implications of packaging waste, they’re opting more for sustainable packaging. In particular, younger consumers are ready to pay higher prices for products in sustainable packaging. A report by Trivium Packaging shows that it’s important for 67 percent of consumers to buy products that come in recyclable packaging. These shifts in the minds of consumers are ultimately driving substantial change in the industry.
How to Reduce (and Eliminate) Waste in the Consumer Packaging Industry
Reducing and ultimately eliminating packaging waste is a massive challenge. It’s also something that cannot be avoided further. The current system we have in place is not equipped to handle different types of waste, and although hard plastic can be recycled, food-grade packaging is another story. Even where there is infrastructure in place, it differs from place to place.
Source Reduction
The most effective method for packaging waste prevention is by source reduction, where you prevent unneeded materials from ever being created. Not only does it help save money but you also save purchasing, handling, transport, and disposal costs. To reduce packaging waste from the source, start by purchasing only what you need to avoid excess waste.
Reuse
Try reusing items that you cannot avoid purchasing. The first step is to stop using disposable or single-use materials. For example, instead of serving food or beverages in a disposable plate or cup, try switching to one that can be reused. Companies should also encourage people to bring their own utensils or start offering refills instead of packed bottles. A report by the EPA shows that the “bring your own” container program can be beneficial financially for both businesses and consumers in the long run. If a business spends 15 cents on each disposable package item, then offering a discount of 10 cents can encourage consumers to “bring their own” containers and save the business money. If only three customers per hour bring their own containers, stores can reduce their solid waste by 378 lbs and save $657 annually.
Another interesting initiative taken toward a zero-waste future is zero-waste stores. Designed to encourage conscious consumerism, these stores stock bulk products in large containers or jars instead of disposable packaging. Consumers are encouraged to bring their own containers or bags, or use the reusable, recyclable and compostable packaging options provided by the store.
Recycle/Compost
Use recyclable or compostable packaging. For example, Nestle has switched to paper straws from plastic straws. Alternatively, companies can opt for cardboard or paper bags over plastic bags.
Companies Moving Toward More Sustainable Packaging
Amidst the global climate crisis, many big food companies are making changes to the way they operate. Here is how companies like Mars, Kellogg’s, and Starbucks are shifting toward sustainability in packaging:
“For Mars, packaging waste doesn’t align with our vision for a world where the planet is healthy. There is no sustainable product without sustainable packaging. We’re taking action to support the circular economy through investments and innovation, working toward a world where packaging material never becomes waste, but is reused, recycled or composted.” — Mars
“In support of the company’s goal to reduce waste sent to landfill from stores and direct operations, Starbucks is shifting away from single-use plastics, promoting reusability and championing the use of recycled content, driven by a broader shift towards a circular economy. ” — Starbucks
“Kellogg has one of the smallest plastic packaging footprints among peer food companies and 76% of our packaging is recyclable globally. Most of our other packaging uses either recycled-content paperboard cartons or corrugated cardboard. We also use composite cans, and for our bars and convenience foods, we use flexible plastic packaging. We are aggressively driving cutting-edge innovation, looking at how packaging can protect and enhance our foods and have an even smaller environmental impact.” — Kellogg’s
The Global Shift in Consumer Packaging
To address the consumer packaging waste issue, many countries and regions are taking significant steps like introducing regulations to drive sustainability. In the United States, 16 of the 50 states have statewide regulations around packaging waste. These regulations tend to target single-use plastics like cups and shopping bags and aim to increase the overall recycling rates.
In sustainability, Europe has progressed further than most other regions. Under the New EU Directive for Single-use Plastics, measures were announced to reduce leakage of certain single-use plastics products that were consistently found on European beaches. Some countries like the UK, Germany, and France are taking things a step further with Extended Producer Responsibilities (EPR). They’re aiming for more aggressive recycling targets and charging fees for using non-recyclable packaging.
Asian countries like Thailand, India, and Cina are also introducing regulations. Thailand announced a nationwide ban on single-use plastic bags, which aligns with its vision to reduce plastic use to 100 percent recyclable plastic by 2027. India has imposed a ban on single-use plastic, and China has also approved legislation to ban or reduce single-use plastics, while banning the import of plastic waste.
Packaging waste is a problem that threatens the air, waters, and overall health of our planet. It does not align with the vision of a zero-waste future and requires an immediate solution. A commitment to reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging will reduce landfills by as much as 23% and the solid waste stream by 39 million tons per year. It’s vital that we work together to reduce packaging waste to ensure a better and healthier tomorrow.
Healthcare facilities are an important part of our society, and it’s hard to imagine a world without them. However, while saving lives and restoring hopes, hospitals, like any other facility, end up leaving a footprint behind. Statistics show that the U.S healthcare industry accounts for nearly 8.5 percent of the total carbon footprint emissions produced by the country.
Regardless of its size, every hospital struggles with waste management. Let’s face it. Hospital waste streams are not just large but also complex. On top of that, it’s not easy to run a facility where everything needs to be top-notch in terms of care, hygiene, and overall quality at all times.
In this article, we will discuss why healthcare facilities have difficulty achieving zero waste and how they can start their zero waste journey.
Types of Healthcare Waste
General Medical Waste
General medical waste is non-hazardous waste. What’s interesting to note about healthcare waste is that only a small percentage of it is hazardous. WHO reports that only 15 percent of the waste generated by healthcare activities is hazardous. The remaining 85 percent of the healthcare waste is generally non-hazardous.
Infectious Medical Waste
This waste poses a great threat to humans, animals, and the environment. It is contaminated with blood and sample waste from patients and laboratories, which may contain infectious diseases.
Hazardous Medical Waste
Hazardous medical waste is dangerous and can cause serious harm. It includes needles, sharps, blades, various chemicals, and solvents.
How is Healthcare Waste Usually Managed?
Incineration
The oldest and most common method for healthcare waste management is incineration — the controlled burning of waste. The process generally involves burning organic waste at a very high temperature. This generates certain gases such as carbon dioxide and toxic chemicals.
Chemical Disinfection
Chemical disinfection treats liquid waste such as blood, urine, and stool. It also kills microorganisms from medical equipment, floor, and walls. The added chemical kills or inactivates the pathogens.
Land Disposal
Land disposal is strictly waste disposal, not a waste treatment method. There are generally two types of land disposal:
Sanitary landfills are designed to dispose of hazardous waste. They’re designed to prevent contamination of soil and surface and groundwater.
Open dumps are unmanaged places where waste is usually scattered, leading to further transmission of infection.
Autoclaving
Autoclaving is the process of treatment in a pressurized state. This method uses an autoclave and is generally used to sterilize reusable medical equipment.
Encapsulation
Encapsulation is the method of disposing of sharps and chemical and pharmaceutical waste. In this process, high-density polyethylene or metallic drums are partially filled with waste, and the remaining portion is filled with mortar, dried, and sealed before disposal. The goal is to reduce the risk of scavengers or stray animals getting their hands on hazardous healthcare waste.
Inertization
The process of mixing healthcare waste with cement and other substances before disposal is called inertization. It’s suitable for pharmaceuticals and incineration ashes with high metal content. Although, inertization is an expensive and not generally recommended process.
Factors Impacting Hospital Zero Waste Journey
Unused Medical Supplies
In hospitals, unused medical equipment such as syringes and thermometers are discarded every minute. A study published by the Journal of Neurosurgery reports that about $968 of medical supplies are wasted in an average neurosurgical OR per procedure. Another study found that within 24 hours, the ER at the Massachusetts General Hospital threw away nearly 200 unused items.
While it may be important to discard some items, hospitals should regard what should and shouldn’t throw away. Reducing the disposal of unused medical supplies can be beneficial for both the hospitals and the environment.
Improper Disposal
A report published by the Massachusetts general hospital found that 85 percent of the waste thrown into the Red Bags was not regulated medical waste (RMW) — waste generated during research, production, and testing of biological or healthcare. Improper disposal of items in the RMW is a great threat to the environment. Every year, these improperly disposed items can cost hundreds of thousands in hauling fees and fines. On the other hand, hospitals can save a significant amount of money if they start sorting their waste properly.
Food Waste
While hospitals produce a lot of medical waste, you may be surprised to know that about 10 to 15 percent of the solid waste generate by hospitals is food waste. The U.S. Department of Agriculture reports that about 40 percent of the food supply in the United States is wasted, only 4 percent of which is composed. The remaining food waste usually ends up in landfills where it generates methane (a greenhouse gas) that traps 20 times more heat than carbon dioxide.
The best way to utilize the food wasted by healthcare facilities is by redirecting through donation, recycling, or composting. That way, less food goes to the landfills (or is incinerated) and fewer waste disposal trips.
Difficult to Reuse, Repurposed, or Donate Medical Waste
The disposal of bulky and hard-to-recycle items such as large medical devices and lab equipment can be a challenge. Since a lot of medical devices are electronic, a variety of different materials are used, which makes it extremely difficult to recycle.
Many hospitals address this issue by using single-use medical equipment. However, hospitals that are committed to the zero waste goal must opt for products that can be reused or upcycled. Additionally, donating medical equipment can be tricky, but many organizations will accept and distribute gently-used medical equipment to medical teams worldwide.
How are Hospitals Starting their Zero Waste Journey?
In large public facilities, improper sorting and excessive contamination are the biggest challenges to starting a zero waste journey. While material recovery facilities use technology, achieving zero waste goals depends heavily on proper sorting at the time of disposal. This is because recycling rules are not only complex, but they vary from place to place, which leads to confusion among users.
Starting a recycling program can be tricky for a hospital that hundreds or thousands of people visit daily. Smart waste bins like TrashBot can make it easier to start your zero waste journey by sorting waste at the time of disposal. TrashBot also features an analytics dashboard, on-demand waste audits, a built-in screen, and a content management system.
TrashBot was piloted at a Los Angeles hospital, where it impacted over 240,000 visitors during the 3-month performance period. Following are the results of the three-month pilot program:
Reduced contamination in the recycling and compost streams by 95%
300% more accurate sorting compared to conventional trash receptacles
Diversion rates of the hospital increased by 50% by using Trashbot’s data to find the top 5 landfill items and replacing them with compostables
Custom educational content was exhibited on TrashBot
