Irish businesses must rethink the role of plastic in their operations and significantly increase their efforts to eradicate plastic pollution and its impact on the world’s oceans, according to award-winning Science, Natural History and Environmental broadcaster Liz Bonnin.
Bonnin is hosting a free, virtual Climate Ready Academy Masterclass for business owners and managers entitled ‘The Problem with Plastic’ that explores why this global plastic crisis is happening and how Irish business can play their part in turning off the plastic tap.
The Masterclass is one in a series hosted by Climate Ready Academy, which is part of the Skillnet Ireland Climate Ready initiative. Climate Ready offers leadership and skills support for enterprises who want to develop their operational and strategic sustainability.
“Our excessive plastic use is causing devastation in our ocean and the wider environment, and it’s estimated that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in our seas. Every Irish business, no matter the sector, urgently needs to step up to the challenge of changing how they design, use, repurpose and dispose of plastics, and encourage a fundamentally different way of thinking about the natural resources we use to produce and consume goods, 99% of plastics are made from fossil fuels - let’s just think about that,”
“While individually we can all make a difference by changing our behaviours and using much less plastic every day, reducing production and consumption of plastics at a business-level will obviously have a far greater impact in mitigating the plastic pollution crisis we face. The ripple effect is exponential in terms of impacting employees, customers, suppliers, competitors and industry sectors, and ultimately this is a real opportunity for 21st Century business leaders to lead the charge with bold impactful action, to be ahead of the curve when it comes to being the change the planet needs - the public is ready and willing to support such business leaders,” Ms Bonnin stated.
According to data released by Eurostat in December 2020, Ireland produces the most plastic waste per person in the EU and has the fourth-lowest recycling rate of plastics in the EU.
Whilst innovation and initiatives such as the ban on certain single-use plastics from July 2021 are welcome and a key part of Ireland’s National Waste Policy that will hopefully increase recycling rates, Bonnin believes that we can’t recycle our way out of the plastic pollution crisis.
Bonnin will discuss how Irish businesses can focus on eliminating all problematic and unnecessary plastics, ensure that the plastics they do use are truly reusable, recyclable, fully biodegradable or easily compostable.
She will also explore how businesses can work together to make all materials part of an ecosystem of resource use, where all waste products can become raw materials for other business sectors, resulting in little to no further natural resources needing to be extracted from the planet.
The Climate Ready Academy Masterclass with Liz Bonnin will take place virtually via Zoom on September 15 from 1pm-2pm.
The free to attend, interactive event, will be moderated by Irish food and farming journalist and reporter Ella McSweeney. Those wishing to attend can register on www.climatereadyacademy.ie/masterclasses/
