Plastics have become an inseparable part of our modern lives, offering convenience, durability, and versatility. However, the improper management and disposal of plastics have given rise to huge environmental challenges. Amidst this concern, companies like Zero Co have stepped up to make a difference. Zero Co are taking proactive measures to Untrash the Planet by funding large-scale clean-ups and stopping Aussies from using single-use plastic. Zero Co also offer an extensive range of high-quality cleaning and body products, delivered to your door minus all the single-use plastic, making it easy and rewarding for consumers to switch to sustainable products. In this article, Zero Co Founder Mike Smith helps us get to know our plastics – the good, the bad and the ugly.
Plastics, despite their undeniable convenience, have garnered a notorious reputation for their detrimental impact on the environment. Plastics are incredibly durable and resistant to natural degradation, which can be perfectly suitable for the purpose of some products that need to last a lifetime. However, for single-use products like takeaway containers and toy packaging, the material’s durability leads to an overwhelming accumulation in landfill, oceans, and ecosystems – they take hundreds of years to decompose.
Plastic pollution has become a global crisis, with massive amounts of plastic waste entering our oceans, harming marine life, and disrupting ecosystems. The improper disposal and inefficient recycling of plastics contribute to environmental degradation, visual pollution, and the depletion of valuable resources. Many plastics also contain toxic additives such as phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA), which can leach into the environment and pose risks to human health and wildlife.
One of the most pressing environmental issues we face today is the accumulation of plastics in our oceans. An estimated 170 trillion plastic particles, to be specific. These ocean plastics pose a significant threat to marine life, ecosystems, and ultimately, our own well-being. At Zero Co, we recognise the urgency to address the issue of ocean plastics through our global cleanup innitiave, the 100YR CLEANUP. Our mission is to fund cleanup projects that will help untrash our planet every year, for the next 100 years. As part of this initiative, this World Ocean Day, we’ll be leading an international underwater cleanup with the goal of removing 50,000 water bottles worth of rubbish from bodies of water across the globe. Some of the collected ocean plastics will be used to make Zero Co products, making effective use of the waste and most importantly, diverting these materials from polluting our marine environments.
Unfortunately, not all countries have the appropriate waste systems to allow for successful recycling. The reality is not even Australia does, which is why we need to stop using single-use plastic in the first place. After our cleanups in Aus, the rubbish we collect is carefully sorted before the plastic is sent to a facility to be cleaned and processed to remove any impurities. Through advanced recycling techniques, the plastic is transformed into raw materials suitable for production. Our hope is that by upcycling ocean plastics in this way to make products like our 100% Ocean Waste Scoop (used with our Laundry Soaker), and creating single-use plastic free products, we’ll encourage not only consumers to reduce their waste, but big businesses to think about their production process.
Zero Co’s commitment to Untrash The Planet bleeds throughout every touchpoint of our business. Our signature Forever Bottles used for our body and cleaning products are made to be refilled and last a lifetime. Our convenient delivery service is carbon negative and we also offer products on subscription. which encourages customers to continue their planet-friendly habits in our closed-loop mode. It’s like the milk-man, re-imagined!
I’m a big believer that whilst plastics have left a lasting impact on our planet, we have the power to change the narrative. Together, we can create a future where plastics are viewed not as a problem but as a valuable resource in the pursuit of a greener planet.
To learn more about Zero Co and how to join their mission to Untrash the Planet visit www.zeroco.com.au.