Tata Sustainability Month - 2023 - TATA Sustainability Group

Tata Sustainability
Month

Tata Sustainability Month is a platform that helps Tata employees connect, adopt and act on sustainability as individuals and collectively see the change they can bring about in themselves, their businesses and in society. It encourages awareness of the connectivity of the world and the implications of individual actions.

TSM 2023: SMART Solutions to Plastic Pollution

Plastic, an incredibly versatile and useful material, has revolutionised the world with its numerous applications in packaging, construction, transportation, and various other fields. It is durable, lightweight, and relatively inexpensive, making it a popular choice for manufacturers and consumers alike. From water bottles and straws to grocery bags and food containers, plastic has become ubiquitous in our daily lives.

However, the rampant use and improper disposal of plastic waste have led to a massive environmental crisis. Plastic pollution has become a global concern, today microplastics are found not just in drinking water and seafood, but also in our bloodstream.

It is essential to recognise the urgent need to reduce our reliance on plastic and adopt responsible practices for its disposal, recycling, and reuse to mitigate the catastrophic impact of plastic pollution on our planet.

In view of the urgent need to focus on solutions to plastic pollution, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) adopted #BeatPlasticPollution as the theme for World Environment Day 2023. In step with this pressing need, Tata Sustainability Month 2023 too focused on 'SMART Solutions to Plastic Pollution'. You can find below, some of the interesting plastics-related content developed by the Tata Sustainability Group to create awareness on plastics across the 4 weeks of Tata Sustainability Month 2023.

Plastics are light, versatile, durable, inexpensive and have innumerable applications and benefits, making them a ubiquitous part of modern life. What's the problem with that? The problem is that plastics do not disintegrate in nature. They persist for hundreds of years and accumulate over time, breaking into smaller and smaller pieces. Accumulated plastic waste emits toxins into the air, ground, and water, contributes to the climate crisis and has become a major threat to the environment. It negatively impacts human health, threatens marine life and other biodiversity, and is now the most widespread pollutant on our planet.

There is an urgent need to develop SMART solutions to plastic pollution, and governments, industry, and other stakeholders are starting to act. You too must join this fight.

The UN Member Nations have committed to beat plastic pollution and develop an international legally binding agreement by 2024.

Watch the first episode of the mini-series on

‘SMART Solutions to Plastic Pollution’.

The growing problem of plastic pollution requires a better understanding of plastics to effectively address it. What is plastic? Plastic is a polymeric material that has the capability of being moulded or shaped, usually by the application of heat and pressure, making it suitable for a wide range of products.

While we generally term all of them as plastics, it is important to know that all plastics are not the same. The Resin Identification Code (RIC) system categorises plastics into seven different types, including PET, HDPE, PVC, LDPE, PP, PS, and Others. Each type has different characteristics and uses, such as PET being used for water bottles and soft drink packaging, HDPE for grocery bags and shampoo bottles, and PVC for plumbing pipes and vinyl flooring. Most important of all, each one has a different recyclability quotient.

Plastic products often contain multiple types of plastics and chemical compounds that increase nonrecyclability and toxicity. Multi-layered plastics used for food packaging, are difficult to recycle, and colourants and additives can increase toxicity.

To address plastic pollution, solutions are emerging, such as adopting plastic alternatives, reducing plastic use, improving recycling infrastructure, and promoting circular economy initiatives.

Thus, it is important to make informed choices of where to use plastic and where not to, which plastics to use and which ones to avoid.

Watch the second episode of the mini-series on

‘SMART Solutions to Plastic Pollution’, which throws light on the different types of plastics.

Be Plastic Wise

By reducing plastic use, adopting innovative alternatives, collaborating with partners, recycling plastic waste and creating awareness among customers and communities for conscious decision making, Tata companies have been playing their part in the fight against plastic.

Watch the third episode of the mini-series on

'SMART Solutions to Plastic Pollution' showcasing some of the innovative solutions implemented by Tata companies.

Explore Innovative Case Studies

There has been a lot of positive action to eliminate the plastic problem, but the truth is that we all need to pitch in and do our bit. This week, we focus on how each one of us can adopt SMART Solutions to Beat Plastic Pollution. As a first step, we must change how we consume and dispose of the plastic we use. We can start by making small adjustments in our everyday life - by avoiding products with excessive plastic packaging and switching to non-plastic alternatives as much as possible.

Watch the fourth episode of the mini-series on

'SMART Solutions to Plastic Pollution' where we look at practical tips on how to avoid plastics.

Play Your Part

Last updated on 16^th September 2024

cognito