Design and distribution in the fight against plastic waste
Sustainable solutions with rPET
Design and distribution in the fight against plastic waste
Sustainable solutions with rPET
IN SHORT
IN BRIEF
- Huge problem with plastic waste from disposable bottles
- In addition to packaging, the recycling loop also brings consumer goods to light
- Sustainability does not mean sacrificing outstanding design
- Study shows: Sales should be more involved in the topic of sustainability
- Huge problem with plastic waste from disposable bottles
- In addition to packaging, the recycling loop also brings consumer goods to light
- Sustainability does not mean sacrificing outstanding design
- Study shows: Sales should be more involved in the topic of sustainability
What is it about?
We have a problem. With disposable bottles.
In Germany alone, 1.9 million single-use plastic bottles are consumed – every hour. According to a report by Deutsche Umwelthilfe, if you extrapolate this amount to one year, the disposable bottles stacked on top of each other could reach from the earth to the moon 14 times.
It is not only the amount of waste that is worrying, but also the huge amount of energy used to produce these disposable bottles: The production of plastic bottles devours around 360,000 tons of crude oil and natural gas condensates every year.
For the annual production of all disposable bottles used in Germany alone, an amount of energy is required that could supply 2.3 million three-person households with electricity for a year.
In view of these figures, plastic waste from single-use bottles is a global problem of almost unbelievable proportions.
What is it about?
We have a problem. With disposable bottles.
In Germany alone, 1.9 million single-use plastic bottles are consumed – every hour. According to a report by Deutsche Umwelthilfe, if you extrapolate this amount to one year, the disposable bottles stacked on top of each other could reach from the earth to the moon 14 times.
It is not only the amount of waste that is worrying, but also the huge amount of energy used to produce these disposable bottles: The production of plastic bottles devours around 360,000 tons of crude oil and natural gas condensates every year.
For the annual production of all disposable bottles used in Germany alone, an amount of energy is required that could supply 2.3 million three-person households with electricity for a year.
In view of these figures, plastic waste from single-use bottles is a global problem of almost unbelievable proportions.
Supermarkets are pushing the disposable system. This is because, unlike reusable crates, disposable containers take up less space. Both during transportation and storage.
The #readytochange campaign draws attention to the single-use problem. There is also an EU-wide obligation for manufacturers to achieve a recycling rate of at least 25% for single-use bottles from 2025.
Beverage companies are increasingly aware of their ecological responsibility.
The number of producers who bring bottles onto the market with a significantly higher recycled content than required by policy is increasing.
Supermarkets are pushing the disposable system. This is because, unlike reusable crates, disposable containers take up less space. Both during transportation and storage.
The #readytochange campaign draws attention to the single-use problem.
There is also an EU-wide obligation for manufacturers to achieve a recycling rate of at least 25% for single-use bottles from 2025.
Beverage companies are increasingly aware of their ecological responsibility.
The number of producers who bring bottles onto the market with a significantly higher recycled content than required by policy is increasing.
Solutions have emerged as to how the environment can be helped despite the seemingly unavoidable demand for plastic.
Reduce. In production: reducing the proportion of newly produced plastic and increasing the proportion of recycled material
Recycle Reuse. Reuse of used plastic in recycled products
It takes several steps before the old PET bottle can be given a new lease of life.
Solutions have emerged as to how the environment can be helped despite the seemingly unavoidable demand for plastic.
Reduce. In production: reducing the proportion of newly produced plastic and increasing the proportion of recycled material
Recycle Reuse. Reuse of used plastic in recycled products
It takes several steps before the old PET bottle can be given a new lease of life.
Which products are made from recycled PET?
From a purely chemical point of view, PET and polyester are the same. The recycling process can therefore produce either PET or polyester again. The latter is offered either as yarn or felt.
70% of the rPET produced was reused in the European end market for bottles and other packaging.
According to statista, the remaining 30% were found in products that have nothing to do with packaging.
When processed into end products, the versatile textile or felt can be found as a sustainable component in both the B2C and B2B sectors, e.g. here:
- Fashion, shoes, accessories
- Furniture and office equipment
- Advertising material
Which products are made from recycled PET?
From a purely chemical point of view, PET and polyester are the same. The recycling process can therefore produce either PET or polyester again. The latter is offered either as yarn or felt.
70% of the rPET produced was reused in the European end market for bottles and other packaging.
According to statista, the remaining 30% were found in products that have nothing to do with packaging.
When processed into end products, the versatile textile or felt can be found as a sustainable component in both the B2C and B2B sectors, e.g. here:
- Fashion, shoes, accessories
- Furniture and office equipment
- Advertising material
An example from the B2B sector
The use of recycled plastic does not exclude excellent design and function.
Makes SEA sense – the uma OCEAN.
The pollution of our oceans with plastic waste is a global problem that uma Schreibgeräte from Fischerbach has also decided to counteract.
As the world’s leading manufacturer of promotional writing instruments, the RECYCLED PET PEN series, in which old PET bottles are recycled and processed into new writing instruments, takes center stage.
The uma RECYCLED PET PEN PRO ocean goes one step further and emphasizes social sustainability in addition to climate protection. In cooperation with Plastic Bank, plastic waste is collected near the coast and at river mouths. The collected waste is sorted, the 0.5 l PET bottles are recycled and processed into an uma writing instrument.
The plastic bottle can therefore serve as a sustainable advertising medium and thus find a second use.
Last year, uma was awarded the German Design Award Eco and received the TOP 100 Innovator award for the third time. Thanks to its climate-neutral and European production, the uma OCEAN makes an additional contribution to protecting the environment.
An example from the B2B sector
The use of recycled plastic does not exclude excellent design and function.
Makes SEA sense – the uma OCEAN.
The pollution of our oceans with plastic waste is a global problem that uma Schreibgeräte from Fischerbach has also decided to counteract.
As the world’s leading manufacturer of promotional writing instruments, the RECYCLED PET PEN series, in which old PET bottles are recycled and processed into new writing instruments, takes center stage.
The uma RECYCLED PET PEN PRO ocean goes one step further and emphasizes social sustainability in addition to climate protection. In cooperation with Plastic Bank, plastic waste is collected near the coast and at river mouths. The collected waste is sorted, the 0.5 l PET bottles are recycled and processed into an uma writing instrument.
The plastic bottle can therefore serve as a sustainable advertising medium and thus find a second use.
Last year, uma was awarded the German Design Award Eco and received the TOP 100 Innovator award for the third time. Thanks to its climate-neutral and European production, the uma OCEAN makes an additional contribution to protecting the environment.
The dormant potential of your own sales organization
According to a recent study by Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts, sales employees have a “whistleblower function”.
However, although the majority of the sales staff surveyed would see an opportunity for a competitive advantage based on their personal experience with their customers, it is now apparent that there is little sustainable sales management.
This is despite the fact that it also turned out that:
sustainability leaders achieve stronger sales growth and higher profits than the industry average. And their customer and employee loyalty is also better.
The dormant potential of your own sales organization
According to a recent study by Dortmund University of Applied Sciences and Arts, sales employees have a “whistleblower function”.
However, although the majority of the sales staff surveyed would see an opportunity for a competitive advantage based on their personal experience with their customers, it is now apparent that there is little sustainable sales management.
This is despite the fact that it also turned out that:
sustainability leaders achieve stronger sales growth and higher profits than the industry average. And their customer and employee loyalty is also better.
Conclusion:
When it comes to plastic waste, reducing single-use bottles and promoting recycling solutions is crucial.
Companies can also make a contribution by using recycled PET and recycling plastic products.
As examples show, neither function nor design have to be sacrificed if you opt for a sustainable solution.
The proven whistleblower function of your own sales team is worth its weight in gold and can be groundbreaking.
Products from our range that contain rPET
Folders for the presentation, transportation and storage of writing instruments and pen-like objects
The outer cover of our folders can be made of leather or GRS-certified rPET in light gray or anthracite.
Conclusion:
When it comes to plastic waste, reducing single-use bottles and promoting recycling solutions is crucial.
Companies can also make a contribution by using recycled PET and recycling plastic products.
As examples show, neither function nor design have to be sacrificed if you opt for a sustainable solution.
The proven whistleblower function of your own sales team is worth its weight in gold and can be groundbreaking.
Products from our range that contain rPET:
Folders for the presentation, transportation and storage of writing instruments and pen-like objects
The outer cover of our folders can be made of leather or GRS-certified rPET in light gray or anthracite.
