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how to reduce our dependence on single-use plastics? These slides accompany a webinar, with video available afterwards, at http://greenbusinessowner.com/webinar-win-win-plastic-bag-reduction-strategies/Several case studies of successful campaigns are included, so that other business owners, community members, and municipalities can follow suit and reduce our consumption of unsustainable goods like plastic bags.
Citation preview
Win-win Plastic Bag Reduction Strategies for Businesses and Communities
Presented in partnership:
GreenBusinessOwner.com * Ecopreneurist.comInspiredEconomist.com * Bulletin Bag* Sustainable Living Institute of Maui
June 6, 6 PM EST
Other webinarssign up for our newsletter at greenbusinessowner.com
Single-use plastics• Forks, plates, cups, bags, bowls, ties...• Derived from petroleum: 784,000 bbl in Australia• Shipped thousands of miles• Processed into non-biodegradable materials• Shipped again• Used for 1-5 minutes• Take 1000 years to degrade• Technically recyclable, but not realistically• 46x more plastic than plankton• Leach chemicals into our food• Plastic icebergs can sink ships!*
*not proven yet. : )photo courtesy ingridtaylar on Flickr Creative Commons
How often do you bring your own reusable bags?
38%
42%
19%Always
Most of the time
Sometimes
What do you think is the most effective strategy for plastic bag reduction?
23%
42%
19%
5%8% 3% In-store credits
Community bans
In-store fees
free boxes
community fees
public awareness campaigns
How much does each plastic bag cost taxpayers in disposal and cleanup costs, on average?
46%
23%
27%
4% More than 5 cents
Nothing/minimal
2-3 cents
4-5 cents
How much does each plastic bag cost taxpayers in disposal and cleanup costs, on average?
What is cleanup? 50-80 million bags end up on Australia’s beaches, streets, and parks annually Just cleanup of pollution/litter: Austin, TX: 0.33 cents
Recycling, collection, disposal: California study: 17 cents per bag
Cost passed on to consumer for free plastic bags at stores: $10-15 per household annually (Australia)
http://www.cawrecycles.org/issues/plastic_campaign/plastic_bags/problemhttp://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/action/NOTEMPLATE?s=0,pURL=plastic_bag_facts,
Do you believe plastic bag recycling is effective?
34%
57%
9% Not at all
Very
Somewhat
Do you believe plastic bag recycling is effective?
Less than 3% of bags are recycled annually (Australia)
5.2% in U.S. were recycled in 2005 (EPA)
http://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/action/NOTEMPLATE?s=0,pURL=plastic_bag_facts,http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/01/weekinreview/01basics.html
Nonbiodegradable plastics are accumulating in the world’s oceans:
Phthalates and other compounds are leaching
into seafood
Disposal
“Being part of ACC's advocacy team provides the opportunity to collaborate with our peers on issues of common concern, such as manufacturing guidelines to protect public safety and health. We challenge each other to raise the bar for our industry and then hold each other to maintaining that level”
-Brian Ferguson, Former Chairman of the Board for ACC
ACC funded study:o Bacteria found in reusable bagso Timed to coincide with CA statewide ban voteo Health officials concluded the bacteria was not abnormal, or the type or levels that would be a threato Regardless, ACC Produced PR campaign to “educate” consumers of the dangers of reusable bags...and it
worked
h"p://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2010/06/25/128105740/plas:cs-‐industry-‐funded-‐study-‐finds-‐bacteria-‐in-‐reusable-‐grocery-‐bags
h"p://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-‐dyn/content/ar:cle/2010/06/24/AR2010062406143.htmlh"p://www.chicagotribune.com/health/sns-‐green-‐bacteria-‐in-‐shopping-‐bags,0,4837500.story h"p://news.consumerreports.org/safety/2010/07/can-‐reusable-‐grocery-‐bags-‐make-‐you-‐sick-‐or-‐is-‐that-‐just-‐baloney.html
Hawaii State Representative Joe Souki:
o Paid $24,000 annually by the ACCo Helped defeat Styrofoam ban in Mauio Helped defeat plastic bag fees on Oahu
h"p://greenbusinessowner.com/hawaii-‐becomes-‐first-‐state-‐in-‐u-‐s-‐to-‐ban-‐plas:c-‐bags/h"p://www.staradver:ser.com/news/breaking/151028385.html
Hawaii couldn’t pass a statewide plastic bag ban, but county by county, it happened anyway. On May 10, 2012, Honolulu County became the last to pass a plastic bag ban, making Hawaii the first plastic bag free state.
LA Climate AcCon Club
(Damarisco"a, Maine)
Lincoln Academy Climate Ac:on Club’s “Small Town….Big Difference” campaign Bags sponsored by 13 community businesses Bags sold in stores with coffee can/honor system for collec:ng money
h"p://laclimateac:on.webs.com/
Nurture Nature Design Contest(Maine -‐ statewide)
State-‐wide reusable bag design contest for grades 3 – 7 Promoted in grocery stores and via teacher outreach Over 400 entries received 1000 reusable bags distributed to par:cipants and general public
h"p://www.bulle:nbag.com/blog/Page-‐12.html
Kids for a Cooler Planet(Hanover, New Hampshire)
Project started by Hanover High School students (NH) Convinced local stores to offer and promote reusable bags Worked with NH governor and legislators to pass resolu:on to support reusable bags Outreach and awareness campaign for younger students and community
h"p://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2sShAerL8A
Colorado Ski Towns Reusable Bag Challenge
Contest involved 32 mountain towns in Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Idaho Town with highest reusable bag rate was awarded $10,000 toward solar for community school. Town of Basalt won by elimina:ng an es:mated 48 plas:c bags per person.
http://www.bulletinbag.com/blog/reusable-bags-for-shopping-lead-to-solar-power.html
Tips to discontinue plastic bags for businesses
-Offer cloth bags for purchase-Announce your shift to “No Plastic bags” and make it a fun day of freedom from the bag. Post reminders outside your business.-Crowdsource a cool design for cloth bags with your logo and No Plastic message for great longterm marketing.-Use a chalkboard or other public display to count up how much plastic you and your customers have saved. -Form a coalition with other businesses to do the same and encourage your government to ban single use paper or plastic bags
DC Bag Tax- Case Study-January 1, 2010 Washington, D.C. implemented a $0.05 tax for each disposable carryout bag (paper or plastic) taken at the time of checkout, with the Anacostia River Clean Up and Protection Act
-Plastic bag use reduced 80% from 2009.
-$2 million revenue for environmental clean-up projects
-78% of merchants experienced zero or positive effect of this ban.
How to do it:• Start local• Build coalitions: business, citizen groups, governments• Publicize the business connection strongly!• Create profit motives for partners• Expect powerful resistance from lobbyists...there will be setbacks• Engage youth and teachers• Create contests• Be ridiculous...and have fun
photo courtesy Heal the Bay on Flickr Creative Commons
What do you prefer to see on reusable bags?
27%
31%
31%
12% Nature image
Fun environmental message
Brand name
Nothing
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