Kia ora!
This week I’m going to focus solely on ‘positive plastics’ messaging. Negotiations are underway this week in Canada for the UN Global Plastics Treaty. We can expect to see a lot of media focus on plastics globally because of this. The environmental NGOS are getting a lot of airtime, so much of it will be negative. We may also see some of this in NZ media as two influential kiwi scientists are in Ottawa as part of the Scientists Coalition. If you’d like to see the type of information I’m ‘battling’ on your behalf there, check out this letter to President Joe Biden which is co-signed by one of the NZ coordinators for the Coalition.
Below is some of the messaging I use when discussing plastics. I’ve also linked some additional resources which may be useful if the topic comes up. Don’t forget that your current and prospective employees will also be seeing the negative media or hearing about it from friends and family. Sharing some of this information with them gives them the ammunition needed to counter the negative arguments. It also reminds them that they are part of an essential manufacturing sector.
Cheers,
Rachel
Messaging:
Plastics are light-weight, strong materials that enable the technologies, transportation, buildings, and infrastructure essential to our way of life. They play a fundamental role in keeping us safe and healthy and enable many of the renewable energy solutions that are key to solving the climate crisis. Plastics are a critical contributor in achieving Aotearoa New Zealand’s plan of moving to a low-emissions, low-waste circular future.
Plastics are valuable resources. They do not belong in the environment – they belong in the economy. Recovery and reutilization of these materials in a circular economy means that products are sustainably produced, designed, used, reused, and recycled instead of being discarded.
Plastics enables these applications, and so much more:
- Protective packaging that helps prevent food waste and product damage, thereby preventing the loss of all the energy, water, chemicals, and funds that went into growing or manufacturing the product.
- Building materials that insulate, prevent water, and wind ingress, and improve energy efficiency for cooling and heating.
- Durable plastic pipes and plumping systems which ensure delivery of clean drinking-water and disposal and treatment of waste- and stormwater.
- Quality healthcare through medical supplies, equipment, and personal protective equipment, which helps us keep safe and healthy.
- Lightweight and strong transportation components which protect us in a crash situation, while also ensuring fuel-efficiency and comfort.
- Delivery of electricity through safe, energy-efficient wires/cables protected and insulated by plastics.
- Renewable energy generation and storage through solar arrays, wind turbines and electric vehicles.
- Microchips, mobile phones, computers, and other electronics keep us connected and are the foundation for modern technologies.
- Safety equipment used to protect our workers, firefighters, police, and armed forces.
Useful ‘Plastic Positive’ Links:
- Global Partners For Plastics Circularity – a website put together by the global plastics industry. The resources section contains useful factsheets, and the ‘our progress’ section shows (some) of the industry’s contributions in terms of recycling ($18 billion USD tracked to date), microplastics and additives.
- Reports showing replacement of plastics would produce more greenhouse gas emissions:
- 30th Jan 2024 – Replacing Plastics with Alternatives is Worse for GHG Emissions – Environmental Science & Technology
- 6 July 2022 – McKinsey Report – Climate impact of plastics
- Plastics le mag: Online magazine from Plastics Europe highlighting plastics innovation. Positive stories can be sorted by sector.
- This Is Plastics: Innovation Website by the USA Plastics Industry Association. The Innovation page has a wide variety of examples of plastics contribution.
