Because of your expertise in plastics you have been asked to

Because of your expertise in plastics, you have been asked to participate on a commission to develop recommendations to reduce the amount of plastics that escape to the environment by 90% by 2030. While your primary focus is the United States, you have been asked to consider global implications. For blog credit you need to make one recommendation and discuss what you think its impact might be and how your recommendation could be implemented

Solution

Cradle to cradle approach in the design of plastic products is an efficicent way to reduce the amount of plastics that escape to the environment.

In cradle to cradle production, all material inputs and outputs are seen either as technical or biological nutrients. Technical nutrients are materials that can be reused or placed directly back into the production cycle. Biological nutrients are organic materials that, once used are composted or consumed back to the earth.

Taking example of pipes, with ‘Cradle to Cradle’ you design a pipe from materials that can fully enter a new life cycle either back to nature or back into the design process as a new product.

Many companies in Europe are implementing this technique because of the legislation passed in the European Union (EU) and its effects are already visible. An average American throws away more than three times of solid waste per day when compared with an European citizen.

Cradle to cradle approach has gained traction outside of Europe too as companies are recognizing its environmental and economic benefits. With setting up of a global framework for its implementation, this approach will, to a very large degree help in curbing the plastics that escape in the environment.