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By Julia Hernández Malagón
This year's celebration is a great opportunity for you to do your part to reduce the environmental impact of your participation. Want to contribute to a greener city and festival? Keep reading!  1. Choose a sustainable costume Trying to think of what your this year’s costume will look like? Try upcycling! Chances are that you have old shoes, masks, or T-shirts that you have been stockpiling. Well, this is the time to use them! Maybe you could use that old dress in the corner of your wardrobe to make a fun and creative costume. Try to find better uses for your old clothes and accessories and get innovative by using recycled materials—such as newspapers, cardboard, and packaging—to complement your costumes. Involve your kids and encourage them to participate in making their own costumes. They’ll be blown away by all the creative ideas, and it’ll be good for them to learn how to make things for themselves. You can find some fun ideas on Pinterest here. If you don’t have the time to create your costume from scratch, you can always borrow it from a friend, swap for it, or rent it. If you do end up buying your costume new, try to use it for as long as you can or donate it at the end of its shelf-life. 2. Try to avoid glitter Glitter can be a big part of the celebration of the Caribbean Carnival. However, due to its composition of aluminum and plastic, it’s very detrimental to the environment (Yurtsever, 2019). Because we’re just using it for fun, is it really worth the environmental consequences? This year, consider using alternatives to complement your costume! Some neat options include:
3. Use public transit, walk, or bike to the event if you can Not only will this help you to avoid traffic and maybe even get to the event faster, but by using public transport, cycling, or going on foot, you will also contribute to reducing the environmental impact of your celebrations. Travel usually constitutes a great amount of the emissions from events. Each year, the Toronto Caribbean Carnival attracts millions of visitors and is considered the largest cultural celebration in all of North America. If each of us does our part, we can make a meaningful difference. 4. Minimize your waste Among the most unsustainable aspects of the Caribbean Carnival is the ensuing waste, including plastic cups, throwaway plates and utensils, and food scraps. To avoid having to use plastic cups, bring a reusable cup, which you can also decorate to match your costume. You can also bring your own reusable utensils to avoid the use of plastic ones, and politely decline drinks with plastic straws. And when you’re done with the party, just make sure that you put each kind of waste in the proper disposal receptacle. If you’re not sure whether something should go in the recycling bin, organics bin, or garbage bin, you can reference your city’s or waste collector’s resources for more information. For example, did you know that the City of Toronto has a handy tool called the Waste Wizard? This searchable feature helps you figure out exactly where each item should go! 5. Finally, spread the word Encourage your friends and family members to reduce their environmental impact with these simple tips. We can implement the principles of the circular economy both in our daily lives and during special events such as the Toronto Caribbean Carnival. Not only will doing so be beneficial for you in many ways (such as by helping you save money, get creative, and have fun while also getting rid of old stuff) but you’ll also contribute to a more sustainable world. Happy Caribbean Carnival! References: Yurtsever, M. (2019). “Tiny, shiny, and colorful microplastics: Are regular glitters a significant source of microplastics?, Marine Pollution Bulletin; Perosa M, et al. (2021) “Taking the sparkle off the sparkling time, Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2021. This post was edited by Lumida Editing & Proofreading. By Philippe Edde  Have you ever stopped to think about your plastic consumption? Perhaps you've mindlessly disposed of plastic without considering its long-term impact on our environment. Maybe you try to reuse and repurpose plastic whenever you can, or maybe you try to avoid using plastic altogether. Whatever your stance on this topic may be, it is undeniable that plastic is all around us, with single-use plastics being especially prominent. While there are many initiatives to remove our dependency on this kind of plastic, the reality is that it will continue to persist in our lives for a very long time. For instance, the personal protective equipment used by hospital staff is designed to be thrown away; it is a matter of safety that it is not reused. Furthermore, plastics possess a myriad of useful qualities, like being durable, easily moldable, lightweight, and chemically stable. As such, they are also a great material for reusable products. But even reusable products eventually break, and we should aim to recycle them instead of throwing them in a landfill. Did you know that plastic waste makes up 80% of all marine pollution and that around 8‒10 million metric tons of plastic ends up in the ocean each year? Cleanup initiatives would be most effective if we could take these materials and recycle them into new plastics. The crux of managing plastics and reducing pollution lies in the development of infrastructure capable of easily transforming plastic waste into new, functional plastics. Unfortunately, our current recycling methods are far from satisfactory. In Canada, less than 10% of our plastic waste actually gets recycled, highlighting the alarming reality of our linear plastic economy—where plastic is used once and then discarded as waste. However, what if we could break free from this mold and embrace a circular plastic economy? What is a circular plastic economy? It’s a production system wherein all the new plastics produced come mostly from recycled plastics. This way, the amount of waste in the environment is reduced while limiting the amount of new petroleum needed to create plastic. Basically, it’s two birds with one stone. Easy, right? Well, not quite. Restructuring the entire plastic economy is no simple feat. But there must be somewhere we can start. Authorities on the circular plastic economy agree that three major components must be a part of the circular economy: reduction, innovation, and circulation.  Component 1: Reduction Reducing plastic waste starts with reducing its production. By replacing plastics with alternative materials like glass, cardboard, and paper, we can immediately make progress. Given that plastic demand is projected to double by 2050, offsetting this demand is crucial to realizing a circular plastic economy.  Component 2: Innovation The second component of a circular plastic economy is creating new, intelligently designed plastic. Currently, plastics are made to look good and be functional. As such, a plastic bottle can be made of several different kinds of plastic polymers—one for the cap, another for the clear bottle, and a third for the plastic sleeve around it. Each of these pieces can be filled with dyes, making them even more difficult to recycle, especially if they are thrown into the same recycling bin (which is often the case). Simplifying plastic packaging and ensuring its compatibility with recycling systems will pave the way for increased recycling rates. Organizations like CEFLEX in Europe are already achieving great progress in making flexible packaging recyclable, signaling the initial stages of a circular economy. However, this is not the only issue. Actually getting plastic manufacturers to begin using these more sustainable plastics would require a lot of convincing. There are a couple of ways in which we could get around this. First, we could get the government to incentivize or subsidize the production of easily recyclable plastics. Alternatively, we could make these kinds of plastics easily recognizable and then encourage the public to purchase the products they recognize as sustainably made plastics.  Component 3: Circulation Once we have reduced plastic demand and made plastics easier to recycle, those products will actually need to be recycled and made to take over other plastics in the market. To fully close the loop, we must explore innovative recycling methods. One emerging superpower in this field is chemical recycling. Chemical recycling involves breaking down plastics into their chemical building blocks. They can then be easily resynthesized into high-quality plastics indefinitely. Compared to our current mechanical recycling methods, which are susceptible to contamination and issues regarding material separation, chemical recycling seems like a promising step forward. Currently, a number of companies are working on this technology. One called Loop has even signed deals with a number of industrial plastic manufacturers and distributors to aid in the transition to a circular plastic economy. Summary
Building a circular plastic economy requires collective efforts from governments, manufacturers, and consumers alike. It demands a fundamental shift in our approach to plastic, including the reevaluation of its role and impact on our environment. By reducing plastic demand, promoting intelligently designed plastics, and embracing innovative recycling methods, we can pave the way toward a more sustainable future. By Philippe Edde  Have you ever stared at a piece of packaging, trying to decipher whether it's recyclable? Maybe you believe that you just need to look for that little recycling symbol on packaging to figure it out. We've all been there. But guess what? That symbol only tells you what kind of plastic a product is made of, not whether it's actually recyclable. To make matters worse, different cities have different recycling rules, turning this puzzle into a real head-scratcher. In Toronto, black plastic is one of the biggest culprits of this confusion.  Black plastics: The black sheep
Remember those black plastic takeout containers many of us received a million of while ordering food during the pandemic? Well, in Toronto, those containers and pretty much any black plastic are a recycling no-no. The recycling plants in Toronto employ near infra-red technology to sort plastic, but here's the catch: black plastic, often colored using carbon black pigments, cannot be detected by this technology, making it unrecyclable. What's worse is that black plastics often end up covering other recyclable plastics, leading to further recycling contamination and a real recycling nightmare. Nearly one third of what is thrown in the blue recycling bins in Toronto is not recyclable, and it's estimated that reducing recycling contamination by even 1% could save Toronto up to $1 million a year! Here's the mind-boggling part: just a short distance away—a mere 45 km—the Peel region happily recycles black plastic. Their optical sorting technology easily handles these troublesome plastics. The discrepancy between these neighbouring regions of the GTA adds confusion to the recycling process, potentially resulting in contamination and the disposal of recyclable materials in landfills or incinerators. Solving the riddle So what can be done to fix this chaotic recycling landscape? One solution is to implement consistent plastic-sorting technology across all regions. By aligning these recycling systems, we can eliminate confusion and ensure uniformity in recyclability. In other words, if you know how to recycle in Toronto, you should know how to recycle in Peel, Scarborough, and anywhere else in Ontario. Of course, this transformation will take time and effort, as it will require major changes to Ontario’s plastic sorting and recycling facilities. Education is another crucial piece of the puzzle. Clear signage above recycling bins can offer guidance about what to throw in each bin, minimizing contamination risks. In fact, the city of Toronto recognizes this and has developed an app that provides detailed recycling information for over 2,500 materials, making it easier than ever to navigate the recycling maze. You can find that app here. Embracing the opportunity Living in Toronto and don't want to drive up to Peel just to recycle your black plastic? Fear not! Case, a Toronto-based entrepreneurial company, has got your back. It takes charge of your black plastic takeout containers, ensuring that they find a new life. First, Case sanitizes and evaluates each container. The ones in good condition are sent back to takeout restaurants for reuse. However, the containers that are a little too banged up are delivered to the company's trusted recycling partners, where they are transformed into pellets and efficiently recycled. Case works with both offices and condos, so if you have a lot of black plastic stacking up, contact your condo board or talk to your human resources department to get a bin set up. The steps we can take Recycling doesn't have to be a mind-bending mystery. By implementing systemic changes, educating the public, and embracing innovative solutions like Case, we can unravel Toronto’s black plastic problem and create a cleaner, more sustainable future. From advocating for increased recycling-related education and improved recycling infrastructure to promoting existing tools, such as Toronto’s Waste Wizard, and even taking the problem into our own hands with Case, there are many little things we can do to create a more sustainable Toronto. By Mythreyi Rajasingham  When it comes to purchasing pre-bottled drinks, our choice of packaging material can help keep the environment and its inhabitants healthy and safe from toxins.
Although plastic, glass, and aluminium bottles/cans vary in the ways in which they impact the environment, a lack of proper communication has caused most consumers to falsely believe that glass bottles are more sustainable than plastic and aluminium ones. To find the most eco-friendly option, most sources have compared the sustainability of plastic, glass, and aluminium bottles/cans by looking at the three stages of their lifecycle: production, transportation, and recycling. Plastic bottles Recently, plastic has garnered significant attention due to its environmental repercussions, with one prevalent example being its harmful impact on marine life, particularly turtles. However, due to its lightweight nature and affordability, plastic bottles, commonly made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), have emerged as the favoured option among consumers. Although plastic bottles use less energy during production and transportation because of their light weight, they require the extraction of crude oil, a non-renewable resource (“Glass, aluminum, plastic,” 2021). The act of oil drilling also damages the environment by contributing to the emission of greenhouse gases, which has led to global warming and climate change. Compared to glass and aluminium bottles/cans, plastic bottles are significantly less recycled, reducing their overall sustainability (Murphy, 2020). With this in mind, plastic bottles, while favoured for their lightweight nature and affordability, pose serious environmental challenges due to their impact on marine life, reliance on non-renewable crude oil, and low recycling rates compared to glass and aluminium alternatives. Glass bottles Compared to plastic, the production and distribution of glass requires much more energy because this material is heavier and more fragile. And due to their fragility, glass bottles cannot be tightly packed during transportation, which leads to more frequent shipments and, consequently, consumes a greater amount of fuel. According to a recent study conducted in Italy, the majority of consumers perceive glass bottles as the most environmentally sustainable choice (Feo, 2022). This perception aligns with the fact that glass bottles can be recycled endlessly. But when considering factors like production and transportation, it is clear that glass has a greater number of disadvantages than benefits. For instance, glass relies on a finite resource: sand. The UN Environmental Programme has declared sand as the “second most exploited natural resource after water” (Bero, 2022). As noted by Toronto-based journalist Nehal El-Hadi, sand is not only essential for glass production but also for constructing cities, which has contributed to its scarcity. In addition to this, since the process of collecting and sorting glass bottles has its own challenges, glass can actually be difficult to recycle. This clashes with the consumer belief that glass bottles are environmentally sustainable due to their ability to be recycled endlessly. In fact, life cycle assessments (LCAs), which look at the energy consumption, resource use, and waste production of various materials, have determined that glass is the least sustainable option. Aluminium cans In recent years, aluminium cans have gained popularity because of their light weight and ability to be repeatedly recycled without a loss in quality. Unlike glass bottles, aluminium cans can be tightly packed when shipped because of their size and weight, which saves a lot of fuel and emits less greenhouse gas into the atmosphere. But despite these positives, it is worth noting that aluminium production relies on the extraction of bauxite, a mineral that poses risks such as water contamination and soil erosion when mined (Murphy, 2020). Like glass and plastic, the sustainability of aluminium cans depends on factors such as recyclability and is influenced by production and transportation processes. As a result, it becomes challenging to label one type of bottle as more sustainable than others without considering each of their unique contexts. Yet, several studies have suggested that, in general, aluminium cans tend to be more sustainable compared to glass and plastic options. While aluminium cans offer advantages such as a lightweight design, efficient transportation, and high recyclability, their sustainability must be considered in light of factors like bauxite extraction and production processes. Plastic, glass, or aluminium? In the end, choosing the most sustainable packaging material for pre-bottled drinks requires the consideration of various factors. While each option has its own advantages and drawbacks, it is important to focus on reducing overall consumption, promoting recycling, and supporting a circular economy. So, although most sources have labelled aluminium cans as the most sustainable choice and glass bottles as the least sustainable choice, it’s important to remember that all these options have negative impacts on the environment. With this in mind, if the intention is to decrease environmental consequences when choosing what type of bottle/can to buy, the more eco-friendly option would be to buy aluminium cans and recycle them afterwards. However, the most sustainable choice is to reduce the consumption of pre-bottled drinks altogether and instead opt for reusable bottles In any case, it is important to keep in mind that even though the fate of our planet may seem bleak, we all have the power to minimise packaging waste and, in the process, lead our planet towards a more sustainable future. |
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