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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. By Julia Hernández Malagón  With the summer season approaching and all the pandemic restrictions being lifted, we’re seeing an increasing number of upcoming in-person events. While certain activities and celebrations can be done online, there’s no replacement for physical contact, making connections in person, and exploring new environments together. This sort of in-person time is, in many cases, very important for our personal and professional development.  Nevertheless, these events can also have a detrimental impact on the environment. This is why reducing the environmental impact of your events can be a big opportunity for your organization to commit to sustainable practices. A paper published in the Journal of Cleaner Production shows the results of a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) being performed on the three main parts of a conference: preparation, execution, and post-conference activities. The study revealed that travel activities play a dominant role in the overall environmental impact of such events, along with catering selection, hotel overnight stays, and other aspects related to the venue. The analysis also concluded that changing travelling methods, adopting vegetarian meals, and reducing the amount of conference materials can significantly better the environmental profile of a conference. In this article, we provide some ideas you can keep in mind to organize more sustainable events. 1. Plan your event with the help of accepted guidelines. ISO 20121 is an internationally recognized standard that provides guidelines for sustainable event management. It allows for a common language and comparison between organizations. It is applicable to all types and sizes of organizations involved in the delivery and design of events. This standard can be certified by a third party, increasing the credibility of the sustainability of the event. 2. Choose an accessible location. Because a large part of the carbon footprint of events results from transportation, try to find a location that is easily accessible by foot or public transport. Make recommendations on how attendees can arrive via public means. 3. Go hybrid or online. While an in-person event can be an incredible experience, going online or hybrid can help reduce food consumption, material waste, and the impact of travelling for people living far away from the venue. It will also eliminate barriers, allowing you to open your doors to a broader audience and be more inclusive. 4. Choose sustainable suppliers. When selecting suppliers for the different phases of your event, apply sustainability criteria and select those who are more committed to sustainability practices. Engage with them to better understand their environmental policies and activities. Do they match yours? Some ideas for how to choose sustainable suppliers can be found here. 5. Avoid paper and reduce material consumption. Traditionally, large quantities of paper have been used in events (programs, reports, booklets, etc.). Try to change this by relying on digital tools and keeping your use of material aids to a minimum. If print assets are needed, use only recycled materials. 6. Find a green venue. How do you look for a green venue? Look for buildings that are LEED-certified, and keep in mind the following aspects of their operation: waste diversion (clearly visible waste sorting and recycling), energy reduction, sustainable sourcing (local sources), and green spaces. You can find some ideas for venues in Canada here and here. 7. Make Earth-friendly catering choices. If possible, try to choose vegetarian meal options, calculate portions to avoid food waste, encourage the use of tap water, and provide reusable utensils. To go the extra mile, you can consider hiring a zero-waste caterer, such as Suppli or Unboxed Market (which both serve the Toronto area). 8. Say no to food waste and other material wastes. Try not to provide more food than is needed, encourage participants to take only what they know they’ll eat, and if leftovers are inevitable, craft a plan for where that food can be used or donated. Finally, ensure that your venue or caterer provides the resources needed to compost organic waste and that guests know where organics bins are located. You can find more ideas here. 9. Educate others about sustainability and the impact of your event. Actively inform participants and organizers of sustainable practices, and make sure they understand the rules. You should also consider communicating the impact of the event, as this can paint your organization in a positive light while also stressing the importance of sustainability and encouraging other groups to follow suit. Here’s an article on the evolution of sustainable events in Toronto. 10. Track your progress. Last but not least, you should track your progress to identify areas for improvement and major achievements that you can leverage for communication purposes. You can also ask your attendees for feedback about the sustainable practices you implemented and ideas for future events. This way, you’ll engage your audience while showing your commitment to sustainability. Organizing a sustainable event can help your organization in many ways, from inspiring others to be more environmentally friendly to spreading awareness among your community, reducing your environmental impact, and reducing costs associated with energy, and waste. Additional reading:
https://convention.visitberlin.de/sites/default/files/2022-03/visitBerlin_Sustainable-Event-Guidelines_EN.pdf By Jess Blackwell As the saying goes, “Knowledge is power”! The more you and your team know about what’s going on with our planet and what you can do to help, the better equipped you are to make positive changes. Here are some tips for how you can keep yourself and your team informed:
 *This post is based on content originally published at lumida.ca/blog. By Jess Blackwell  Even if you don’t run a restaurant or grocery store, all that lunchtime and snack-time food waste add up. Here are some tips for cutting back on your small business’ food waste:
Again, every little change makes a difference, so don’t feel pressured to tackle too many items at once. *This post is based on content originally published at lumida.ca/blog.
By Jess Blackwell  We know—having bottled water on hand is super convenient for both you and your customers. However, there are likely ways for you to reduce or eliminate your reliance on plastic, single-use bottles of water. For example:
*This post is based on content originally published at lumida.ca/blog.
By Katelyn Marie Poyntz  Want to save a bit of money while doing a favour for our environment?
Stop buying these five things: 1. Paper towels Old clothes cut into squares do just as good a job cleaning up messes, and you can wash and reuse them. Also, did you know that a scrunched-up newspaper is the best way to clean mirrors and windows? 2. Cleaning rags Clothes that are no longer good for wearing make great cleaning and polishing rags! C otton and flannel fabrics typically work the best, and old towels make for good scrubbers. Just cut them into squares, and you’re ready to go! 3. Painting drop sheets Going to make a mess? Whether you’re crafting, painting, or renovating, save those old sheets and use them to cover and protect your work area. 4. Storage containers Do you buy peanut butter, pasta sauce, or other things that come in jars? Save those jars and reuse them for all sorts of storage. Plastic containers work well for nails, screws, or other knickknacks, such as sewing buttons, while glass jars are great for storing shelf-stable foods such as grains, dried beans, and pasta. 5. Organic (green) bin liners Compostable green bin liners are not only expensive but the City of Toronto doesn’t accept them in the green bin! So you can stop buying them immediately. Instead, save and use things such as frozen veggie bags, milk bags, paper bags, or cereal liners. So what will you stop buying to start saving? By Jess Blackwell  Going on “coffee runs” has been a long-lasting office and workplace tradition for some pretty legit reasons:
However, if you’re grabbing one or two disposable coffee cups in a day, that can really add up. So, next time you and your coworkers have a hankering for that afternoon coffee, consider some of these tips:
Regardless of which of these tips you choose to implement, every change is a step in the right direction. *This post is based on content originally published at lumida.ca/blog.
By Katelyn Marie Poyntz  In previous weeks, we talked about the carbon footprint of foods, but what about the footprint of consuming it?
It’s all about the heat you use, which takes energy to create. The raw food movement would win the carbon battle, but here are some tips to reduce your carbon footprint while still having a warm meal:
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