Global warming and our use of plastic

Posted by Glenn Cleaning & Support Services, June 11, 2019

Plastic packaging. It seemed like such a great idea, cheap and incredibly flexible. Even the most ardent supporter of the environment could see important advantages: Because it was so light, it slashed the carbon emissions created by transport.

But like a silent tide, plastic has crept up on us, creating a vast and intractable problem on a global scale.

The unsightly litter it produces is just the tip of the iceberg. In the middle of the Pacific Ocean is a floating island of plastic the size of France. It is strangling marine animals and sea birds and obstructing their digestive tracts.  Ground down into microscopic fragments by waves and wind, it has infiltrated the food chain and is being consumed by animals and humans across the planet. The chemicals it contains present a serious threat to our present and future health.

And yet we continue to produce plastic in ever-increasing quantities, even deliberately adding invisible ‘microbeads’ to cosmetics and other products.

At Glenn, we are intimately involved with the problem of pollution. We constantly review the latest research into potentially harmful products and cleaning regimes, and we strive to make our work as ecologically neutral as possible.

We invite our clients to join us in our efforts to protect the environment by observing some simple guidelines regarding plastics:

– Wherever possible, reduce your use of unrecyclable ‘single-use’ plastics. In any case, it is only a matter of time before they are banned by enlightened governments everywhere, so this is a chance to be ahead of the game.

–  Not all plastics can be recycled. Look for relevant information on packaging, then separate out the recyclable materials and dispose of them properly.

–  Spread the word! Inform your staff and customers about what you’re doing and why, and encourage them to follow suit at home and in their businesses.

–   Avoid all products containing microbeads. Information is readily available online.

Also as important to our continued existance – and it’s no exaggeration to describe it as such – is the rising temperature of the planetary ecosystem, driven by emissions of so-called ‘greenhouse gases’, particularly carbon dioxide.

The impact of climate change is already responsible for the deaths of an estimated 315,000 people per annum.

Why, you may ask, should this be an issue of special significance to a cleaning and management company? Answer: For the same reason that it is a critical issue for everyone. And because our business operates in an environment of corporate and social enterprise where large premises and vehicle fleets are common, we are ideally placed to provide an example of good practice to our clients and our staff.

Every organisation (and, in fact, every individual) has a pressing responsibility to step up their use of sustainable energy such as wind and solar and to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels.

Where the use of energy derived from coal, oil and gas is unavoidable, we must all take steps to increase its efficiency.  This means applying our ingenuity to our use of vehicles, buildings and factories, and where necessary modifying our systems and behaviour.

To speak to one of our consultants for advice on developing a sustainable recycling and energy policy, get in touch with us today.