Welcome to #TRVSTLOVES. We curate news, ideas and inspiration from across the world which demonstrate how real action can accomplish positive social impact. We’re mid-way through July, which means we’re halfway through Plastic Free July, a movement which looks to reduce global plastic usage. Lots of businesses are starting to make changes which we hope will inspire others to do the same.
Eco-friendly brands Lotus Trolley Bag, Klean Kanteen, Eco Lunchbox and Khala & Co. have teamed up for plastic-free July. They're aiming to raise awareness about single-use plastic and showcase their reusable products. Each organisation is keen to extend the cuts in pollution we've seen from the Covid-19 pandemic, and they're using their social media platforms to share some great tips and ideas. Of course going plastic-free for a month is a great start, but the idea is to change habits permanently. There’s still time to sign up to the Plastic Free Challenge if you’d like to take part.
Plastic packaging is a massive global problem. It has so many uses, including extending the product shelf of food products, yet Ellen Macarthur predicts that “in a business-as-usual scenario, by 2050 oceans could contain more plastics than fish (by weight)”. So any step away from this scenario is a step in the right direction, which is why food packaging manufacturer Sirane’s plastic-free salad packaging solution is potentially very exciting. Their recyclable coated paper still provides the necessary shelf-life and is translucent too, making it a perfect replacement to the standard plastic wrapping.
At TRVST we love innovative ideas which are set to benefit our environment: we think that’s where we’re going to see some real change. So recently the idea of a plastic-free artificial reef caught our eye. Artificial reefs are built for a number of reasons, including protecting offshore wind farms, but they’re often made from plastic, which can endanger marine life. Start-up ARC Marine has set out to address this with their Reef Cubes. They're made with low-carbon replacement cement, 100% recycled sand and aggregate. There are so many great benefits of using these, check out their website to learn more.
Staying in a hotel is one of life’s little treats, isn't it? But wouldn't it be even better if we weren’t contributing to plastic waste during our stay? We’re talking about the bathroom miniatures: mini shampoos, conditioners and body conditioners that are replaced daily in hotel bathrooms. This isn’t a sustainable practice though, so we were really pleased to hear that the Radisson Hotel Group will be replacing the miniatures with wall dispensers. Their plan will mean removing 57 million miniatures, which Radisson says equates to almost 500 tonnes of plastic annually. And that’s just one hotel chain, just think about the benefits if other chains did the same.
Have you heard of the Zero Waste Countdown podcast? It covers so many interesting environmental topics, including this episode with Rich Razgaitis. Rich is the co-founder and CEO of FloWater and has lots to say about the issues we face from drinking bottled plastic water (even when we keep them and refill). Rich is clearly passionate about having access to clean drinking water and talks about his refill stations and the different stages of filtration. We definitely recommend a listen.
Sam produces our regular #TRVSTLOVES where she seeks out inspiration, news, and ideas from across the globe that both highlight and celebrate how actions can make for social and environmental change.
Sam is passionate about seeking out small businesses that are implementing remarkable and exciting projects to tackle the climate crisis; she enjoys exploring how their innovation will help change the future of our world.
A degree in English Literature from the University of Southampton has given Sam the research expertise to share and contextualize stories around innovative projects, legislation, and changemakers.
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