Why Is the Consumer Goods Industry Stuck on Plastic, and How Can We Help Change It?
Why Is the Consumer Goods Industry Stuck on Plastic, and How Can We Help Change It?
Author: Team Grove
Each year, over 300 million tons of plastic are produced — with approximately 50% dedicated to single-use products like packaging.¹ Plastic pollution kills 1 million marine animals annually, emits greenhouse gases throughout its lifecycle, and only 5% of all plastic produced ends up being recycled.² Considering that an average plastic bottle can take hundreds of years to break down, it becomes alarmingly clear that plastic is a serious threat to our home planet.
Single-use plastic packaging dominates the consumer goods industry. However, companies like Grove are innovating toward a future with products designed for circularity instead of relying on plastic-based solutions. Read on to discover the steps we’re taking to reduce our plastic footprint and practical tips for reducing plastic use at home
Why is plastic so prolific in packaging?
Despite being terrible for ocean life and the planet, plastic is still a go-to for packaging for one simple reason: plastic beats out pretty much every other material in terms of cost-effectiveness and durability.
Plastic is highly resistant to damage and corrosion. It’s also lightweight, which makes it less expensive to ship and easier to create more products with fewer resources. And finally, plastic is cheaper than similarly applicable materials like aluminum and glass. These advantages have cemented plastic's position as the favored material in the consumer goods industry.
How Grove is addressing the single-use plastic problem
Beyond Plastic™ is our effort to move our industry toward long-term, scalable solutions that minimize reliance on single-use plastics. Due to a lack of viable alternatives, some plastic in products and packaging is currently unavoidable. Plastic-free solutions either don’t yet exist, aren’t cost competitive, or are unavailable at scale. Given these realities, Beyond Plastic™ celebrates progress while pushing both ourselves and our broader industry forward.
In 2023, we introduced Beyond Plastic™ badges on the Grove website to help customers make informed purchasing decisions and reduce their reliance on single-use plastic. These badges highlight the best available solutions for significantly reducing or eliminating single-use plastic waste.
The three badge categories are:
100% Plastic-Free
These products are 100% plastic-free. There are no plastic lacquers, liners, or coatings.
Reduced Plastic Waste
These products have significantly reduced their plastic use compared to conventional alternatives, with key components of their packaging made from materials with greater circularity potential, such as paper, aluminum or glass.
No Single-Use Plastic
These products contain durable, reusable plastic, defined by the EPA as lasting 3 years or more. There is no single-use plastic.
These badges make it easier for consumers to identify products that reduce plastic waste, or are refillable and reusable. We believe creating a system of radical transparency surrounding the products we use everyday will not only enable consumers to make the right choices, but also give brands a clear look at which plastic-reducing innovations are favored by consumers — so they can invest in creating the same types of products.
Advocacy
While many sustainability-focused companies are reducing their plastic production, we need more than innovation to make a dent in the plastic problem. Governing bodies also need to come together, enacting sustainability-focused legislation that forces a greater number of companies to get on board with plastic reduction. That’s why we’re committed to using our voice to advance legislation concerning plastic and recycling.
Grove proudly supports initiatives like the Plastics Free California Ballot Initiative, the Break Free from Plastic Pollution Bill, and other state and national advocacy efforts. These initiatives aim to increase recycling, reduce reliance on single-use plastics, and tackle plastic pollution at its source.
3 ways you can reduce your use of plastic-packaged products
1. Learn what’s recyclable and what isn’t
Take the time to understand which products can — and cannot — be recycled. While many items are often assumed to be recyclable, placing them in your recycling bin without actually knowing can do more harm than good. Misplaced recyclables can contaminate other materials, leading to entire batches of recyclable goods being sent to landfills instead of being processed properly.
2. Switch to reusable and refillable products
Skip the recycling bin entirely by opting for reusable versions of everyday items. Simple swaps like reusable straws and cotton rounds are both budget-friendly and eco-conscious. Feeling ambitious? Dive into a fun weekend project to transform your pantry into a low-plastic haven.
3. Cut back on takeout and convenience foods
Reduce the plastic waste associated with takeout, frozen foods, and other conveniences by cooking whole foods at home. You can also say no to plastic utensils and cups when ordering delivery, prioritize restaurants and brands that use paper and cardboard packaging, and bring reusable bags to the grocery store. It’s easy and can make a big difference.
Sources:
1 Plastic Oceans International. (n.d.). Plastic pollution facts. Retrieved November 22, 2024, from https://plasticoceans.org/the-facts/
2 National Resource Defense Council. (n.d.). Single-use plastics 101. Natural Resources Defense Council. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/single-use-plastics-101
