Plastic Pollution and Performance of Schneider Electric

Ethics Sustainability
and Social Impact

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................3
BODY........................................................................................................................................3
Causes of plastic pollution.....................................................................................................3
Effects of plastic pollution.....................................................................................................4
Circular economy...................................................................................................................5
Influence of circular theory on characteristics of common vision for plastics......................5
Evaluating the performance of Schneider Electric.................................................................6
CONCLUSION..........................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES...........................................................................................................................9

INTRODUCTION
Plastic pollution refers to the accumulation of plastic that ends up in the environment.
For example, plastic bottles, bags that creates problems for wildlife as well as humans.
Simply, it is the area where plastic is gathered and has started creating problems to the living
populations. Plastics is a very useful thing but is made up of toxic compounds which has a
negative impact such as causes illness. Plastic and its harmful components are invading the
water bodies and contributing to health issues in human and animals as well which is causing
a big threat to sustainability. In this report, Schneider Electric is taken as an organization.
Schneider Electric UK is the leading transformation of energy management. It serves
customers across nations worldwide. It has headquartered in France. It provides energy and
automated solutions for improving the efficiency and sustainability which is very essential for
business. This report presents about the plastic pollution and the performance of the
organization against the characteristics of common vision for circular economy for plastics. It
also includes causes and effect of plastic pollution over humans, animals and the environment
and the principle of circular economy and its influence over the characteristics of common
vision.
BODY
Plastic degradation takes about 500-1000 years. The most of the plastic comes in use
in manufacturing organizations. Plastic is manufactured using hazardous chemicals that has
led to the cause of many dreadful diseases for both humans and wildlife as well. The most
harmful chemicals present in the plastic are ethylene oxide, xylene and benzene which are
very toxic and harmful for the environment. Some of the major causes and effects of plastic
pollution are stated below.
Causes of plastic pollution
Overuse
One of the major causes of increasing plastic pollution is the excessive use of it.
Almost, all the products have plastic in it which often comes in the form of packaging and is
also contained in the products used in our daily lives. Even in clothes, plastic comes in the
form of polyester which is extensively used in fashion industry. Apart from this, even the
water is sold in the plastic bottles which is the most convenient way for companies to produce
and sold. All these things lead to overuse of plastic.
Disposable problems
There are only two ways to get rid of plastics either to dispose off on landfills or to
burn it. Each these methods have its pros and cons (Verma, 2020). Such as burning of plastic
waste will lead to emission of toxic gases in the environment contributing to global warming.
In case of disposal on landfills, it poses risk to environment as through rain the soil can be
contaminated because of the harmful substances present in the plastic which will further
reach to groundwater.
Sea accidents
This is another cause of problems for increasing plastic pollution. There are many
cases where ships carrying cargos loses which consist of plastic items and if got sinks into the
sea then it will lead to release of plastic items into the sea leading to serious plastic pollution.