Entrepreneurship: Combating Plastic Use with Sustainable Innovation

This essay delves into the role of entrepreneurship in addressing the pervasive issue of plastic pollution. It begins by identifying the environmental impact of excessive plastic use, leading to the exploration of sustainable solutions. The essay details initial market research findings, revealing consumer ...Read More

Entrepreneurship

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
TASK – 1.........................................................................................................................................3
What led to choose this idea?......................................................................................................3
Initial Market Research findings.................................................................................................4
Conclusion...................................................................................................................................4
TASK – 2.........................................................................................................................................5
Gibbs' Reflective Cycle...............................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................7
REFERENCES:...............................................................................................................................8
Books and Journals.....................................................................................................................8

INTRODUCTION
An entrepreneur is an individual or group, who are involved in introducing a new
business idea (Alvarez and Barney, 2020). With this, the process used by the entrepreneur in
order to establish a new venture by taking risk is termed as Entrepreneurship. They plays a vital
role towards the development of countries economy. As by establishing a new ventures, the
entrepreneurs are able to generate a employment to large group of people. They are able to make
and promote social changes as they are the one who will lead their ideas. By making continuous
improvement and innovation the business are even able to get competitive advantages.
Entrepreneurs are also one who find out the problems and need of the community and transforms
it into a new business idea. For preparing this particular essay the problem which is being
identified is use of plastic. Excess use of plastic at each and every point of time results in
polluting environment. This creates an imbalance in the environment and even the health of
living beings are affectedly badly. In order to prevent this situation its crucial to take major and
innovate steps towards the prevention of use of plastic. This essay includes the problem that
community it facing and how this idea click in the mind of an entrepreneur. With this, the essay
includes the market research findings performed by entrepreneur in order to get idea about the
problem as well as for the solution. Lastly, the essay includes the solution for the problem using
the Gibbs reflective cycle model.
MAIN BODY
TASK – 1
What led to choose this idea?
Increase in the amount of pollution which is affecting the living being is the main reason
behind choosing this idea (Audretsch and Moog, 2022). The idea is to use an effective solutions
through which use of plastic could be reduced or avoided. With this, the motive to find out the
sustainable solution for plastic. The water bodies are also affected a lot by increase in the plastic
waste that is being thrown in oceans. The plastic can be be degrade, with this the single use
plastic can neither be recycled which again results in increasing pollution. Use of plastic is the
major cause for many severe diseases such as cancer. Storing food in plastic contriver results in
releasing harmful chemical and turn out the food into toxic food. Some organisation are involved
in decomposing plastic artificially but this takes a lot of energy and cost to vanish it. Instead of

using plastic bags if the community start using cloth bags then it will safe the environment. With
this, the new employment opportunities will be generated as there are number of individuals who
are involved in producing sustainable bags and generating income through it. With this, there are
certain economic and non- economic benefits which can be availed by an individual if use to
plastic is avoided. All this inspires to choose this business idea.
Initial Market Research findings
Market research is being performed by the organisation in order to find out the potential
customers, to find out competitors involved in this industry and lastly to evaluate the risk
involved in the business (Brush and ET. AL., 2019). By performing market research of this essay
it is being found that around 400 million to plastic is generated every year globally, which is
affecting life of living being as well as natural biodiversity negatively. As out of which 11
million tonnes of plastic waste is being thrown in oceans, which results in affecting water bodies
too. By considering this data in mind the customers are getting more aware about consumption of
sustainable products. 45 % of total consumers wants to adopt sustainable products. As 30 - 35%
of customers are conscious towards their health so they don't want to make compromise at any
point of time. As the consumption of plastic is injurious for health so the customers are avoiding
use of plastic (Dias, Rodrigues and Ferreira, 2019). With this, keeping food in plastic container
can be the major reason for severe diseases, so to avoid it the customers are focusing more
towards sustainable solutions. Its possible to recycle only 5% of the total plastic generated every
year. So, the customers are involved in taking steps through which consumption of plastic could
be reduced. The customers are now using cloth bags instead of plastic bags, with this they are
able to reduce 20% of plastic waste generated every year. Along with consumption or plastic,
aluminium is also injurious for health so the customers are involved in making consumption for
steel utensils or consumption of products made from bamboo. As the major companies such as
Coca- Cola and Pepsi Co., are involved in recycling 100% of the plastic waste generated by
them, but a huge cost and energy is being consumed in order to recycle it. It is also being
observed that companies are getting aware towards production of sustainable goods. They are
using green packaging and Eco- friendly means of production (Welter, Baker and Wirsching,
2019). With this they are able to fulfil Cooperate social responsibilities and this also helps the
companies in enhancing brand value.

Conclusion
It can be concluded that, there are certain measures that could be taken in order to reduce
the amount of plastic generation (Julien, 2018). The plastic bags could be reduced with cloth
bags so they are eco- friendly and can be used multiple times. With this, producing products with
the help of bamboo and jute is also an effective idea for replacing plastic. Instead of using plastic
utensils and containers, consumption of stainless steel utensils and containers is an effective
solution. Many products such as straw, toothbrush, hair comb are the products which are made
from plastic which could be replaced with bamboo products. As an entrepreneur this common
ideas could be transformed in a innovative idea such as producing edible utensils. The edible
products are the products which are environmental friendly as well as they an individual can eat
it. It is an innovative solution for plastic free environment. The products produced from
environmental friendly things is good for health as well as for natural biodiversity.
TASK – 2
Gibbs' Reflective Cycle
Gibbs Reflective Cycle is an reflective model which helps in evaluating the experience
faced by an individual while performing any particular activity or task. In 1988, Graham Gibbs
has given this model of Gibbs reflective cycle (Sahut, Iandoli and Teulon, 2021). This model
includes six stages through which experienced is being expressed. The stages of Gibbs'
Reflective Cycle is as follows -
 Description - Before starting this essay I divided it into different sub parts, which gives
me an idea how much time and wording I has to give on that particular part. This also
helps me accomplishing my task timely. Initially, I go through the brief and started
analysing it as it seems to be interesting topic. I started find out the problems which I use
to face commonly and then try to connect it with community.
 Feelings – I feel relaxed as I understood the work which I have to perform and had
divided the task accordingly. While I started thinking upon the problems, a lot of question
arises in my mind, which make me bit frustrated. As I has not able to decide on which
idea essay is to be prepared. Then I started looking never my me and here the idea click
that plastic generation is the major problem seems these days. With the help of strong

decision making ability as an entrepreneur I decided to work on the problem arises by
plastic.
 Evaluation – Now a days people are getting more aware about their health so this was
the good thing that working on an idea where customers are already showing interest is
beneficial. As an entrepreneur this boost my self confidence and I was involved in find
out the strategies through which consumption of plastic could be reduced. By performing
the market research I found that million of tones of plastic is being generated every year
which can be even recycled and it harmful for living being and natural biodiversity. This
make me feel bad and I has blaming the whole community for performing this kind of
practices. This creates stressful situation in my mind and I has unable to concentrate on
my work.
 Analysis – By performing smart work as division of task, I was able to know the
activities which I have to perform and this helps in completing my task timely. I analysed
that if the companies starts producing the goods or services which are environmental
friendly, then the consumption of plastic waste could be start declining rapidly. As the
consumers are interested to purchase the goods which seems to be unique and innovative
for them. Which this, I analyses that most of the companies are already involved in such
activities which helps them in getting competitive advantages and this grabs the attention
of lot of customers. With showing creativity as an entrepreneur I was able to find out
alternative of plastic that is edible containers and utensils which can be consumed by an
individual after its use. With the help of marketing research ability I analysed the
consumer wants to make purchase of sustainable goods but due to lack of innovation in
those products they are not interested to purchase it. So, I was able to identify it and pitch
the correct product for the customers.
 Conclusion – While performing the task I realised that dividing work helps in
completing the task effectively (Steininger, 2019). The task is based on real life situations
which makes this activity better to perform. With this if more number of people are
involved in order to accomplishing this task then the idea that is being generated would
be more effective. As by working together an individuals could be come up with an
innovative idea, which is beneficial for both entrepreneur and for the customers. There
are very few businesses which are involved in producing sustainable products which is

the positive point for the companies as they are able to attain competitive advantage. So
by timely identifying the needs and problems of the customers and started working on
that shows my proactive personality as a entrepreneur. With this the determination which
I found within myself for accomplishing the allotted task shows the quality to staying
positive in any situation and handling the tough situations.
 Action plan – In order to produce a better effective idea I would prefer to work with a
team. As the idea generated with team efforts are the most effective one, each and every
individual had different ideas which can only be combined while working with the team.
With this, by performing market research I got disturbed by analysing that million of tons
of plastic is being generated every year which is harming living beings and natural
biodiversity, here I wasted my lot of time in judging and criticising people which is not at
all a good quality for being an entrepreneur. With this, I could take help of other people
in order to get the effective solution but due to lack of connections and networks I was
unable to do so. In order to develop this skill of having networks I had started working on
it, by making connections with the people by interacting them. By having a proper
interaction with the people I will be able to communicate my ideas and thoughts to them
and can be a better solution and feedbacks on them. This will be beneficial for me for
accomplishing my task effectively.
CONCLUSION
From the above file it can be concluded that, entrepreneurship plays a vital role in the
contribution of our economy. As a lot of employment opportunities is being generated though it
and the standard of living an individuals starts improving. With this, the problem and need of the
customers is being identified by which the effective solution is being disclosed through which
plastic waste could be reduced. Along with it, the market research is being performed which
helps in understanding the purchasing pattern of customers and current marketing tends. Lastly, a
reflection is being discussed with the help of Gibbs reflection cycle model.

REFERENCES:
Books and Journals
Alvarez, S. and Barney, J.B., 2020. Has the concept of opportunities been fruitful in the field of
entrepreneurship?. Academy of Management Perspectives, 34(3), pp.300-310.
Audretsch, D.B. and Moog, P., 2022. Democracy and entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship
Theory and Practice, 46(2), pp.368-392.
Brush, C., Edelman, L.F., Manolova, T. and Welter, F., 2019. A gendered look at
entrepreneurship ecosystems. Small Business Economics, 53(2), pp.393-408.
Dias, C.S., Rodrigues, R.G. and Ferreira, J.J., 2019. What's new in the research on agricultural
entrepreneurship?. Journal of rural studies, 65, pp.99-115.
Julien, P.A., 2018. The state of the art in small business and entrepreneurship. Routledge.
Sahut, J.M., Iandoli, L. and Teulon, F., 2021. The age of digital entrepreneurship. Small
Business Economics, 56(3), pp.1159-1169.
Steininger, D.M., 2019. Linking information systems and entrepreneurship: A review and
agenda for IT‐associated and digital entrepreneurship research. Information Systems
Journal, 29(2), pp.363-407.
Welter, F., Baker, T. and Wirsching, K., 2019. Three waves and counting: The rising tide of
contextualization in entrepreneurship research. Small Business Economics, 52(2),
pp.319-330.