A Comprehensive Report on Plastic Collective: Sustainability Analysis

This report provides a comprehensive analysis of Plastic Collective, an Australian social enterprise dedicated to plastic waste management and environmental sustainability. It delves into the organization's background, highlighting its mission to reduce plastic leakage and its various educational programs, partnerships, and initiatives, including plastic neutral certification. The report examines sustainability strategies such as awareness campaigns, creativity in waste utilization, organizational responsibility, and the implementation of workshops and programs. It also addresses critical issues like collection and infrastructure challenges, community health and safety concerns, negative tourism impacts, wildlife habitat destruction, and the economic consequences of plastic waste. Furthermore, the analysis explores the roles of planning, organizing, leading, and controlling within Plastic Collective, emphasizing their importance in achieving sustainable development and environmental protection. The report concludes by underscoring the need for effective strategies, government support, and public awareness to mitigate the adverse effects of plastic waste and promote a circular economy.

Management and Sustainability
Analysis of Plastic Collective

TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................................. 1
MAIN BODY....................................................................................................................................1
Background................................................................................................................................ 1
Sustainability strategies and issues - Research, Analysis, Discussion.........................................2
Analysis of the situation.............................................................................................................5
RECOMMENDATIONS.................................................................................................................... 8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................. 9
REFERENCES.................................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
For an organisation its management plays vital role in its functioning. With sustainability
the firm ensures its integration with environmental and social aspects along with achieving its
business objectives. In this report detail discussion about Plastic collectives is done which is a
leading Australian social organisation working in the field of plastic waste management and
turning them into valuable resources. Along with this sustainability and its development for the
entity is presented as well.
MAIN BODY
Background
Importance of Plastic Collectives and Australian and international business landscape:
Plastic Collectives is an Australian social enterprise which works for removal and
reduction of plastic wastages in surroundings which is undoubtedly one of the crucial
environmental issues faced by the world at a large. The mission of this organisation is to stop
plastic leakage in environment. To achieve this mission, business has launched many
educational programmes for conversion of waste plastic into valuable resources while providing
training, tools and equipment which in turn develop income generation opportunities in the
society. Organisation has launched many programmes in the past years with corporation of
international communities and firms for recycling of plastic waste and through implementation
of proper waste collection and processing techniques (THE PLASTIC COLLECTIVE, 2018).
Issue related with management of plastic waste is not confined to a single country and
is a global issue. To overcome this situation, support is needed from all over the world with
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taking some initiatives in this direction such as Plastic Collectives. This step taken by plastic
collective is a start in this direction as this can be seen that plastic waste is not only affecting
the land but also, water resources and marine life.
Along with Plastic Collectives which started plastic Neutral certification, many
organisations have come forward to protect the environment. One of the International
Corporation is from Starboard that is a Thailand based surfboard manufacturer and it started
the world's first Plastic Offset Programme.
Plastic collective plays a vital role in the protection of environment as it undertakes
many programmes to educate people for management and recycling of plastic waste into
valuable resources. The focus of this and other global enterprises is at overall protection of
environment which is very important for whole world and other living beings as it is a global
issue (Arafat, Jijakli and Ahsan, 2015). Company is also taking initiatives to reduce its own
plastic waste footprint along with creating jobs in remote areas. This can be clearly seen that
plastic collective is protecting environment and providing employment opportunities as well.
Sustainability strategies and issues - Research, Analysis, Discussion
Sustainability strategies means those which are adopted by Plastic collective for
removal and reduction of plastic waste and management of it.
Strategies:
Plastic waste and its maintenance is very important for the government of a nation. For
this, certain strategies must be drafted by an organisation working in this direction or by
government for proper disposal and recycling of the plastic wastage. Some of them are as
follows:
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1. Awareness: One of the most effective strategies that is used for reducing the plastic
waste and for its management is spreading and increasing awareness among people
about the same (Bing and et.al., 2015). Companies can recycle their plastic drink bottles
and other products but it will be of no use until consumers do not demand for the same.
Creating consumer awareness about the harmful effects of plastic can lead to increase
their inclination towards use of recycled products or goods with biodegradable
packaging.
2. Creativity: Plastic wastage makes a strong building material whether in the form of
patristic bottle, shredded waste or discarded plastic (Comăniță and et.al., 2016). A small
building structure can be built in less than 5 days. So, with increase in creativity,
quotient for use of waste plastic willed to the fact that it will be disposed off properly
and environment can be protected.
3. Plastic neutrality: This is inclined towards taking initiative for more recycling of plastic
wastage and reducing its production. This also increases consumer confidence, improves
engagement with employees and provides mutual benefits.
4. Organisational responsibility: Another strategy that can be adopted for minimising the
plastic waste is making management of business organisation responsible for
environmental sustainability (Jambeck and et.al., 2015). Enterprise can reduce their
plastic production along with focusing on recycling of its plastic footprints.
5. Workshops and programme: This can be an innovative strategy for waste management
in the form of establishment of waste banks. In this, communities and people deposit
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their non-organic solid waste in these banks. These banks then use those waste plastic
in an innovative and creative way with recycling them.
The above mentioned are certain strategies that can be implemented by various
economies in their country for successful waste management and protection of environment.
Issues: The major problems faced in phase of sustainability are:
1. Collection and infrastructure: One of the major issues is collection of plastic waste and
this is due to lack of infrastructure facilities for waste management and expensive
transport (Kumar and Baskar, 2015). For developed cities, this cannot be a major issue
but for remote areas and where access is not easy, this is a major problem as average
per person each year plastic waste amount to 50-70 kg which is not a small quantity for
a country like Australia.
2. Community health and safety: Burning of plastic waste is very popular and widely
practised in present era and this causes severe health issues to people. Improper
disposal of plastic waste also creates unhygienic and unsanitary conditions for public.
Plastic ingestion by marine creature and then by human also have hazardous impact on
the human health.
3. Negative Tourism impact: Improper disposal of plastic waste and dumping of bottles
and other use plastic times in sea which came off shore by waves creates a visual which
is not good one (Laurent and et.al., 2014). All this together have a negative impact on
tourism of a place and one overall economy of the nation.
4. Wildlife and habitat impact: Movement of plastic waste from land to sea have
impacted mire life and habitat adversely. The habitat and reefs many species of fish gets
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destroyed. This have an adverse impact on coastal livelihood where the main source
of earnings are form fishing and other marine activities
5. Economic impact: - Plastic waste management is not a small task as it has a great impact
on the economy of Australia. On an average, yearly cost of waste plastic management
has been estimated at $13 million. Reason behind this is to treat one time use plastic as
waste/rubbish or as thing to be discarded and not to be reused (Li, Tse and Fok, 2016).
These are the main issues that are faced in sustainability of environment from plastic
waste. These issues are relevant, not only for Australia but, also for the whole world.
Analysis of the situation
Role of planning: Planning plays a vital role in the formation and implementation of
different strategies. Being a social enterprise, Plastic Collectives has set its mission to reduce
plastic waste and protect the environment. In this direction, it has undertaken many projects
and involved general people in accomplishment of those projects. For this, proper planning is
required for the determination of projects as what issues related with plastic waste are to be
addressed, how to deal with that problems, what programmes must be initiated for addressing
that issue and what outcomes are expected (Nizami and et.al., 2017). As per World economise
Forum, 2016- 80% of total plastic waste is leaking in the environment causing harmful side
effects to the weather conditions and human lives as well. This is a globe issue and to overcome
it effectively, proper planning is required. Plastic Collectives has launched many educational and
training programmes for the collection and management of plastic wastes.
Planning is an important tool as with this, a map is drawn as to how all this projects and
programmes are to be initiated, how involvement form people is sought and what are the end
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result expected for all these projects (Rigamonti and et.al., 2014). With development of proper
plan for reducing leakage for plastic waste in to environment and seas the sustainability of the
organisation and environment can be ensured. The management of plastic collective is always
ready to undertake plans that can lead to sustainable development of organisation and natural
atmosphere as well.
Role of organising: This is a process and technique through which a person or an
organisation can obtain the common goals with work and workforce. Thus, it defines an
appropriate planning for developing framework in business as well as encouraging employees
to have fruitful efforts in respect with attaining goals (Sharma and Bansal, 2016). Moreover, this
process consists of various factors and operations in managing the internal and external
activities of entity. It brings an efficient administration of work in each department such as
production, supply, promotion, accounting, etc.
As per analysing the operational framework of Plastic Collectives on which it can be said
that, main motive of this firm is for reducing the impact of plastic from earth which will bring
the sustainable rise in the environmental conditions (Walker and Xanthos, 2018). Moreover,
organising the operations will benefit them in effective execution as well as rise in growth of
business performance. In relation with reducing the debris environment, there is need to have
accurate planning and operational tendency in workforce so that harmony of work will be
managed and well governed.
Along with this, Plastic Collectives has developed a mobile recycling machine which
collects plastic and recycle it into raw material. The motive is based on stopping the plastic
production instead of it use the existing plastic by recycling it again and again. In consideration
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with reducing the plastic waste, there will be requirements of well governed strategies as well
as commitment of people towards this approach.
Role of leading: Governing and executing the entire process of operations will be helpful
in developing various strategies and making proper changes in the operational practices. A
leader is one who analyses business requirements, targets and encourage workforce for making
qualitative efforts in attaining such aims. There can be growth in efficiency and revenue
generation of the organisation as if entire workforce is working in same direction. It requires
that Plastic Collectives needs to have a clear vision with proper accuracy that they will attain
organisational goals in the right time (Willis, K and et.al., 2018). Approach of industry in relation
with collect the plastic material, then module or recycle it into a useful product will be helpful
in reducing the production of this toxic and non-ethical product in the environment. To save life
of species in sea mainly turtle and fishes who used to eat sea grass and fungi have higher
influences of plastic eating and higher deaths due to plastic found in their body.
Role of control: Executing the organisational efforts in context with attaining the targets
in required time frame will be necessary for professionals in controlling operational activities. A
proper administration of operational activities is necessary for leading organisation in terms of
attaining the required target. Plastic Collective and their approaches will be effective as if
government in Australia take necessary steps for controlling the industries who produce plastic
products.
Thus, the reduction in their production activities as well as provoking the use of
recycling ex-plastic material will be more helpful to the nature. There can be sustainability in
the environment as well as people will have effective operational advancement (Rigamonti and
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et.al., 2014). Moreover, Plastic Collectives has made several plans and operational workshops
which have positive impact on people in terms of creating awareness towards the environment
as well as using alternatives instead of plastic. Effectiveness in controlling various operations of
the business is quite mandatory as there wil be increment in the public awareness towards this
concept. Thus, reducing impacts of damages caused by plastic use which will help in governing
various activities.
RECOMMENDATIONS
As a recommendation, it can be stated that plastic collective shall start focusing on the
creative and innovative use of plastic such as building house or other property. To improve the
operational activities and promoting this approach world-wide, it is necessary that business
must have strategic operations which will help them in making appropriate operational changes
and gaining effective outcomes. The main motive is for reducing plastic usage as well as
suggesting alternatives which will be helpful in bringing better operational gains to the
business. However, there has been influences of three strategic plans of the organisation which
will be analysed as follows:
3 strategies of companies
To implicate various strategies which will be effective in making the adequate changes in
functional activities. However, Plastic Collectives has made several strategies which will be
effective in attaining the target as well as meeting goals in right time.
Plastic Neutral Workshops:
As per the recent surveys, it can be said that plastic consumption is rapidly rising in
environment which is affecting the sea life as well as polluting nature with toxicities. Thus, on
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an average, people are using 84kg of plastic in a year which is mainly through the products such
as water bottle, bags, etc. Thus, these are being thrown in sea which affect life of sea
sculptures. To retain the sustainable environment for all species on earth, Plastic Collectives has
made the producing approaches which will help in managing operations.
The Shruder Program:
This program will help in controlling wastage of plastic material in environment. Plastic
Collectives has promoted this program in a way that there have facilitated the mobile Shruder
machine. It helps in recycling the plastic material in raw material, filament and moulded form
which will be reused and recreated. Thus, this appropriate will help in promoting the use of
existing plastic instead of producing new. However, promoting this method will be effective in
reducing the plastic usage as well as in increasing public awareness towards environmental
sustainability.
Partnership Program:
This program consists of developing strategies such as referral program, co-brand,
authorized reseller program and strategic partner program. Thus, these are the activities which
will be governed in a manner that various volunteers will make efforts in attaining such targets.
They will make efforts and help organisation in attaining the set targets.
CONCLUSION
From the above report, it can be concluded that Plastic Collectives have their focus on
environmental sustainability. For these, company has undertaken different education and
training programs. These help in waste management and in creating employment opportunities
in the society as well. Further, it can be interpreted that company has also started taking
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initiatives for general people to connect and join with them. Support for public creates
awareness in the society that affects the overall environmental protection task positively. It can
also be articulated that Plastic Collectives can use innovation and creativity in its waste
management process.
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