LSBM201: Essay on Plastic Pollution and the Circular Economy

This essay delves into the pervasive issue of plastic pollution, examining its multifaceted causes and far-reaching effects on both the environment and human health. It explores the detrimental impact of plastic waste on land, marine life, and ecosystems, highlighting the challenges posed by non-biodegradable materials and inadequate waste management systems. The essay analyzes the role of the circular economy as a potential solution, emphasizing strategies like reuse, recycling, and innovative product design. The analysis includes a case study of Tupperware, a company that has signed the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment. The essay discusses the characteristics of the circular economy, as outlined in the report, and evaluates the role of various stakeholders in mitigating plastic pollution and promoting sustainable practices. The essay also addresses the economic and social implications of plastic waste, as well as the need for comprehensive measures to reduce plastic production and consumption globally.

ESSAY

Contents
INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................................................................4
MAIN BODY..............................................................................................................................................4
Cause and Effect of plastic pollution.......................................................................................................4
Discuss Circular economy.......................................................................................................................6
Characteristics from the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment report..........................................8
CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................................................10
REFERENCES..........................................................................................................................................11

INTRODUCTION
Plastic pollution has become one of the major concerns as it directly affect the
environment both at micro and macro level. The object as well as particles of plastic are non
biodegradable in nature due to which it affect the land wildlife, marine life and mainly human
being. Inadequate spaces to dump the plastic bottles, bags and object have become threat for
sustainable environment (Faure and et. al., 2015). As plastic releases the harmful chemicals due
to which it has affected the quality of groundwater, surrounded soil which is the part of
ecosystem of the world. Currently, plastic pollution has become the biggest threat for the oceans
caused due to inadequate drainage system, decomposition method as well as even industries
disposes their waste near the oceans which is pathetic situation for whole planet. For the better
understanding of report Tupperware company has been selected which is one of the well known
companies that have significantly signed the new plastic economic Global commitment in 2019.
It is the American multinational company that focuses to produce plastic storage containers for
household products. It basically believes in the reuse as well as refill scheme that has somewhere
minimized the issue of plastic pollution.
MAIN BODY
Cause and Effect of plastic pollution
Although plastics are harmful for the nature but being versatile it requires less energy in
comparison to the other alterative options like glass or metal. Along with that it is cost effective
due to which various companies’ use it is a raw material while carrying out manufacturing of
diverse material. Plastics area widely used in the healthcare due to the versatile characteristics
polymers are used in diverse healthcare applications like disposable syringes, joint replacements
and other sterile packaging is made from the medical instruments (Avery-Gomm and et. al.,
2012). Issue is not only the use of issue as it is used in the medical industry for the wellbeing of
industry but its application needs to be kept limited and methods to be used to decompose the
waste plastics effectively. Certain other industries like fashion and retail industry earlier used
plastic shopping bags but now with the increase in awareness it has been replaced by paper bags.
Along with that paper packaging for the food products is promoted to preserve the lives of the

human being. Increased dependency on the plastics is used as a raw material that has affected the
manufacturing process. In relation to the Tupperware company believe in reusability of the raw
material due to which it offer lifetime warranty for its product. The company stands out from
other companies that too manufacture plastic containers for the household products as most of
eth plastics are not recycled after its usage (Over 400 organizations have signed the New Plastics
Economy Global Commitment, 2019). But Tupperware company has become one of the most
popular brands that involve various variants like preparing plastic bottles, storage box, lunch box
and outdoor container that can be repetitively used for over and over many years. Even if the
customer find problem they can replace the products that has mitigated the wastage of plastics,
so as the company offer supreme quality of products due to which it has led to the become to
become one of the largest manufacturing company that serve global market effectively. Wastage
of plastic is the main cause of pollution that has optimally controlled by the Tupperware
company because they serve quality product due to which even customer use it for various year
Immense use of plastic has become the pressure for environment concern leading to
negative effect of plastic pollution on planet. As the production of the plastic products are
rapidly increasing due to high demand in the market which probability leads to the problem of
mass landfill due to inadequate garbage system that remain inefficient in effectively
decomposing for recycling the discarded plastics. Marine plastic has become one of the disasters
because that has affected the lives of the aquatic animal. Approximately 8 million tons of plastic
is disposed into the ocean that affects the quality of the water as well as become a threatening
situation for water bodies (Marine plastics, 2018). Marine species ingest plastic debris which
finally leads to the serious injuries as well as death. Along with that this act as an undesirable
condition for food safety as well as quality because consumption of sea food can too affect the
human health. Thus, methods adopted by new plastic economic Global commitment companies
like Graham packaging, Tupperware brand and Keurig Dr Pepper perform recycling as well as
reuse of the plastic product that support innovation in terms to develop new offerings by
effectively replacing single use plastics (Chae and An, 2018). Moreover, plastic leads to the
harmful chemical as well as toxics that adversely affect the life of Public Health by causing
several problem like visionary failure, respiratory problems, dizziness, irritation in the eyes, skin
diseases birth effect, cardiovascular problem and so on. This depict that their exist ‘n’ number of
problem by increasing the dependency of human being on plastics which led to the increase

awareness among the public about the adverse use of the plastic bags. Today most of the
companies in their corporate social responsibility try to abolish or minimize the use of plastics as
much as they can to safeguard the interest of society and environment (Preston, 2012). Thus, to
overcome threat of plastic on the human health at a global scale will significantly demand
stopping the use of plastic as well as reversing the growth in the production or disposing the use
of plastic worldwide.
Plastic pollution has affected the economy by depleting the quality of air and water taht
have damages the lives of all living organisms. It has become concern for the whole economy bit
still plastics has emerged the urgency of needs that has grew up twenty times from 1964 till 2015
and has been increasing used (Naidoo, Glassom and Smit, 2015). Although certain measures in
form of 3R’s and identifying substitutes are considerable but they are not desirable enough in
terms to minimize the negative response on economy. Further, micro plastics have even emerged
as a threat for drinking water and affect the fertility of soil raise large number of health concerns.
The burning as well as production of plastic leads to existence of large number of harmful gases
that has contributed the problem of climate change. Thus, it has increasingly become the
responsibility of people to adopt methods like clean-up effort which is the root cause solution of
such problem. Furthermore, even wildlife gets affected due to the plastic pollution as more
than 80% of the garbage is in form of plastic which never truly decompose the simply break into
the smaller pits which is consumed by the land wildlife or terrestrial animals hamper their lives
(Pettipas, Bernier and Walker, 2016). Thus, the accident consumption directly leads to the death
which signifies disadvantage of using the plastic material. Efforts need to be taken in terms to
support the industry that participates for the welfare of economy and lives of people.
Discuss Circular economy
A Circular economy is considered as a system that aims is to eliminate the wastages and
continual uses of resources. It refers as regenerative approach in contrast to the traditional linear
economy. The circular system employs repair, refurbishment, remanufacturing, reuse, sharing
and recycling to create a close loop system. As plastic is carbon emission and polluting product
uses by people in their daily like that has impacted on economy negatively (Liu, Adams and
Walker, 2018). A circular economy proponent argues that a prosperous environment does not
entail a decrease in consumer quality of living, which can be done without lack of profits or extra

costs for producers. The point is that circular market models can be as efficient as linear models,
enabling consumers to continue to consume related services and goods. For example, in several
articles on the circular economy, the social aspect of sustainability tends to be dealt with only
slightly. The circular economy would seem more competitive than the present paradigm of linear
economics. Reducing the energy used, and generating waste and contamination, conserves water
and helps minimize emissions. Others claim, however, that these conclusions are simplistic; that
they neglect the complexities of current structures, as well as their possible trade offs.
The reference to the theories from which Circular economy has emerged from research
report. In 1982, Walter Stahel was awarded third prize in the Mitchell Prize competition on
sustainable business models with a paper The Product-Life Factor. First prize went to the then
US Secretary of Agriculture, second prize to Amory and Hunter Lovins, fourth prize to Peter
Senge. Circular economy has defined through a model that involves different phases of reusing
the plastics. The steps involves making, use, reuse, remake and recycle that helps to create a
sustainable environment (Penca, 2018)(Pitt and Heinemeyer, 2015). All knows that plastic is
those substitute which is used by people and it cannot be finished that create a heavy level of
pollution. This is important for people to understand the harm of plastic and how it stops to make
a sustainable economy (Ten Brink and et. al., 2018). After using plastics, it get burned by people
then pollution occurred that make harm and positioning to environment which is harmful for
people health. Nick Jeffries has given a circular economy theory that involves different phases
such as remanufacturing, refurbishing and recycling can be considered that preserve the integrity
of components and materials.
According to New Plastics economy Global commitment report characteristics of global
economy are elimination of problematic and unnecessary plastic packaging by redesigning,
innovation and new delivery models. This become important for government and environment to
reduce the uses of plastics because it makes polluted the environment reduced the oxygen gas.
Therefore, Committee has prepared a report where it has explained the characteristics of circular
economy which helped to redubbed the uses of plans and make it reusable. With the help of
circular economy plastic packaging can be avoided that will help to maintain the utility. The
second characteristics is reuse model which means reduce the need for single use packaging. As
recycling is crucial, in environment people are facing plastic issue that harm their health (NEW

PLASTICS ECONOMY GLOBAL COMMITMENT, 2019). This reuse model helps to explored
the loop that can helps to reduce the need of single use. The third characteristics is plastic
packaging is 100% recyclable, compostable and reusable that helps to reduced the harming
effects and decreases the demand of plastics. The characteristic is plastics is fully decoupled
from the consumption of resources. It has states as recycle content is important for both to
decouple from finite resources and stimulate demand. With the help of circular economy
feedstock renewable is possible that gives environmental benefits maintaining sustainability. The
sixth characteristics all plastic packaging is composted recycled and reused that helps to create a
pollution free environment. This also states Landfill, incinerations and waste to energy are not
part of circular economy that make better economy and environmental outcomes to keep it
healthy. The last is plastic packaging should be free from hazardous chemicals in packaging that
helps to keep healthy, safety and protects rights of people (Jiang, 2018). Moreover, this helps to
increase the working condition in informal sectors and make sustainable environment.
Characteristics from the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment report
Major corporations like Reynolds group company, Unilever limited, Lorea’l, Pepsico,
Walmart, Nestle and so on have signed in 2019 report of new plastic global community.
Amongst over four hundred companies Tupperware is one of them that have signed the
agreement in order to transform the overall plastic sector of economy. This represents the
significant actions taken by the economy in terms to preserve the sustainable future. Tupperware
company was founded in the year 1946 which deals in eth household products. It comprises of
diverse products like kitchen food preparatory items, cookware, cutlery, food storage items,
cosmetics as well as personal care (Villarrubia-Gómez, Cornell and Fabres, 2018). The company
comprises of increase number of product diversity and is made from the quality plastic that have
long life due to which they company desirably gained boom in their sales. The vision of
company is to reduce the plastic wastage due to which it has become revolution by offering
reusable long lasting plastic products that is to be used for household and personal usage.
Further, respected company have carried out partnership with global non profitable companies
like World Central Kitchen to reduce the wastage of plastic and decreases the chances of disaster
for nature, land and marine wildlife. It has abolished the single use of waste because it only leads
to the wastage due to which focus needs to be given on circular economy for plastics (Carson
and et. al., 2013). Based on circular economy emphasize is given to the continues use of the

plastic due to which the final product is made of the supreme use which after significant years
can be molded into other products. This restricts the production of plastics and discards the
chances of wastage.
Circular economy for plastics is the basic vision of Tupperware company which
comprises of various characteristics and are optimum followed by the diverse signatories
including Tupperware. The explanation of different characteristics in context to Tupperware
company includes avoid the use of plastic packaging as it cannot be further used and create
immense number of problem due to which with the help of innovation such problems needs to be
avoided (Eriksen and et. al., 2013). Although Tupperware manufacture the plastic product but at
the same time they avoid plastic packaging and replace with it with paper packaging. Such
efforts help to maintain the circulation of plastic within an economy. The company carries out
most of the sales through online platform as well which is shipped and packaged into cartons that
does not damages the environment (Blettler and Espinola, 2018). Mitigate the need of single
use of plastic is the other characteristic that promote the use of recycle and reuse model. The
company replaces the product if they get broken because it confines the use of plastic along with
that waste material goes through recycling phase for the welfare of whole society. However, the
signatories’ needs to come up with 100% reusable items due to which combined efforts are
promoted in terms to come up with innovative solution (Haward, 2018). Along with that plastic
packaging needs to be reused in order to avoid the landfill issue which helps to effectively
contribute for the development of economy. Even government or local authority’s needs to
promote the sustainable methods that is favorable for economy and living organism. Moreover,
the plastic needs to be obtained from finite resources that confines the use of resources and
one product can be used for infinite years without affecting the quality of final product. This is
legally as well as technically favorable process that helps to stimulate immense number of
demand by leaving positive impact in the environment (Cózar and et. al., 2014). Further, the
plastic needs to be toxic or chemical free that does not act as a hazardous actions for the living
organism. The health and safety actions need to be implemented in order to improve the
condition of overall economy.

CONCLUSION
Thus, from the above report it has been summarized that plastic offer the diverse
advantage to the company and people but at the same time plastic pollution is a threat for all the
natural lives that have depleted the quality of air human bring breath and quality of water that
living organism drink. Along with that it has raised the immense number of problem amongst
society with increase various skin and heart problem. Similarly, due to the landfill and
decomposition of waste into the rivers has affected the wildlife of land and marine. This act as a
hazardous condition for overall economy in terms to limit the production as well as use of
plastic. In addition to that manufacturing of plastics leads to the emission of various harmful
gases that has become one of the major causes of climate change which is the global issue.
Governments as well as companies have taken immense efforts in terms to minimize the
dependency of plastics by promoting recycling method and avoid the single use of plastics.
Numerous company have participated into the Global commitment report 2019 under which
efforts are taken to adopt sustainable methods in order to promote sustainable future. Both
emerging and multinational organization have signed the agreement because is the responsibility
of each and every participates to eradicate the waste and decomposition problem of plastics.
Increasing efforts are taken to avoid the use of plastic packaging by using 100% recycling
material in place of it, along with that supreme quality of plastic are promoted to maintain
circular economy. Therefore, existence of such committee helps to overcome the global issues as
immense efforts are taken to safeguard the interest of whole economy by just replacing the
methods and increase dependency on sustainable methods.

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