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War on waste makes sustainable business more profitable | War on waste makes sustainable business more profitable |
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Every week in Lagos, Nigeria, a fleet of cargo bicycles goes round people's homes picking up plastics, cans and sachets. | Every week in Lagos, Nigeria, a fleet of cargo bicycles goes round people's homes picking up plastics, cans and sachets. |
The residents receive points based on the weight of recyclables they collect, which they can redeem for basic food items, consumer electronics, or cash. | The residents receive points based on the weight of recyclables they collect, which they can redeem for basic food items, consumer electronics, or cash. |
This is the low-tech, but high impact, recycling scheme run by WeCyclers - a new breed of social entrepreneur making sustainability pay. | This is the low-tech, but high impact, recycling scheme run by WeCyclers - a new breed of social entrepreneur making sustainability pay. |
The company, which works in partnership with the Lagos Waste Management Authority, makes its money by selling the materials on to manufacturers. | The company, which works in partnership with the Lagos Waste Management Authority, makes its money by selling the materials on to manufacturers. |
"The plastic gets shredded and exported to make polyester fibre for clothing or pillow stuffing," says WeCyclers chief executive, Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola. | "The plastic gets shredded and exported to make polyester fibre for clothing or pillow stuffing," says WeCyclers chief executive, Bilikiss Adebiyi-Abiola. |
"It is really making a difference at street level," she says. "There is less pollution and less flooding. People say their neighbourhoods are cleaner and their kids seem healthier." | "It is really making a difference at street level," she says. "There is less pollution and less flooding. People say their neighbourhoods are cleaner and their kids seem healthier." |
More than 5,000 households have signed up so far and there are plans to extend the scheme to other cities throughout Nigeria. | More than 5,000 households have signed up so far and there are plans to extend the scheme to other cities throughout Nigeria. |
Plastic value | Plastic value |
A similar scheme giving people a financial incentive to recycle waste is Canadian social enterprise Plastic Bank. | A similar scheme giving people a financial incentive to recycle waste is Canadian social enterprise Plastic Bank. |
Speaking to the BBC from Greece, where he has been admiring the country's white beaches and blue seas, co-founder David Katz says he has always "felt a connection at the water's edge". | Speaking to the BBC from Greece, where he has been admiring the country's white beaches and blue seas, co-founder David Katz says he has always "felt a connection at the water's edge". |
The degradation of the world's oceans caused by the dumping of plastic has long irked him, as has the widespread poverty he witnessed on his travels around the globe. | The degradation of the world's oceans caused by the dumping of plastic has long irked him, as has the widespread poverty he witnessed on his travels around the globe. |
Business, he realised one day, could be the way forward. | Business, he realised one day, could be the way forward. |
"Pound-for-pound," Mr Katz explains, "plastic is more valuable than steel." | "Pound-for-pound," Mr Katz explains, "plastic is more valuable than steel." |
Starting in Colombia and Peru, Plastic Bank is setting up repurposing and exchange centres that offer incentives to locals for gathering and sorting recyclable plastic waste. | Starting in Colombia and Peru, Plastic Bank is setting up repurposing and exchange centres that offer incentives to locals for gathering and sorting recyclable plastic waste. |
In return for a quantity of the material, contributors are offered credits for a range of basic products. | In return for a quantity of the material, contributors are offered credits for a range of basic products. |
But it's a technical innovation which is helping to drive the social enterprise. | But it's a technical innovation which is helping to drive the social enterprise. |
In a collaborative project with the University of British Columbia, Plastic Bank is working on a machine that transforms waste plastic into filament that can be a source material for 3D printers. | |
The plan is to use these printers to allow Plastic Bank members to mould everyday products, such as household utensils and educational toys, from the plastic they collect. | The plan is to use these printers to allow Plastic Bank members to mould everyday products, such as household utensils and educational toys, from the plastic they collect. |
One day, the printers could even make water pumps and other vital tools, Mr Katz envisages. | One day, the printers could even make water pumps and other vital tools, Mr Katz envisages. |
Bottling out | Bottling out |
But while WeCyclers, Plastic Bank and others focus on repurposing waste, some businesses are using technology to reduce the amount of discarded materials entering the ecosystem in the first place. | But while WeCyclers, Plastic Bank and others focus on repurposing waste, some businesses are using technology to reduce the amount of discarded materials entering the ecosystem in the first place. |
For example, Unilever, one of the world's largest product companies, is trialling a new type of plastic bottle that incorporates air bubbles "like an Aero bar", says Karen Hamilton, the company's vice-president of sustainable business. | For example, Unilever, one of the world's largest product companies, is trialling a new type of plastic bottle that incorporates air bubbles "like an Aero bar", says Karen Hamilton, the company's vice-president of sustainable business. |
The MuCell technology uses gas-injection to create bubbles in the middle layer of the bottle wall, thus reducing the density of the product and the amount of material required by 15%. | The MuCell technology uses gas-injection to create bubbles in the middle layer of the bottle wall, thus reducing the density of the product and the amount of material required by 15%. |
The company estimates this will save 275 tonnes of plastic in the first year. | The company estimates this will save 275 tonnes of plastic in the first year. |
In 2015, Ms Hamilton says Unilever will be making the technology available to all - including its rivals. | In 2015, Ms Hamilton says Unilever will be making the technology available to all - including its rivals. |
In another example, Unilever's 25% smaller aerosol deodorant can, developed using new compression technology, will save enough aluminium to manufacture 38,000 bicycles, the company claims. | In another example, Unilever's 25% smaller aerosol deodorant can, developed using new compression technology, will save enough aluminium to manufacture 38,000 bicycles, the company claims. |
This is a far cry from 15 years ago, when the company's attempt to sell concentrated laundry detergent in smaller bottles failed miserably. | This is a far cry from 15 years ago, when the company's attempt to sell concentrated laundry detergent in smaller bottles failed miserably. |
Its attempt to reduce waste was shunned by consumers, worried that they were getting less value for money. | Its attempt to reduce waste was shunned by consumers, worried that they were getting less value for money. |
However, consumers have become more aware of sustainability issues in the interim. | However, consumers have become more aware of sustainability issues in the interim. |
Cutting your cloth | Cutting your cloth |
Another company employing technology to reduce waste is wear2, a Chester-based firm bringing "ecostitching" to the rag trade. | Another company employing technology to reduce waste is wear2, a Chester-based firm bringing "ecostitching" to the rag trade. |
Together with the University of Leeds, it developed a novel fibre for sewing clothing seams, which can be easily unpicked when exposed to microwave radiation - leaving no trace on the original material. | Together with the University of Leeds, it developed a novel fibre for sewing clothing seams, which can be easily unpicked when exposed to microwave radiation - leaving no trace on the original material. |
Using this technology, clothing manufacturers can choose which parts of a garment they would like to disassemble in the future, and repurpose old material easily on an industrial scale. | Using this technology, clothing manufacturers can choose which parts of a garment they would like to disassemble in the future, and repurpose old material easily on an industrial scale. |
This is especially useful for branded corporate clothing, which is sometimes thrown away en masse when a company changes its logo, or colour scheme. | This is especially useful for branded corporate clothing, which is sometimes thrown away en masse when a company changes its logo, or colour scheme. |
Charlie Rea, a project manager at C-Tech Innovation, one of the organisations behind wear2, says the project is "creating a revenue stream, rather than a waste stream". | Charlie Rea, a project manager at C-Tech Innovation, one of the organisations behind wear2, says the project is "creating a revenue stream, rather than a waste stream". |
Sustainable profit | Sustainable profit |
He may have hit upon the crucial ingredient driving the success of sustainability-focused firms - linking sustainability to profitability. | He may have hit upon the crucial ingredient driving the success of sustainability-focused firms - linking sustainability to profitability. |
Matt Loose, of think-tank and business consultancy SustainAbility, which advises global corporations such as Nike, Starbucks and Shell, believes this is what gives a good idea legs. | Matt Loose, of think-tank and business consultancy SustainAbility, which advises global corporations such as Nike, Starbucks and Shell, believes this is what gives a good idea legs. |
"We give a very strong message to our clients that there has to be a really strong business case, and not just goodwill," he explains. | "We give a very strong message to our clients that there has to be a really strong business case, and not just goodwill," he explains. |
In addition, some argue that disparate enterprises must share ideas and develop solutions together if sustainable ideas are to become profitable. | In addition, some argue that disparate enterprises must share ideas and develop solutions together if sustainable ideas are to become profitable. |
For example, the Ellen MacCarthur Foundation, set up by the eponymous sailor famous for being the fastest person to circumnavigate the globe, is building a collaborative environment where some of the world's largest companies, such as Apple, Ikea, Coca-Cola and H&M, address their concerns alongside geeks, innovators and other organisations. | For example, the Ellen MacCarthur Foundation, set up by the eponymous sailor famous for being the fastest person to circumnavigate the globe, is building a collaborative environment where some of the world's largest companies, such as Apple, Ikea, Coca-Cola and H&M, address their concerns alongside geeks, innovators and other organisations. |
Sustainability, according to such advocates, is about caring and sharing. But it is also a prime business imperative. | Sustainability, according to such advocates, is about caring and sharing. But it is also a prime business imperative. |
As Plastic Bank's David Katz puts it, these days companies have to exhibit environmental responsibility "just to be able to compete". | As Plastic Bank's David Katz puts it, these days companies have to exhibit environmental responsibility "just to be able to compete". |