With health concerns momentarily outweighing mindful consumption, global efforts to wean the world off of single-use plastics have ground to a halt — and suddenly, in the race to protect citizens, plastic is everywhere. Thankfully, lockdown has also triggered radical, sustainable innovation and ingenuity.   Unsurprisingly, plastic is having a bit of a resurgence. Its wipe-clean-ability; its disposability; its apparent standard-setting hygiene offering. In the era of COVID-19, people are happy to see plastic again; and businesses, nervous of contributing to poor public health, are making few apologies for using more of the material.   According to BloombergNEF (BNEF) research, demand for plastic packaging is likely to increase, at least in the short term: “Concerns around food hygiene due to COVID-19 could increase plastic packaging intensity, undoing some of the early progress made by companies,” it stated in a report.   In Europe, plastics manufacturers have gone further, using the threat of Coronavirus to rally against an incoming ban on single-use plastics.   With concerns for health momentarily outweighing mindful and ethical consumption, global efforts to wean the world off of single-use plastics have ground to a halt. All of a sudden, in the race to protect citizens, plastic is everywhere — with the industry keen to point out the revolutionary role plastic has played in medical care. From face masks and syringes to surgical gloves and catheters, plastic has dominated the sector and helped reduce the risk of infection.     And given that Coronavirus is said to survive on plastic surfaces for up to nine days, single-use and throwaway plastic products have been the go-to safest options throughout this period. As Tony Radoszewski, Head of the Plastics Industry Association, declared back in March: “Single-use plastics can literally be the difference between life and death.”   Thankfully, activists haven’t gone missing in the face of a possible rollback of action on phasing out unnecessary plastic. In fact, lockdown has triggered radical innovation and ingenuity — to develop sustainable solutions that also protect public health.  

Contactless coffee

Take Rebecca Burgess, for example. Just a week after the US reported its first case of Coronavirus with no connection to overseas citizens, Starbucks quickly banned customers from bringing in their reusable coffee mugs. Many other coffee chains all over the world adopted similar policies, increasing the uptake in single-use coffee cups once more.   So, Burgess’ sustainable behaviour change firm, City to Sea, has set up a #ContactlessCoffee initiative to encourage coffee shops now reopening in the UK to accept reusable coffee cups from customers in a way that is safe and secure.   “We knew [UK coffee shops] wanted to start serving hot drinks in reusable cups again, but just weren’t sure what the guidance was,” she told Sustainable Brands™.   So, the firm set out a simple, four-step process and video to help them do just that. Since launching in Bristol with Better Food Co, UK-wide chains Boston Tea Party and Costa Coffee are now also accepting reusables, alongside lots of indies. “We make our way through around 3 billion disposable cups a year, and less than 1 percent of them are recycled — so, this one change could have a huge impact on our planet,” Burgess adds.   City to Sea has also established a cross-industry task force looking at the issue of reusables during COVID-19. The group has more than 20 organisations, including Starbucks, the Sustainable Restaurant Association and Zero Waste Scotland. Elsewhere, a group of companies have teamed up to prove that the healthcare profession doesn’t have to turn to plastic when it comes to sourcing personal protective equipment (PPE).   The campaign group A Plastic Planet has been working with Reelbrands and Transcend Packaging to create the world’s first plastic-free visors worn by frontline workers and medical staff. Made from wood pulp and paper board, they are both recyclable and home compostable.   It is hoped that more than one million of the PPE visors will be made every week. Yodel, a delivery service provider to the NHS, has already put in an order. Meanwhile, A Plastic Planet is also working with TerraCycle to collect visors from dedicated disposal bins to be recycled.  

Affecting us all

The pandemic has also made it hard for individuals and businesses to avoid the extra use of plastic. Even social media star Lauren Singer, who had not sent an item of rubbish to landfill in more than eight years, has been struggling. In an Instagram post to her hundreds of thousands of followers, she admitted stockpiling products in preparation of lockdown, many of which were packaged in plastic.   But as the BNEF analysis predicts, the current spike in demand for plastic is likely to be temporary and should not impact circular economy goals. Whether the general public will continue to put more focus on public health — and the benefits plastic brings in protecting us against virus infection — than sustainability, only time will tell, Burgess says. Though she remains optimistic: In a recent City to Sea survey, just 9 percent of people said they want things to go back to ‘normal’ — a clear indication of the public’s desire for change, she says.   Meanwhile, 36 percent of people felt they had been pushed into using more single-use plastic due to COVID-19; and 70 percent of those surveyed had not changed their feelings about plastic pollution, despite lockdown.   “It’s possible to look after our human health and the health of the planet at the same time,” she asserts.

A Plastic Planet Helps Launch The World's First Plastic-Free PPE

by Bill McCool on 06/08/2020 | 2 Minute Read   Last week, as emergency first responders were given a cruel reminder that it’s easier for cops to get protective body armor so they can attack peaceful protestors and journalists than it is to get personal protective equipment (PPE) that doesn’t involve a trash bag, there was at least one bright spot.   Non-profit group A Plastic Planet, along with Reelbrands and Transcend Packaging, created a plastic-free visor for doctors and nurses working in hospitals that are on the frontlines fighting the Coronavirus pandemic which has now claimed over 390,000 lives. The visor is both recyclable and compostable.   The REELshield plastic-free visors come from an FSC food-grade paper as well as a certified home compostable PEFC wood pulp cellulose. The cost of the lightweight, adjustable gear is said to be the equivalent of its plastic counterpart, and the visors will get sold at cost to encourage sustainability. Additionally, Reelbrands can manufacture just over one million units a week.   A Plastic Planet will also team up with Terracycle to ensure that PPE gets disposed of in marked bins for recycling. “No-one wants to compromise the safety of employees and the public, but the plastic PPE visors are used once and then exist for centuries, polluting our planet,” said A Plastic Planet co-founder Sian Sutherland in a press release.   “We wanted to lead by example and show that we can protect ourselves and protect our planet,” she added. “We can no longer sacrifice nature without consequence. The public backs a green recovery from the pandemic because, quite simply, we cannot self-isolate or vaccinate against the climate crisis.”   Anywho, hospitals, get those orders in. Thousands of nurses here in the US have no other option than to reuse their masks, and every added bit of protection helps. Plus, if those face shields you’re buying can get recycled or composted, even better.

The world's first plastic-free PPE is set to help millions of people around the globe tackle the spread of Covid-19 while protecting the planet.   International campaign group A Plastic Planet and packaging innovators Reelbrands and Transcend Packaging have developed clear plastic free visors to protect staff without adding to plastic pollution.   The REELshield Visor is recyclable and home compostable, CE-certified, made from FSC paper board and PEFC cellulose from wood pulp.   Production    With demand for PPE set to increase as the government seeks to unlock Britain’s economy further, Plastic Free PPE provides much needed equipment which does not pollute the planet.   Some 761 million pieces of PPE, predominantly made from plastic, have been distributed across the UK alone since February 2020. During this time, images of discarded plastic PPE on beaches or in the marine environment have become increasingly common.   To help meet demand for protective equipment, more than a million REELshield Visors can be produced each week.   Three Oceans and delivery service Yodel, who are working alongside the NHS to deliver tests, have all placed orders.   Sustainably sourced, the lightweight visors are designed to ensure comfort with an adjustable headband which can accommodate corporate branding.   Collaboration    To ensure a circular process, A Plastic Planet have partnered with Terracycle where staff can use a dedicated bin after use. Terracycle will then collect the visors and recycle or compost them.   A Plastic Planet, Reelbrands and Transcend Packaging are also collaborating with Augment Bionics to supply the visors to charities in East and South Africa. Plans to manufacture locally in the US are also underway.   The Plastic Free PPE range is the first protective equipment to receive A Plastic Planet’s Plastic Free Trust Mark accreditation.   Campaigners believe the move will tackle two of the world’s most pressing issues simultaneously: high demand for protective equipment and plastic pollution.   Protection   Sian Sutherland, co-founder of A Plastic Planet, said: “No-one wants to compromise the safety of employees and the public; but the plastic PPE visors are used once and then exist for centuries, polluting our planet.   “We wanted to lead by example and show that we can protect ourselves and protect our planet. We can no longer sacrifice nature without consequence. The public back a green recovery from the pandemic because quite simply, we cannot self-isolate or vaccinate against the climate crisis.”   Liz Bonnin, science, wildlife and environmental broadcaster added: "PPE is vital for the protection of health care workers and to reduce the transmission of the virus. But it doesn't have to be made from fossil fuels.   "Covid-19 will be part of our lives for some time, and as lockdown rules ease, demand for PPE is only going to increase. Considering the plastic pollution crisis we are still battling, and the lessons we are learning from this pandemic about the need to work with nature instead of against it, Plastic Free PPE can help to protect us without further damaging the planet."

Campaign group A Plastic Planet has launched the world’s first plastic-free PPE in a bid to assist the fight against coronavirus polluting the environment.     Since February 2020, 761 million pieces of personal protective equipment (PPE) have been distributed across the UK, most of which are made from plastic and have already been found littering beaches and marine environments across the country.   International campaign group A Plastic Planet and packaging companies Reelbrands and Transcend Packaging have come together to develop the first clear plastic-free visors to protect staff without contributing to plastic pollution.   Terracycle will provide a service where staff can use a dedicated bin for used PPE which Terracycle will then collect to recycle or compost the visors.   Three Oceans and delivery service Yodel who are working alongside the NHS to deliver tests have already placed orders for the equipment.   The campaign group has said they hope that this PPE will help to tackle two of the world’s most pressing issues: high demand for protective equipment and plastic pollution.   Sian Sutherland, the co-founder of A Plastic Planet, said: ‘No-one wants to compromise the safety of employees and the public; but the plastic PPE visors are used once and then exist for centuries, polluting our planet.   ‘We wanted to lead by example and show that we can protect ourselves and protect our planet. We can no longer sacrifice nature without consequence. The public backs a green recovery from the pandemic because quite simply, we cannot self-isolate or vaccinate against the climate crisis.’   Liz Bonnin, science, wildlife and environmental broadcaster has also said: ‘PPE is vital for the protection of health care workers and to reduce the transmission of the virus. But it doesn’t have to be made from fossil fuels.   ‘Covid-19 will be part of our lives for some time, and as lockdown rules ease, demand for PPE is only going to increase. Considering the plastic pollution crisis we are still battling, and the lessons we are learning from this pandemic about the need to work with nature instead of against it, Plastic Free PPE can help to protect us without further damaging the planet.’

The world’s first plastic-free coronavirus visor that can be composted in your yard is sold at 50p per mask

• Kit is made from responsible paper and cellulose from wood pulp
• It will be priced at 50p per item if it goes on sale this week
• A Plastic Planet, Reelbrands and Transcend Packaging have developed the PPE
• Here’s how you can help people affected by Covid-19

  By Luke Andrews for Mailonline Published: 22:01 BST, June 2, 2020 | Updated: 22:01 BST, June 2, 2020   The ‘first’ plastic-free coronavirus visor in the world that can be composted in your backyard is on sale for 50p per mask.   The Plastic free PPE REELshield, sold in boxes of 150 for £ 75, consists of an adjustable responsible paper headband and a transparent cellulose visor extracted from wood pulp.   Once used, the designer says it can be disposed of with organic waste.   The US Composting Council adds that there is “no risk” of compost spreading coronavirus because it will decay in heat and humidity within three days.   International campaign group A Plastic Planet and packaging experts Reelbrands and Transcend Packaging have developed the PPE to reduce plastic pollution. The mask is made of responsible paper for the headband and cellulose extracted from wood pulp for the transparent visor   “No one wants to compromise the safety of workers and the public, but the plastic PPE visors are used once and then exist for centuries,” said campaign group co-founder Sian Sutherland.   “We wanted to set a good example and show that we can protect ourselves and our planet.   ‘We can no longer sacrifice nature without consequences. The public supports a green recovery from the pandemic because we simply cannot isolate or vaccinate against the climate crisis.’   The personal protective equipment is CE certified by the European Economic Area, which means that it has been extensively tested to ensure that it meets the same standards as the plastic alternative.   It has also received a Plastic Free Trust Mark from one of its designers, A Plastic Planet. The mask is a response to millions of plastic items that are feared to pollute the ocean. PPE masks have been washed off above on Sydney’s Northern Beaches, May 27   The PPE will be made available to companies this week. Some have already been picked up by delivery company Yodel and fish product company Three Oceans.   It can be bought by individuals or by companies looking to place larger orders, a spokesperson said.   For those concerned about composting, there will be a special service where used PPE can be disposed of in a specialized bin.   The stock is collected by Terracycle and taken to a location where it is recycled or composted.   Factories are poised to produce over a million plastic free PPE kits every week, with plans to start producing more in the US and distribute them in East and South Africa. “The virus is not a living organism, but a protein molecule covered with a protective layer of lipid (fat),” they said.   “Because the virus is not a living organism, it is not killed, but perishes. The disintegration time depends on the temperature, humidity and the type of material where it lies: between three hours (drops in the air) to 24 hours (porous surfaces such as fabrics or cardboard) to 72 hours (hard, smooth surfaces such as plastic).   “At least it won’t survive the weeks or months in your compost pile, not even a not very active one.”   As of February 2020, an estimated 761 million pieces of PPE are distributed across the UK.