Top 4 Ways to Reduce Plastic Use From Your Retail Business

Link to Full Blog Post: https://www.jordanalliance.com/post/s... Stay Connected with us! JordanAlliance.com Social Media: LI:   / jord.  . IG:   / jordanallia.  . FB:   / jordanallian.  . Twitter:   / jordanalliance_   According to the US environmental advocacy group Ocean Conservancy, eight million tons of plastic end up in the ocean each year. Today we are going to talk about a few easy ways we can remove plastic from products A global study conducted by the World Economic Forum estimates that if things don’t change, the strong stream of plastic packaging waste will grow to two garbage-trucks’ worth per minute within the next 10 years. Today's frequently asked question is “as a retailer, how can we reduce our use of plastic. in many cases, plastic can be replaced with a more sustainable item. As a retailer, you could do your part to reduce the amount of plastic you use. Here are some ways you can help the world to become more sustainable this year by removing plastic from products: Search for Package Alternatives Most businesses use plastic for shipping. They ship the items wrapped in plastic and then put it in a box. Consider shipping plastic free. Instead of plastic, use materials that are 100% recyclable and 100% compostable. Some brands for example are using recycled paper solutions. Consider using recycled boxes rather than plastic envelopes. Get Rid of Plastic Labels Another way retailers use plastic is with stickers and labels. Many retailers might not think this is leaving a large environmental footprint, but it is another way to do your part in reducing the amount of plastic your business uses. Before adding a label to a package, ask yourself if it can be recycled with all other paper. If not, you should consider using items that are recyclable. Some of the most popular substitutes for plastic labels include: Industrial vinyl Polyester BOPP (biaxially-oriented polypropylene) Vellum Virgin paper Recycled paper Bioplastic Biostone (a tree-free, stone-based material) Offer Reusable Bags Many retailers such as Lululemon and Free People, have ditched plastic bags and offer reusable shopping bags. If reusable bags are not in your budget, consider offering the reusable bags for purchase (They are usually sold for $1.) Offer your customers an incentive to use the reusable bag. For instance, every time they shop with the reusable bag, they receive a small discount for their next purchase. Not only does this bring back customers, but you’re doing your part to reduce plastic usage. Ditch Plastic Items In addition to shipping and packaging purposes, plastic is used for many other things. One of those purposes is to create certain products. Many bottles for example are made with plastic but could be created with glass or other recyclable items. Starbucks is trying to reduce their environmental footprint by offering reusable mugs for $1, which can get you 10% off each purchase when you use the mug. Here are some other ways businesses have swapped plastic for other recyclable items: Metal or paper straws instead of plastic straws Cassava Ponchos instead of vinyl ponchos Silicone(reusable) Sandwich bags instead of plastic sandwich bags Water bottles made from plant-based materials that could be natural degradable materials Jordan Alliance Group: Helping Retailers Become More Sustainable As a retailer, you’re more than just a business. You have the opportunity to make a change and help the world become more sustainable. Check out our full blog post on this topic linked below! Everyone stay safe and healthy and we’ll see you back here next week.