'Sustainability scale' labelling to reduce plastic pollution

With plastic presenting a substantial source of pollution, making it easier for consumers to both understand how to avoid it and the environmental impacts of using plastic could lead to a reduced level of plastics pollution.

Now researchers from the University of Exeter and the University of Queensland have recommended that a sustainability scale be adopted for plastics recycling.

In a paper published in Environmental Science & Policy, the researchers put forward three suggestions to achieve this:

1. That consumers are presented with a sustainability scale that demonstrates the environmental impacts of plastic in order to provide a better level of information for shoppers.
2. That plastics include detailed instructions for how to dispose of the plastic object.
3. That a detailed list of the plastic’s composition be available.

By increasing the information that consumers have about the plastic they are using, it is hoped that they will be less inclined to pick up a product that is recyclable but that produces toxins, or one that requires a substantial amount of water to be properly dealt with.

“Instead of ‘yes-no’ recycling labels, which are often misleading, a ‘sustainability scale’ could take account of recyclability but also other factors such as the environmental cost of production and potential human health risks from additives,” said the paper’s first author, Stephen Burrows.

“Requiring producers to list all additives would be a major step towards informing the public and helping them make decisions regarding environmental impact and human health.”

An example provided is that of a single-use PLA coffee cup. These cups are often recyclable or compostable — but usually not both. Labelling needs to be entirely specific as to how to deal with these cups as placing them in the wrong bin or location will result in them either tainting recycling or going to landfill.

“We hope that our recommendations initiate a reassessment of plastics labelling and that implementation of a sustainability scale will allow individuals to make informed decisions in how they use plastics,” said Professor Kevin Thomas, from The University of Queensland’s Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences and Minderoo Centre for Plastics and Human Health.

“This is just one small necessary step towards helping people help the environment.”

The full paper outlining the sustainability scale is available here.

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