Beyond Recycling, a True Solution for Plastic

Two of the world's biggest financial institutions have come together to call for an end to plastic pollution.

In a joint statement, Triodos Bank and Triodos Investment Management say it's "perfectly possible to stop using plastics in most of the items used for packaging in the food and beverage industry, in construction, mobility, textiles, and retail" if incentives are in place, per the Guardian.

"There is a share of plastics in the economy which we currently cannot replace, because there is no suitable alternative," the statement says.

"Examples that come to mind are from sectors like healthcare, where it is difficult to imagine using a different material for tubing, sutures, and the like."

The statement, which calls for an ambitious international treaty to end plastic pollution, notes that most of the seven plastic types on the market are not recyclable.

"Therefore, we need to look beyond recycling, to build a vision and incentives that will eliminate most plastic use in the long term," the statement says.

It notes that even in healthcare, there is an over-use of plastics, and "some applications could turn to alternative materials instead."



Read the Entire Article