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Listen in! Pick up some expert advice to a reader's question that we selected from CyberSchmooz.
3 Examples of Ethical Solutions for Problematic Products
The damaging effects of products and product packaging are no longer tolerable. The world is facing serious challenges in many forms, including global warming and general environmental problems. Simply ignoring these challenges is not an option, and clear strategies to overcome the challenges are required.
Fortunately, many companies, with the support of other stakeholders, are thinking about solutions to problematic products. They are taking active steps towards reducing their dependency on plastic while introducing new ways to process waste generated by their products. Here are the three examples of ethical solutions for problematic products.
Cassava instead of Plastic
One of the primary solutions being explored today is bags made from eco-friendly Cassava. This is a solution developed by Avani, a company based in Indonesia. Avani developed a proprietary mixture that allows bags made of Cassava to be as strong as plastic bags and durable enough for everyday use.
However, Avani Cassava bags are also degradable. When exposed to hot water, the Cassava bag will dissolve without releasing any harmful substances. This means the 100% bio-based bag will be dissolved within months when no longer in use.
The real challenge is getting Avani’s bag adopted by more retailers. Avani is also developing other types of product packaging made from the same material, so the opportunities are clearly there. Thankfully, more businesses are switching to Cassava bags and packaging as we speak.
Recyclable Pods
Pod-based coffee systems are popular on the market for all the right reasons. They are easy to use, and they allow everyone to make a good cup of coffee with relatively high consistency. Unfortunately, the single-use pods don’t make modern coffee systems eco-friendly.
This is where Gourmesso comes in. The aftermarket pods manufacturer introduced its eco-friendly, 100% compostable pods not too long ago, and the company has been leading the market since. You can buy Keurig coffee pods that are compostable, get flavorful coffee every time, and avoid harming the environment in the process.
There are reusable pods on the market too, but they take away the convenience factor of using coffee systems entirely. After all, you have to manually refill the pod with coffee before every use, plus you have to keep the reusable pods clean for them to work optimally.
Paper Straws
In recent years, plastic straws have been harming the environment at an unprecedented level. Most plastic straws are for single use only, and they get thrown away without proper processing at the end of their life cycle. Cases like a sea turtle with a plastic straw stuck up its nose are the direct result of excessive use of straws.
Retailers and businesses in various industries are moving away from plastic straws after more cases of environmental damage were uncovered. Starbucks, for instance, is starting to use straws made of paper as a way to minimize its contribution to harming the environment.
Paper straws are surprisingly as durable as their plastic counterparts. More importantly, paper straws can be recycled easily and will decompose in nature over a shorter period of time. Once again, the real challenge is accelerating the adoption of plastic straws across more businesses.
Taking Part
Businesses are taking steps towards becoming friendlier to the environment, but you don’t need to wait for your favorite businesses to join the movement to save the planet. Taking steps of your own can help too. You can, for instance, use metal or bamboo (reusable) straws so you don’t have to accept plastic straws.
It may be inconvenient to a certain degree, but we can all agree that a bit of inconvenience is nothing compared to the ecological impact we can produce collectively. It is time for all stakeholders to find more ethical solutions to problematic products.
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