Plastic-free July
flustix is looking for the Plastic-Free Stars
Who does not know that plastic frustration at the supermarket checkout? Today 37 per cent of all fruit and vegetables are sold wrapped in plastic. Add to that plastic pots for yoghurt, toothpaste and individually wrapped miniature sweets. Since the #plasticfreechallenge at the latest we know: living without plastic is not at all easy! Especially as plastic hides in the most unlikely products: tampons, hand creams, lipsticks and chewing gum – to name just a few examples.
And yet an independent consumer study by flustix found that the great majority of Germans would happily do without plastic and are quite willing to pay more for plastic-free alternatives. You can find the detailed study here.
Plastic: an economic paradox
Could it be that for once supply is not following demand? Packaging systems seem to represent a rare case in economics. Products that are individually wrapped are frequently cheaper than a sustainable, unpackaged product. What does that say about product quality, and how can it be that some products, such as avocados or organic bananas, are only available in plastic packaging? You would assume that the organic target group in particular would be interested in more sustainable packaging – meaning NO packaging, or less of it.
We are apparently dealing with an economic paradox. Because in truth, avoiding plastic in products is not only a sustainability factor but an economic one too.
Many young start-ups such as HALM or Bee’s Wraps have understood this and are absolute pioneers in the field of plastic and packaging sustainability. Unfortunately such start-ups are still barely visible on the market and are rarely tested independently and certified with sustainability labels.
Big player Procter & Gamble, on the other hand, has made a small start towards plastic sustainability with its brand “Head and Shoulders” and its promotional packaging made from ocean waste. Yet the company hardly stands out for environmental friendliness when it comes to the ingredients in its cosmetics and detergents. This is precisely where a close look is needed. Where are we dealing with product optimisation for marketing purposes, and where with genuinely sustainable approaches? That is why flustix does not only examine suppliers and ingredients but awards the plastic-free label exclusively after independent chemical testing of the complete product. You can find information about our test-based award process here.
Plastic Free July
Instead of the all too common greenwashing, avoiding single-use plastic finally has to make it onto the agenda of large corporations. That is why the organisation “Plastic Free July”, with the claim “Choose to refuse”, calls on people to cut out single-use plastic completely for a month – every year in July. The initiative began with a handful of participants in Western Australia and has since grown, via social media, into a global movement. With participants from more than 150 different countries, #plasticfreejuly is more than just a trend.
To take part in #plasticfreejuly, the best thing is to register on the website. The initiative collects participants and thus provides a great database intended to convince global corporations in particular that single-use plastic does not belong in mass use. So #plasticfreejuly is a good thing. Because after that it is up to each of us to dare the great experiment. Is it really possible, entirely without single-use plastic? Fortunately plasticfreejuly.org offers a wealth of tips on how to avoid plastic in everyday life. Under A-Z Alternatives you will find a list that should get you through the month plastic-free.
And to make it very much easier soon, flustix comes into play.
In support of #plasticfreejuly we are certifying innovative products and brands that manage entirely without plastic or reduce its use in certain areas. Because there are now a great many manufacturers who have recognised the plastic problem and want to position themselves clearly in the market of the future with recycled or even plastic-free alternatives.
flustix nominates the #plastikfreistars
flustix calls on everyone to nominate companies and innovators!
To nominate a start-up or company, we call on EVERYONE to tag companies and brands on our social media channels Facebook and Instagram. It could be the alternative packaging manufacturer, the sustainable toy or the plastic-free soap maker.
We want to celebrate and present every company doing something for plastic sustainability as part of #plasticfreejuly.
The products and brands presented will be assessed by flustix with regard to their use of plastic. Particularly innovative start-ups and manufacturers will undergo a detailed chemical analysis by flustix and the independent chemical laboratory WESSLING free of charge. If the result is positive, nothing stands in the way of awarding a seal.
We will announce the plastic-free nominees at the end of July.
Why do we do this?
With products labelled by flustix, manufacturers guarantee that they market no plastics whatsoever to the end consumer. That gives consumers guidance for sustainable shopping. Because by definition, flustix excludes every kind of plastic in the product – and does so by means of an independent chemical-analytical test procedure, so that you can finally shop plastic-free without complications. That makes months like plastic-free July easier! And it brings us a little closer to our dream of one day no longer having to buy any single-use plastic at all, because supply finally follows demand. Perhaps we will save our oceans, nature, animals and ourselves from the flood of plastic waste.