Zero Waste Week runs from 6-11th September and helps householders, businesses, organisations, schools, universities, and community groups waste less. Established by Rachelle Strauss in 2008, it quickly became a National UK Campaign and is now widely supported by organisations and individuals across the globe.
As an organisation focused on sustainability, PG Paper is delighted to support this award-winning, week-long annual awareness campaign. With the World Bank estimating that global waste is expected to grow to 3.40 billion tonnes by 2050, every little thing that we can do as individuals will help.
The world generates 2.01 billion tones of municipal solid waste annually, with at least 33 percent of that—extremely conservatively—not managed in an environmentally safe manner. Worldwide, waste generated per person per day averages 0.74 kilogram but ranges widely, from 0.11 to 4.54 kilograms. Though they only account for 16 percent of the world’s population, high-income countries generate about 34 percent, or 683 million tones, of the world’s waste
The World Bank, Trends in Solid Waste Management
PG Paper’s Top 10 Tips to Help Reduce Waste
- Be Mindful of Packaging
Supermarkets, leading brands and paper mills are working hard to reduce unnecessary packaging and switch to more environmentally friendly packaging options. Read our recent blog on the top packaging innovations leading brands and mills are developing to help protect our planet. - Stop Buying Plastic Water Bottles
Not only will it save you money by “filling up from the tap”, it’s better for your health with some single-use plastic bottles containing plastics that can be harmful. They are also incredibly damaging to the environment, with one plastic bottle taking up to a thousand years to break down. Plastic bottles that don’t get properly recycled are filling up our landfills and polluting our oceans. - Use Reusable Containers
There is a wide range of sustainable, environmentally friendly, and reusable containers on the market. From stasher bags to silicon containers and glass jars, there are lots of options to help you store food. For more information visit consciouslifeandstyle . - Start Composting
Start composting your food and other organic waste to help feed your garden and reduce landfills. Learn more about composting at eartheasy. - Learn to Cook and Make your Own Food
Over one-third of the food we produce goes to waste, with a total annual value of $1 trillion. Reducing food waste is key to helping fight our climate crisis and with the UK wasting more food than any other European country, there are lots that PG’s staff can do to help reduce food waste. From buying “wonky” vegetables, to planning your meals ahead, and even buying the reduced items in the supermarket before they are thrown out; every little action will make a big difference. For more information on global food waste visit Reset . - Recycle, Reuse and Repurpose
From re-using envelopes, to cutting up old towels and sheets for kitchen cloths and taking used clothing, toys and objects to the local charity shop; recycling, reusing and repurposing saves you money as well as the plant. - Be a Litter-Picking Champion
Whether you have time to take part in local, organised litter clean-ups or just take responsibility for disposing of your own litter responsibly, not only do we all help our climate, but we improve our local environment as well. - Take your Lunch to Work
Make up your own lunch and take it to work to avoid takeout. Use a lunchbox and reusable snack bags for a healthier, cheaper lunch which leaves more of your lunch break time for you. - Make your own Non-Toxic Household Cleaners
Avoid unnecessary chemicals and throwaway plastic bottles by making homemade cleaners and storing them in recycled glass bottles with a repurposed spray nozzle. - Shop Local
Shopping locally helps support local businesses and farmers, while you get fresh ingredients than you might not find in larger supermarkets. Food produced locally doesn’t have to be shipped as far or refrigerated in transit.
Got any good tips to share on reducing waste? We would love to hear and share them across our network.