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Pitch

Charge Supermarkets for all plastic they sell by adding this information inside the barcode on any item sold.


Description

Summary

The measures implemented by the current recycling model, which are focused on producer responsibility and final consumer awareness, are not enough to prevent the continued accumulation of plastic waste in the oceans. Proof of this, the Mediterranean Sea currently experiencing high levels of plastic pollution even if its coastline meets highly advanced countries on this subject.

“Barcode v/s Plastic Waste” continues forward in the argument, including and controlling a crucial and forgotten player in the current model of consumption: retail or supermarkets.

Consumers must continue recycling, but reality shows clear that the potential to decrease plastic waste could not lay on upon only consumer awareness.

A high percentage of plastic waste passes through supermarkets and, subsequently, the entire distribution channel. While supermarkets do hold responsibility for ENCOURAGING THE USE of plastic and packaging, they also have the potential, although never considered before, to encourage and provide incentives to producers and consumers to reduce their plastic quantities or eliminate it all together.

Following “Barcode v/s Plastic Waste”, Governments should request supermarkets to be responsible for all plastic recollection associated with products they sell, while Public Administration would maintain the duty of control.

The barcode which identifies any item sold, offers the possibility to track all plastics, containers or packaging by simply adding these information into the barcode.

Having the package information (weight and material composition i.e. PET2/45gr. – PET5/75gr. – etc.) inside the same barcode already used on any item sold will offer an extremely easy way to obtain the necessary data to apply follow-up control over its recollection.

We would be able to track the recyclable materials per gram through the entire transaction system in real-time, allowing us to review any cash register day by day.

For example, at the end of the day of a given supermarket, we will know that from cash #1 got out: 800gr/PET1, 700gr/PET2, 550gr/PET3 and so on.

It is important to highlight, the requested plastic re-collection criterion will be, in general, weight and material and won’t refer to “that” specific packaging, bottle or jar sold by the specified supermarket.

Along with the necessary law, just a new software and a new logistic inside supermarkets will be enough to produce the change.

We would transform millions of negative actions into positive, preventing the loss of tons of raw material with a final reduction of petrol demand.

This new recycling process could reach the full capacity in three years, requesting 30% of plastic recollection quantity the first year, 60% the second 90-100% the third.

Supermarket cash registers are the last control in the commercial process.

After that, only individual awareness and the environment are remaining.

“Barcode v/s Plastic Waste” offers an efficient, win-win-win model: a sustainable and dynamic circle, a cradle to cradle controlled process for this uncontrolled and currently destructive material.

With “Barcode v/s Plastic Waste” we would be able to have Zero Waste Supermarkets worldwide.

Entire proposal at: https://umayor.academia.edu/ClaraSalina                                                                  clarasalina@gmail.com

 


Which plan do you select for China?

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Which plan do you select for India?

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Which plan do you select for the United States?

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Which plan do you select for Europe?

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Which plan do you select for other developing countries?

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Which plan do you select for other developed countries?

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What additional cross-regional proposals are included in your plan, if any?


How do the regional and cross-sectoral plans above fit together?


Explanation of the emissions scenario calculated in the Impact tab


What are the plan’s key benefits?


What are the plan’s costs?


What are the key challenges to enacting this plan?


Timeline


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