ASL Blog

This month, we're thinking about energy consumption and the waste we generate, both as individuals and as a business.

One of ASL’s commitments is to reduce our own impact on the environment by becoming more sustainable. This includes the waste we produce - developing a better awareness of the materials we use for our various activities, their use and their disposal.

In this post we consider the three R’s - Recycle - Reuse - Reduce. And we look at some of the most common recyclable materials, offering some handy tips for applying the three R’s in our daily lives.

Recycling

Recycling means turning an item into raw materials which can be used again, usually for a completely new product. This is an energy consuming procedure. Recycling can still produce waste and pollution. Although recycling has been a staple of sustainable living for decades, it does have some downsides. A large amount of energy is needed to transport, process and reassemble recyclable materials.

Reusing

Reusing refers to using an object as it is, without any kind of treatment. This reduces pollution and waste, thus making it a more sustainable process. Reused items include anything that was bought second hand, often furniture and clothing. Any item in good condition can be reused. The reusing process is not about re-purposing the materials an object is made of, but re-purposing the very object itself. This includes buying and selling used goods and repairing items rather than discarding them. Reusing is better than recycling because it saves the energy that comes with having to dismantle and re-manufacture products.

Reduce

It is important to recycle and reuse, but it is equally important to reduce. Consuming fewer products will eradicate the need for them to be reused or recycled when we are finished with them. Over time, it will even help reduce the amount of energy and raw materials needed. We can all make informed choices about what we are consuming. As Oksana Mont of the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics said, “It is important that infrastructures and institutions develop towards enabling sustainable lifestyles and not consumerism.”

Common Recyclable Materials

We’re all familiar with different disposal bins for various types of household and business waste. Not everything can be recycled (yet), but you should be able to find relatively convenient recycling facilities for these six main categories of household/business waste:

• Glass - Most household glass can be recycled over and over again; just rinse or wash out the container and recycle. Glass is one of the easiest materials to recycle, but some glass items, such as car windshields, cooking dishes, and light bulbs, aren’t usually accepted by local recycling systems, so it’s best to check with your local authority about what they will and will not accept on kerbside recycling schemes.

• Metals - Metal food & drink cans made from aluminium or steel are recyclable, and aluminium cans in particular are very valuable. You can even recycle used aluminium foil; just be sure cans and foil are clean.

• Organics - Some kerbside recyclers include organic materials (such as garden & kitchen waste) in their regular services, whereas others offer seasonal organics recycling, such as Christmas tree drop-off locations after the holiday season.

• Paper - Nearly every paper item is recyclable, though you should check with your local recycling service provider before you bring in your milk & juice cartons. These cartons are made of cardboard sandwiched between very thin layers of plastic, so not all the material is recyclable and not all centres accept them. If you have a garden, you can recycle your own paper in your compost pile.

• Plastics - Each plastic product has a Plastic Identification Code — a triangle with a number from 1 to 7 inside — usually on the bottom. Most recycling services accept plastics with codes 1 or 2, which include beverage bottles and containers used for milk, juice, and body-care products. All plastic products should be rinsed or washed before disposal

• Textiles - Many charitable and non-profit organizations operate drop-off points for textiles like clothes & shoes. These can be found in supermarket car parks and in the organizations’ own business locations. What the groups can’t reuse, they generally sell to private businesses that deal in textiles.
  

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The Wrong Bin

Deciding which products are ok to put into recycling waste can be confusing. Here’s a list of common household products showing what is and is not recyclable:  

ASL’s One World

As part of our One World strategy, we have set a target to reduce the waste we generate as a business. To achieve this we've implemented a more robust waste sorting system in our offices, and we keep our people informed about the various challenges and solutions regarding this target. We are also determined to help our clients reduce waste generated by their marketing activities, through a variety of sustainable material & packaging solutions for the marketing materials we produce.

Do you want to make your marketing campaigns more sustainable? We can help! Contact us to see how we can help reduce the environmental impact of your marketing activity worldwide.

#oneworld #Recycle #Reuse #Reduce