As a plastics trade magazine about sustainability, we’ve addressed a broad diversity of topics over the past two years. And yet, there is still so much more to talk about. It’s fair to say that we’ve only scratched the surface of what sustainability means - and what its implications are for the industry.
Today, with its focus on environmental stewardship, economic and social responsibility, sustainability touches almost every aspect of the plastics industry, impacting everything from corporate policy and decision-making down to the design and material choices for new plastic products.
As a result, sustainability has become an important factor in business strategies, as companies have become increasingly aware that sustainable practices can bring unexpected benefits and ultimately boost the bottom line.
Research has shown that, for most companies, the supply chain has a far greater impact on the environment than any other part of their operations. Typically, a company’s supply chain has been estimated to account for more than 80 percent of greenhouse-gas emissions and more than 90 percent of the impact on air, land, water, biodiversity, and geological resources.
Basically, what this means is that sustainable initiatives and measures implemented within a company will have little impact if these are not adopted right across the supply chain network.
And in fact, supply chain sustainability is increasingly being recognised as a key component of corporate sustainability.
It’s an aspect that has, up to now, received scant attention. And in the European plastics industry, which is dominated by SMEs, sustainable supply chain management is an idea that is only just starting to surface. Sustainable Plastics takes a look what this means in this issue, with an article on the situation in Portugal.
On a different note: I’d like to draw your attention to a brand-new feature. Starting now, we’ve expanded our Polymer Prices feature to also include the prices of recycled plastics. The new Recycled Polymer Prices page will be published once a month: 12 times online and, as well, in all 6 issues.
Driven by such factors as plastics taxes, targets, legislation, public opinion, oil prices and more, the market for recycled plastics is both rapid-changing and fast-growing. This new page is a way to provide you, our readers, with the insights and information you need for a better understanding of its trends and dynamics.
This and much more is ready for you under the menu tab Digital Magazine to download or read on our website. Subscribers will see the print issue delivered straight to their door in just a few days.