A recent report shared that investing in proper waste management and recycling solutions in Southeast Asia and India could cut emissions by 229 million metric tonnes by 2030. That is the equivalent of shutting down 61 coal-fired power plants.

Waste management and recycling are critical in supporting the transition to a low-carbon economy – especially in this region. As per another report, back in in 2021 Asia was the largest waste-producing continent on Earth. By 2025, it is estimated that 1.8 billion tonnes will be generated by urban cities alone in Asia.

In today’s world of relentless innovation, technology providers have a pivotal role to play in leading the charge toward sustainability, both in their scale and as a catalyst for industry-wide transformation toward a more sustainable future.

A circular approach

As the World Economic Forum once shared, it is challenging for companies alone to change the whole of society. The main reason stems from how many products are not being designed to be recycled. The solution is material innovation, which involves finding novel ways to consciously select and integrate sustainable materials into products and packaging.

This is a fundamental aspect of any sustainability strategy. Circularity in materials is essential, and so is “responsible chemistry” in using sustainable materials, meaning the evaluation of materials that don’t create a burden at the recycling stage. By embracing circular materials, we not only reduce a product’s environmental footprint, but when we scale up the use of those materials, we also cultivate new markets for sustainable alternatives.

Recycling ‘ocean-bound plastics’ (OBPs) — defined as “plastic waste at risk of ending up in the ocean” — is one way we can address the waste challenge. By using it as a key material in creating products and packaging, we can incorporate circularity into the lifecycles wherever possible. For example, products such as the Latitude 5000 series feature 28 per cent ocean-bound plastic in the fan housing and packaging, such as EcoLoop carrying cases, to name a few.

Partnering for purpose

But change cannot happen in silos — that is why the ecosystem approach to sustainability is crucial. Partnerships form the backbone of a thriving ecosystem, and this holds true especially when triggering a “change” reaction that ripples through the entire supply chain to ultimately foster economic growth and support communities.

Also Read: The circular economy as the next frontier for Asia’s innovators

An example of how the ecosystem kickstarts a cycle is Dell’s Asset Recovery Services — Dell’s partners from South Asia and emerging markets are making active efforts to utilise their abilities to resell, recycle or return to lease excess hardware in a responsible, secure and environmentally conscious manner.

The network has also allowed us to spearhead local initiatives in certain markets, such as a nationwide ongoing e-waste collection campaign in Singapore. The initiative utilises a dedicated electric vehicle (EV) van to facilitate easy recycling or retirement of computer technology and IT equipment for all stakeholders — employees, customers, partners, etc.

When it came to incorporating recycled OBPs into products and packaging, Dell saw an opportunity to spearhead a supply chain. Plastics break down in water, and the material must be intercepted before it enters the ocean. Embarking on this journey meant starting at the beginning — prioritising building a commercially viable and scalable supply chain to intercept OBPs.

This is especially meaningful in Asia, where the plastics pollution problem is dire due to a discrepancy between recycling capacity, waste imports and generation. Collaborating with suppliers like Polindo Utama in Indonesia helps us understand the recycled ocean-bound plastics supply chain at the market level.

Additionally, this partnership acts as a model for expanding the NextWave Plastics consortium into other critical markets and growing the collective reach and impact as a community of concerned companies. The consortium now spans 21 countries, including Indonesia, Haiti and the Philippines. As of the end of 2022, the consortium diverted the equivalent of over 2.27 billion water bottles from entering oceans and waterways.

Creating a ripple effect on material innovation

Forward-thinking companies are wielding material innovation as a scalpel, meticulously dissecting the traditional, linear product lifecycle and crafting a circular one. The ocean-bound plastics movement serves as a potent case study, not just for its environmental impact but for its ability to ignite a chain reaction of positive change throughout the supply chain.

—

The post Kickstarting a sustainable ‘change’ reaction with material innovation appeared first on e27.