Why Do We Need to Care About Waste?
Waste is an inevitable byproduct of human activities that are no longer being needed or wanted, often posing significant environmental and health risks if not properly managed. Thus, waste management is crucial for preserving the environment, protecting public health, conserving resources, and promoting sustainable development.
One pressing issue within the realm of waste management is plastic waste. Plastic waste poses a significant threat as not only is it excessively produced to be used in daily activities, but improper disposal of plastic has led to a global crisis. To aid in the mission of making a world free of plastic waste, an initiative called Plastic Free July was created with this very mission in mind.
- An estimated 8.3 Bt of plastic have been produced since its inception, with only a dismal 9% being recycled, and over 8 Mt of plastic entering our oceans every year.
- The major countries that generate plastic waste are China (59 Mt), followed by the United States (37.8 Mt), Germany (14.5 Mt), Brazil (11.9 Mt), and Japan (8 Mt).
- Countries like Sweden and Germany have achieved impressive recycling rates of over 90% through effective waste management systems.
- Increasing awareness and efforts have led to the rise of recycling initiatives, resulting in more than 3 Bt of plastic being recycled worldwide.
Plastic Free July
Founded by Plastic Free Foundation, Plastic Free July is a global movement that encourages individuals, communities, and organisations to take a stand against single-use plastics and commit to a month-long challenge of reducing their plastic consumption. By actively participating in Plastic Free July, individuals not only contribute to reducing plastic pollution but also inspire others to adopt more eco-friendly practices and create a lasting impact beyond the month of July.
The most commonly preached behaviour in handling waste in general are the 3Rs, which are Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. By incorporating these three principles into our daily lives, we can play a vital role in conserving resources, reducing pollution, and fostering a more sustainable future for generations to come.
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
YTL Actions to Reduce Plastic Waste
Say No To All Plastic (SNAP) is a YTL Campaign focusing on reducing the usage of Single use Plastic in all of our operations with an end goal of reaching Zero usage by 2025. To aid in this, we introduced SNAP Guideline 2022 which provides guidance on how to properly recycle or dispose of plastic items after consumption. The document is available for both business units and yourself to use freely.
Now in its fourth year since the campaign has been initiated, we are pleased to report the progress of our business units from 2019 till 2022. Please see below the recorded plastic consumption in our offices throughout the years!
Malaysian Office
- 21% decrease from the first year of SNAP data collection (2019)
- Plastic intensity has increased by 7% from 2019
- Single-serve F&B Packaging (Tea bags, Beverage sachets) saw an increase of 12% against 2019 levels.
Overseas Office
- 62% decrease from the first year of SNAP data collection (2019).
- Plastic intensity has decreased by 49% from 2019.
- Single-serve F&B Packaging (Beverage sachets, biscuits/snacks easy packs) is still the highest at 68.2% among others.
Together, every one of us holds the power to shape and change our habits and in Making a Good Future Happen.
