The premier climate change and solution conference, COP26, held in Glasgow during 2021, is considered by many industry professionals as the most significant event in climate change talks since the 2015 Paris Agreement was concluded seven years ago.
An important take-out that emerged from the conference is that globally, businesses are far more engaged than previously thought when it comes to tackling environmental issues – this is independent of various governments and climate change organisations, resulting in fast-tracking much needed transformation.
At OPM, we have been rapidly implementing sustainability actions – to positively impact every aspect of our business operations throughout the years.
One of the key ways in which we are making a difference is ensuring our suppliers provide sustainable flexible packaging and labelling materials. This is done through a process of only buying raw materials and products with a low carbon footprint. The benefits don’t end with OPM either, as sustainability benefits are passed on to our customers too.
Measuring sustainability
But how is the carbon footprint of a product measured and what does it mean for products that enter the supply chain?
The carbon footprint of a product is measured in tonnes and indicates the amount of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases produced as a result of the daily activities, functioning and processing of a manufacturer.
Something as seemingly insignificant as deciding on which bin liners to use for disposing waste materials generated on the factory floor can impact a company’s carbon footprint, so there is a lot to consider in our operations.
In order to comply with our vision for a greener future, we purchased 21 600 Longopac Mini liners from one of our suppliers, Unisan in 2021. The manufacturing process of these bin liners used only 494 kilograms of PLASTIC PE – thereby generating 2.737 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
In contrast, if we had purchased a similar amount of standard plastic bags the outcome would be far worse as the manufacturing process uses up to 2.7 tonnes of PLASTIC PE, which would generate 11.994 tonnes of CO₂ emissions.
By taking even the smallest step, a company can minimise its environmental impact, but it requires commitment and a strong desire for change.
The business decisions made today can impact the environment for future generations. What kind of environmental legacy do you want your company to leave behind and imagine the impact on the environment if more companies adopted this attitude?
