Can Plastic Neutrality Be a Solution to Plastic Pollution?

Plastic is everywhere these days — from the depths of the oceans to the peaks of the mountains. Plus, since it takes hundreds of years to degrade, it’s not going anywhere any time soon. 

And here's the kicker: we, the brands, the consumers, the creators, the innovators, are at the heart of this problem. But we're also at the heart of the solution.

Enter, plastic neutrality — a fairly new concept making waves across various industries, but what does it really mean? More importantly, can it genuinely help us tackle the plastic pollution crisis, or is it just another feel-good, check-the-box trend? Let’s find out.

Want to reduce your business’s plastic footprint? We can help. All you have to do is get in touch with our in-house team. Once we’ve received your details, we can arrange a call to discuss which plastic recovery plan will suit your business needs best.

What’s on this page?

What is plastic neutrality?

Plastic neutrality is when a business recovers the same amount of plastic waste from the environment as it produces.

It’s essentially an offsetting concept that aims to balance out the amount of plastic a business produces by ensuring an equivalent amount is removed from the environment. 

The idea is to use plastic credits to balance out a plastic footprint.

Want to learn more? We go more in-depth on this topic in our guide: What is Plastic Neutrality?

Can plastic neutrality be a solution to plastic pollution?

Plastic neutrality can be a solution to plastic pollution — but only if it’s implemented effectively, as part of a wider plan to reduce waste. In short, it’s not a silver bullet solution. 

What exactly do we mean by this? Well, brands can’t rely on plastic neutrality alone to reduce their plastic footprint, while continuing to pump out the same amount of single-use plastic into the market. That would be like scooping water from an overflowing tub, instead of turning off the tap — it doesn’t address the route cause.

Instead, brands should assess their operations to see where they can cut back on plastic, whether they can use more sustainable materials, or make their products more suitable for a circular economy. 

Of course, this will be a costly procedure for a lot of brands — not to mention it’ll take a while to implement correctly. This is where plastic neutrality comes into play. 

It can support brands in the transition to a more sustainable future, acting as an immediate solution to plastic pollution while brands implement long-term change. 

Plastic neutrality also bridges the financial gap for low-income countries struggling to invest in waste management infrastructure. The brands pay for plastic credits, which go towards plastic recovery programs while making the company plastic neutral. 

Is plastic neutrality greenwashing?

Plastic neutrality isn’t greenwashing when implemented correctly. It can motivate businesses to support those on the front line of the plastic crisis, while also providing immediate financial support to low-income areas that don’t currently have the funds to implement waste infrastructure.

According to the UN:

“Plastic credit mechanisms can play a significant role within sustainable waste management systems along with local and national policies such as producer responsibility schemes and waste prevention and reduction laws.”

However, brands can run the risk of greenwashing if they rely solely on plastic neutrality to reduce plastic waste, and advertise their products as more sustainable based on this.

And since conscious consumerism is on the rise, more people are rightfully questioning how environmentally friendly different products are. 

We go into more detail on this topic in our comprehensive guide: Is Plastic Neutrality Greenwashing?

How can plastic neutrality help the environment?

If implemented correctly, plastic-neutral brands can support the environment in a number of ways. The most obvious way plastic neutrality can help the environment is by reducing plastic pollution in vulnerable areas. 

By committing to plastic neutrality, businesses directly reduce the staggering amount of plastic waste that ends up in our oceans, rivers, and landfills. This protects marine life, reduces chemicals in waterways, and prevents the degradation of natural habitats.

Depending on the plastic credit provider the brand partners with, this will also promote a circular economy. For example, all plastic collected through CleanHub’s operations is either recycled or sent to a co-processing facility if it’s unable to be reused, where it can be utilized to make greener energy for the cement industry.

Plastic neutrality also encourages a shift towards a circular economy, where materials are reused, recycled, and repurposed rather than discarded. This reduces the demand for virgin plastic production, conserving natural resources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with plastic manufacturing.

One of the key benefits of plastic neutrality is that it bridges the financial gap in waste management. Money makes the world go round, and that’s exactly why low-income countries are overwhelmed with plastic waste.

But by investing in plastic credits and becoming plastic neutral, brands can fund waste management in this area — not to mention support job opportunities in coastal communities.

How can plastic neutrality help brands?

It’s not just the planet that benefits from plastic neutrality, brands can reap the rewards too. Here are the top ways plastic neutrality can help brands:

• Enhances brand reputation: Consumers are increasingly demanding that companies take responsibility for their environmental impact. By adopting plastic neutrality, your business can enhance its reputation, build customer loyalty, and differentiate itself from competitors who are slower to act on plastic waste.
• Meets regulatory demands: Governments worldwide are implementing stricter regulations on plastic use — especially with various EPR laws. By proactively adopting plastic neutrality, businesses can stay ahead of these regulations, avoid potential fines, and reduce their risk of supply chain disruptions.
• Attracts investment: Investors are increasingly considering environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors when making decisions. Demonstrating a commitment to plastic neutrality can make your business more attractive to environmentally conscious investors.

Making plastic neutrality part of a wider plan

If you want to make your brand plastic neutral, it's important to integrate it into a comprehensive sustainability plan rather than viewed as a standalone solution to plastic waste — and here’s how to do just that:

1. Take a holistic approach: Consider different ways to reduce plastic waste across the business, not just by funding collections. Carry out a packaging assessment, look into alternative product materials, think about how to reduce waste in your offices, and talk to experts about making products more recyclable. A holistic approach ensures balanced and effective environmental stewardship.
2. Get stakeholder feedback: Engage employees, customers, and partners in your sustainability journey, and listen to their feedback along the way. Transparency and collaboration can amplify your efforts and drive industry-wide change.
3. Strive for continuous improvement: Sustainability is an ongoing process — and it takes time. Regularly review and refine your strategies to adapt to new challenges and opportunities.

Summary

Plastic neutrality offers a new pathway for businesses committed to tackling plastic pollution. By balancing the plastic they produce with equivalent removal or recycling efforts, businesses can significantly mitigate their environmental impact.

However, plastic neutrality must be part of a broader, more comprehensive sustainability strategy that emphasizes reduction, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Want to reduce your business’s plastic footprint? We can help. All you have to do is get in touch with our in-house team. Once we’ve received your details, we can arrange a call to discuss which plastic recovery plan will suit your business needs best.