How climate change is both creating challenges and opportunities for Exporters

How climate change is both creating challenges and opportunities for Exporters

The war on plastic is creating challenges for established brands as they need to adapt their business practices to cut down on plastic waste, whilst it is also an opportunity for brands to create and offer products with less or no plastic or even alternative products.

Over the last year, the world has seen strong drivers to a more shared view of the worlds carbon footprint focussed on plastic waste.

It was a young girl in Sweden, Greta Thunberg, who got the world talking.

Greta Thunberg won the world’s attention, when she started her school strike. Thunberg sat quietly outside the parliament in central Stockholm for 2 weeks. She handed out leaflets declaring her mission: “I am doing this because you adults are shitting on my future.” She got Sweden listening, resulting in Sweden’s new climate law was set with a target of net-zero emissions by 2045, the most ambitious in the world. 

Alongside this wake-up call in Sweden, the United Kingdom saw Sir David Attenborough heading up the Blue Planet series. Here millions saw what direct damage plastic waste do in nature and in the seas around the world. Sir David Attenborough even took centre stage at the Glastonbury music festival speaking about plastic straws and bottles.

The new “green movement” – is making strong progress in people’s lives and views.

Some consumer brands and global supermarket chains are taking action to show they care and respond to the climate change situation. Social media full of consumers’ concerns and demands for improvements.

Some examples addressing the use of plastic for consumer products

Danish brewer Carlsberg will be the first drinks company to stop using the well documented “pack rings”
They estimate this change will reduce the plastic packaging by up to 76% for the “pack rings”. In the future, we will see the pack of cans held together by tiny blobs of strong recyclable glue on the recycled aluminium can. Carlsberg turned this specific issue and growing problem into a packaging innovation and competitive advantage. Staying true to the core product, using the new innovative packaging solution, all supporting the consumer’s concerns and growing dislike to the plastic ring on the can.

A solution that is instantly visible and impactful.

This small change on the product packaging can become a bigger part of making a difference in the world, yet the product has not changed but will help reduce it’s part of the plastic waste problem for the future

The new Carlsberg ‘snap pack’ that, it is claimed, will cut plastic use by up to 76% on the can packaging.

Another innovative move – plastic straws are on the way out…

Many outlets have said goodbye to the plastic straws as consumers will not use them and simply demand the use of plastic straws should stop.
We are seeing a number of innovations and now upcoming brands have plastic alternatives such as pasta and bamboo straws to mention a few.

and yes, creating brands around plastic alternatives is a growing way forward. 

A strong movement, which is here to stay where both companies and consumers have to step up to take part of the responsibility to improve issues with plastic waste

It might look like a lot of common sense on paper, all supported with statistics showing that people care and expect that brand also should care. Western European consumers statistics show that 85% of consumers when asked do care and will support the cause.

Adapt to national and regional social norms

Globally these changes and drivers are all different in each country, region and countries. Just look at India or China, where the problems are massive where no or very few policies or actions are planned to improve the situation.
I grew up in Denmark where we used our “cotton bags” when shopping and you paid for the bootle as well as the content. The costs of the bottle was then refunded when brought back to the shops. When I moved to London, the beautiful streets turned into a big collection of black bin liners at night. There was no separation of the rubbish and no refund system for plastic and glass bottles. It is first over the last 10 years that recycling of rubbish has been started across the different regions/counties of the UK. A few retailers are now starting to look at the bottle recycling system and charge for plastic bags.

Any brand or producers should look at all the options such as

• Improve the current packaging such as Carlberg has done
• Create alternative such as the straw industry is currently undertaking
• Be part of or create a movement for addressing the waste that is already on land and in the seas together with your consumers both new and loyal consumers across your industry and shows how responsible the brand is and it cares

Start in your home markets to embed the support to include the climate change challenge and opportunity in your company mission, involving the whole of your supply chain.
When the concept becomes a proven programme in your home market you can start to work with those export markets, which are ready interested or share your mission.

Some years ago I worked for an English tea company, Taylors of Harrogate, who really cares about climate change and get actively involved. They ran a highly successful scheme in the UK called “Plant a Tree”. During a trade show in the US, we tailored the documentation for the “Plant a Tree” programme to include the US consumers. We explained the concept and the Americans loved the idea and it played a key part of securing a global hotel chain business as our values were similar and shared.

It will be a long journey for all to make a visible and sustainable impact but it can be done!