Is the supply chain compatible with a future without waste from economic activities
The global outcry against pollution continues to grow, and the end of single-use plastics, in particular, finally seems close. Industries must also deal with the treatment of their waste by rethinking their supply chain in light of this context.
Is the supply chain compatible with a future without waste from economic activities
Are we witnessing the disappearance of certain types of waste, particularly single-use plastics? In a time as prone to divisions as today, it is reassuring to see that so many of us are joining forces to sign the end of waste. Recent documentaries have worked with great success to raise awareness among the population about the devastating impact that plastic waste has on our oceans. Awareness and awakening consumer interest are now the key words.
Furthermore, a recent study revealed that 66% of people considered that its packaging was harmful to the environment as a deterrent to purchasing a product. Logically, 73% of them therefore stated that it would be better for the environment to have food without packaging, distributed in bulk. A trend that affects the executive, which, by 2025, aims for 100% recycled plastics.
Companies are also called upon to contribute since the National Waste Prevention Program provides in particular for a stabilization at least of the production of waste from economic activities (scrap metal, non-ferrous metals, paper-cardboard, glass, textiles, wood, plastics, etc.) by 2025.
A necessary commitment for junk disposal
The treatment of waste from economic activities requires international collaboration, this title, the United Kingdom has been turning to China for decades to relieve itself of the burden of its plastic waste.
China’s appetite for this matter has made it possible to achieve high recycling targets. A few years ago however, China decided to radically curb the import of plastic waste from abroad. This attitude could intensify the pressure on companies using single-use plastics in their manufacturing process and supply chain.
American companies must therefore expect to be more accountable for their actions against the environment, with the issue of carbon footprint and recycling being at the heart of public debate. Because this variable has become a reason to choose this or that brand.
Activist brands
However, some renowned brands have anticipated this trend and are already making efforts, such as McDonald’s and Starbucks in the USA, which are testing recycled straws or eliminating plastic straws and cutlery.
Changes that have unfortunately been long in coming, if we compare them to the figures published by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Indeed, these suggest that, all things being equal, the oceans could contain, by weight, more plastic waste than fish by 2050. The study went even further and demonstrated that our economy was losing between 80 and 120 billion dollars due to a linear value chain based on single-use products.
Increased attractiveness potential, positive impact on performance, encouragement of public opinion, this favorable context should allow supply chains to evolve.
Rethink and reinvent waste management
This all sounds very appealing, but where should companies start to establish a supply chain free of single-use plastics and waste in general? It all starts with data. With software dedicated to the design of their supply chain, companies can have an overview of their supply chain, while at the same time providing them with detailed information, in particular regarding the packaging specificities of their products.
In this way, this waste monitoring can be extended to all industries where waste such as solvents or accumulators would be identified. Alternative packaging suppliers who meet these expectations, such as those who will supply supermarkets with paper, can thus be added to the supply chain model, directly within the software, alongside an indicator or index relating to their pricing characteristics and their positioning within the network.
Visualize and evaluate dumpster rental activities
A supply chain design software can help companies visualize a problem by leveraging volumetric data to quickly identify sources and flows from different suppliers. The software would also allow for waste traceability.
Then, it’s time to evaluate alternatives. For example, if you want to reduce your non-recyclable plastics by 10% by 2025, you need to be able to analyze the alternative approaches available to you that allow you to achieve this while maintaining your service, inventory, and profitability objectives, all supported by the associated risks that you have assessed.
Scenarios that compare the current situation to several alternatives help identify transformation priorities, as well as the associated costs and risks, by eliminating exceptional channels from the calculation. It is then possible to establish objectives aimed at ultimately reducing non-recyclable materials.
What about a supply chain free of all single-use and polluting materials? A recycling-first supply chain is, by definition, cyclical. Consider, for example, centralized processing plants that receive waste from supply chain stakeholders, or repackaged products that are sent to packaging manufacturers. This vision would likely result in a realignment of packaging production sites, away from ports and oil sources and closer to the recycling plant, supply chain customers, and ultimately the consumer.
Eliminating single-use materials from the supply chain won’t happen overnight, but introducing recycled materials can certainly become a reality. Using supply chain modeling software to visualize and assess the effectiveness of a network free of single-use materials could help companies improve their environmental credentials and eliminate waste for good.
