Perspectives from this fast-growing start up industry
Is Reuse the New Recycling? – | be Waste Wise
In 2019, a business that hands out 2.5 million straws and 30 million spoons each year admitted, “We’re not going to recycle our way out of this problem; we, and the rest of the world, need to get out of single-use plastic.” This response from Jenna Evans, Ben and Jerry’s Global Sustainability Manager, is typical of many companies grappling with reducing their impact. Recycling has failed to solve their issues, and they are turning to more progressive models such as refill, reuse and the sharing economy.
In this webinar, we will explore the role of sharing and reuse in reducing our reliance on single-use items such as takeaway food and drink and e-commerce packaging. We will demonstrate how moving up the hierarchy from downcycling to retaining product in use is both financially and environmentally preferable to recycling in many applications. We will look at two emerging solutions filling the need of brands and business to ‘do more with less’, prevent waste at source and educate consumers into the circular economy. New markets are opening fast. Post-Covid, the reuse flood gates are set to open. Are you ready?
Alvin Leer, CEO & Co-Founder @Packoorang
Alvin Dammann Leer is a serial impact entrepreneur and investor. Sustainability is a career theme for D. Leer, having first honed his skills at the global NGO WWF to co-founding two impact startups. D. Leer has held positions across three continents as an editor and independent consultant for companies such as Innovation Norway, Adecco and WWF. His educational background includes Communication (University of Roehampton, London), Behavior Change (Yale) and Social Entrepreneurship (Emmanuel College, Boston).
Dan Wright, Co-Founder @CanCan
Dan Wright is the Managing Director of Phineas Group, the £5m sustainable shoe hanger business, and co-founder of CanCan, a technology platform pioneering the sharing of reusable containers across hospitality and retail. As an entrepreneur and ambassador for sustainability in retail, he is passionate about the shareables movement – making sharing second nature for everyone and creating easy ways to share ‘things’ that we see as disposable. He built his very own eco house (RICS award-winning) and is devoted to playing an active role in reducing the amount of single-use plastic waste produced on the planet.