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TRAVEL RETAIL SUSTAINABILITY FORUM (TRSF) Investing in the right sustainable solution


Graeme Stewart, CEO at Enviro-Point is passionate about new environmentally friendly solutions, most of which he says are unknown or not understood. He tells TRBusiness why travel retail stakeholders should steer clear of a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to sustainability.


E


nviro-Point has introduced its


liquid bags to travellers at


the security halls of Aberdeen, Glasgow


and Southampton


Airports in a trial with AGS Airports. Tell us more... Prior to Covid-19, Enviro-Point was in discussion with a number of airports regarding the supply of our oxo-biodegradable solution. Unfortunately, this was put on hold to be re-visited later. We were therefore naturally delighted with the AGS group’s commitment to their sustainability campaign and product launch. The great thing about our oxo-


biodegradable solution is the cost element is only marginally higher than a standard plastic one. Unfortunately, some operators have requested a sustainable solution at the same price as the plastic version. and ignore


sustainability due to


a cost difference of less than half a penny per unit. If more airports chose to make this simple but positive change, I am confident that further cost savings could be made.


In your opinion, ‘greenwashing’ veil has the been


fully exposed? A small number of companies have put profit margins ahead of the wellbeing of our environment and planet. To provide a solution with a minimal increase in cost that leaves zero microplastics in the environment appears to be a no-brainer; It’s all good and well companies claiming to be carbon neutral or negative by a fixed date. However, unless they act now it’s a fancy marketing slogan with zero substance. There appears to be an approach of ‘we don’t need to change our operation, as we carbon offset our emissions’. Carbon offsetting, while laudable, does not reduce plastic waste from the billions


DECEMBER 2020


The first TRBusiness Travel Retail Sustainability Forum flagged a lack of clarity around definitions such as ‘sustainable’, ‘recyclable’, ‘recycled’, ‘compostable’ etc. In your view, are retailers and airports doing enough to simplify the language for consumers? I don’t believe the issue surrounds the simplifying of the language to consumers, rather, the lack of detailed research by departments to source the correct


sustainable


alternatives. We have all heard ‘plastic is bad’, but it is actually not as bad as one may think – the main issue with plastic is the degradation period. Most products are manufactured


using refined oils but a much larger amount of


refined oil and


energy is required to manufacture a compostable, or glass product compared


to plastic. Another


example would be compostable products. Most people when they see a compostable/ biodegradable product within store automatically believe it is better for the environment. However, for a product to be


deemed compostable within EU regulations, it must compost within a desired time frame. Industry leaders should be researching all alternative solutions to ensure they utilise the right solution for the right product – this then takes the guesswork away from the consumer.


Strides are being made across the industry to reduce/eliminate single-use What


plastic should companies Oxo-Biodegradable


of single-use bags used in airport security settings each year.


Left: AGS Airports is on a drive to significantly reduce single- use plastic consumption across its three airports.


product for a number of single- use plastic products,


e.g.


liquid


security bags, food bags, shopping bags, plastic overshoes for construction sites


etc. However,


Oxo-biodegradable would not be the right solution for packaging, e.g. boxes, coffee cups, drinks bottles etc. due to the rapid degradation time the package may no longer have the same strength/durability to be fit for purpose. «


“Industry leaders should be researching all alternative solutions to ensure they utilise the right solution for the right product – this then takes the guesswork away from the consumer.”


Graeme Stewart, CEO, Enviro-Point


packaging. be


considering when implementing a strategy to reduce or eliminate plastics? Oxo-biodegradable is the ideal


TRBUSINESS 15

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