Imagine a world where all recyclable materials are captured, processed, and transformed into new products. A world where few items are sent to landfill and our environment is clear of litter. That’s the world we work toward every day.
Though the act of recycling a food or beverage carton may seem small, it can have a big impact on achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a shared blueprint created by the United Nations to achieve peace and prosperity for people and the planet. Ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in September, we’re highlighting how food and beverage carton recycling contributes to achieving these Global Goals by 2030. Importantly, we want you to recognize that you have a part to play: thing globally, recycle locally.
SDG 12 – Responsible consumption and production: Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
There are more than seven billion humans producing waste every day. Much of that waste is never collected, treated or safely disposed of, which harms the health of our planet and communities. How we consume materials impacts the amount of waste generated. Fortunately, you can take action by choosing to reduce, reuse, and recycle. When it comes to recycling, prioritize purchasing items that come in recyclable packing like food and beverage cartons. Each item you recycle can reduce liter, slow the growth of landfills, and preserve natural resources — an impact felt across the world.
SDG 13 – Climate Action: Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Want to keep our planet intact? Then it’s time to seriously consider how we address climate change, in particular reducing our carbon footprint. Products created from recycled fibers require less energy than those made from virgin fibers. Recycling your cartons allows those valuable paper fibers to be transformed into new products, rather than using new natural resources. Each act of recycling contributes to a circular economy!
SDG14 – Life Below Water: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
When you recycle your cartons at home and in public spaces like the beach, you can help reduce litter that negatively impacts marine habitats and preserves our oceans. Your actions are one of the best ways for cartons to get recycled into new products rather than end up polluting in the oceans. Every little bit helps.
SDG15 – Life on Land: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
We only have one planet and that planet has only so many resources. Choosing products with recyclable packaging and made from renewable resources like paper help reduce the strain on our land. Small acts like recycling not only reduce litter going to landfills, but also reduces the water, trees, and energy used to make new products. Recycling your cartons, along with other recyclables, helps to preserve the environment for all living creatures and future generations around the world.
We all share one planet and the choices we make in one place invariably impact another. The small day-to-day choices we each make, like recycling cartons, add up to have a tremendous global impact. If you’re like us and want to dig further into the SDGs, read this article about waste management and the SDGs and check out these 170 daily actions you can take to transform our work and reach the Global Goals.
Play your part: thing globally, recycle locally.