New research by the University of Queensland (UQ) examining the labelling of plastic products has concluded that a ‘drastic overhaul’ is required if consumers are to be advised of what they can use, and re-use, plastic products for.
In its research, The message on the bottle: Rethinking plastic labelling to better encourage sustainable use, UQ found plastic pollution to be a growing global problem with increasingly complex mixes of plastics everywhere in the world from the Arctic to Mount Everest.
Lead researcher and Director of the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences at UQ, Kevin Thomas said simplistic, unhelpful labelling and low recycling rates were major barriers to tackling the issue.
“A new internationally applicable labelling system is required that moves focus from recyclability to sustainability,” Professor Thomas said.
“It needs to be specific to the country and region of purchase and provide information to the public about plastic additive content,” he said.
“We hope that our recommendations initiate a reassessment of plastics labelling and that implementation of a sustainability scale allows individuals to make informed decisions in how they use plastics.”
Lead author and PhD candidate from the Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences at UQ, Stephen Burrows said consumers needed to be empowered to make more sustainable choices.
Mr Burrows said that requiring packaging to carry region-specific directions for disposal would shift responsibility away from consumers and towards regulators and plastic producers.
“This is vital because the mix of plastic products is so complex and confusing, industry must be responsible for clear, accurate and accessible instructions on how best to dispose of plastic items,” he said.
The Study, published in the journal Environment Science and Policy, can be accessed at this PS News link.
