FUTURE PROOF

The problem of plastic waste isn’t going anywhere, says Shannon Harley, but new initiatives give reason to hope.

FIRST, THE GOOD news: our plastic use is decreasing. However, despite reusable coffee cups, biodegradable straws and cotton shopping bags, each Australian is still estimated to generate 135kg of plastic waste each year, and most of that ends up in landfill, with only 12 per cent recycled. Founder of no-waste restaurant Silo (now closed), Melbourne-based Joost Bakker is working on the plastic recycling method of pyrolysis, which transforms plastic waste into a fuel alternative to petroleum. Bakker says “plastic is a problem beyond comprehension. We need radical change to first avoid using it and second to create circular systems”. This means promoting the perpetual use of goods and materials to keep them out of landfill. Enter Jamie Forsyth, the man behind Returnr, which launched in September 2019 out of Melbourne with free-to-borrow reuseable takeaway food packaging. Returnr works with cafes and delivery services such as Deliveroo to replace single-use plastics with durable bowls and double-walled cups. Bakker says Returnr offers a serious solution to our throw-away culture, at the same time supporting the circular economy. The growing consciousness around food waste is also inspiring initiatives such as supermarket happy hours in Finland where products are heavily discounted hours before their expiry date, and apps such as TooGoodToGo, which matches customers with meals in their area at closing time. The food packaging conversation is the next step – check out Returnr’s bowls on Deliveroo or at the new zero-carbon Mercedes Me Store in Melbourne’s Rialto as you sip a St Ali long black.