Doing the plastic fantastic
Three innovative British companies at various stages of international fame
There are many different types of plastic, and not all of them are created equal. The varieties currently in the news, causing huge problems in ecosystems worldwide – polyethylene, polypropylene and PET – are at the bottom of the pile in terms of quality.
Further up the rungs of the ladder are engineering and high-performance plastics, which are manufactured on a much more limited scale than common plastics, have highly advantageous performance properties and, consequently, can cost as much as £300 per kilo.
Polyether-ether-ketone (or PEEK), a colourless thermoplastic polymer, is at the very top of the plastics pyramid. The name might not sound familiar, but it’s everywhere, from household devices such as earphones and refrigerator compressors, to airplanes, which can contain as much as a tonne of it.
It’s been over a year since the pandemic started, and face masks have officially become a part of our daily lives. To minimise the environmental impacts of mask waste, Hong Kong face mask brand Maskology has partnered up with non-profit, A Plastic Ocean Foundation to develop biodegradable, disposable face masks that’s set to launch within 2021. However, this ambitious project still requires significant investment from the public to make it into reality.
The environmental cost of staying safe during a pandemic is high it is estimated that 1.56 billion face masks have polluted the ocean in 2020. Since disposable face masks are made of polypropylene, the material can only be recycled at special facilities, and then it’s hard to do so due to its composite materials.
L Occitane opens its first sustainability concept store in Hong Kong
You need to bring your own bag (BYOB) when you shop at the store
By
Advertising
If you re a fan of French skincare brand L Occitane, then you ll be happy to know that the retailer has just launched their first eco-friendly shop in the city, as part of their efforts to embrace sustainability and reduce local plastic waste. Located in Pacific Place Mall, the new store is designed to appeal to the growing eco-conscious consumer market. The shop offers products that come in 100 percent recycled bottles, and refillable shampoos, conditioners, shower gels, and hand wash. The new store also launches a new limited edition bodycare product series called Happy Shea collection which is exclusively available in the shop and their online store.
Inside L Occitane s #MEGA Hong Kong sustainability concept store cosmeticsbusiness.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from cosmeticsbusiness.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.