Globally, only 9% of plastics are recycled each year. So, what happens to the plastic that is not recycled? Did you know that Europe consumes 4-6% of its oil and gas resources in the production of plastics? According to WRAP, it takes a whopping 75% less energy to make a plastic bottle from recycled materials compared to producing it from scratch. But what would happen if we increase our recycling efforts and build a circular economy to reduce plastic waste?

Wait… What's the Buzz About a Circular Economy? 

Imagine a world where nothing goes to waste! That's the magic of a circular economy. It's a regenerative system that aims to keep resources in use for as long as possible, extracting maximum value while minimising waste generation. When it comes to plastic waste, a circular economy focuses on creating a closed-loop system where plastic is recycled, reused, or repurposed instead of ending up in landfills or polluting our beautiful oceans. And that is exactly what we do at Delphis Eco. Did you know that so far, in 2023, we have saved a whopping 19,709kg of virgin plastic from being produced? Not only this but through using recycled plastic material, we have avoided an outstanding 30 tonnes of CO2 from being emitted. **

The Plastic Problem

Plastic waste is like a villain threatening our environment. Huge amounts of it end up in landfills, and sadly, many find their way into our oceans. This pollution harms our beloved marine life, disrupts delicate ecosystems, and contributes to the global environmental crisis. Embracing a circular economy for plastic is the key to breaking this harmful cycle.

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

 In a circular economy, we can do our bit by reducing our plastic consumption. By making mindful choices and opting for sustainable alternatives, we can minimise the amount of plastic waste generated in the first place. And when plastic waste does come knocking, recycling swoops in to save the day!

Innovations in Plastic Recycling

To make the circular economy for plastic a reality, we need cutting-edge recycling technologies and infrastructure. Think advanced sorting systems, high-tech recycling processes, and brilliant innovations that turn old plastic into new treasures. These superpowers help us transform discarded plastics into raw materials for new products, reducing the demand for virgin materials and the environmental impact of plastic production.

Rethinking Consumption and Design 

A circular economy inspires us to rethink how we consume and design products. Manufacturers play a key role by creating easily recyclable items, using recycled content, or exploring fantastic biodegradable materials. By supporting these eco-friendly products, we ignite the growth of a circular economy and reduce plastic waste in style.

So this Plastic-Free July, let's rethink our consumption of plastic and opt to buy PCR plastic, just like our Delphis bottles, made from recycled milk bottles, which are 100% recyclable. By recycling plastic waste, reducing our plastic consumption, and redesigning products with recyclability in mind, we can steer clear of landfills and protect our breathtaking oceans. Let's join forces, spread the word, and create a future where plastic waste is minimised. Together, we can make a lasting impact for generations to come. Let the adventure begin!

** Disclaimer: Our calculations have been independently verified by Climate Partner.

 Christmas… A time for families to come together, exchange gifts and eat to their heart's content. But what impact does our overindulgence and shopping habits have on the environment? During the holiday season our carbon footprint is 6% more than the rest of the year, so how can we make our Christmas a little bit greener? Every pound you spend this Christmas is a vote for the world you want to create, so here are Delphis Eco's top tips for a Christmas that doesn't cost the Earth.  

Should you go for the real tree or get the plastic one out of the loft? 

Every year there is a debate about whether people should ditch their real tree and go for a fake one. Or ditch the Christmas tree altogether. Research has found seven million trees are thrown out every year in the UK, releasing copious amounts of methane into the atmosphere. Artificial trees can be reused on average 7-20 times, which is better for the environment as it saves fresh trees from being chopped down and can save you money! 

But if you want to buy a real tree, know that the carbon footprint is lower than that of an artificial one. A popular alternative is opting for potted trees, which can be reused and replanted. Another option is replanting your Christmas tree in your garden or converting your old tree into beneficial woodchip mulch by putting it through a shredder which can reduce its carbon footprint by up to 80%. It's a win-win! 

Spread the Christmas magic 

At Christmas, we know the pressure is on to buy the perfect present for your nearest and dearest, but just under a half of us Brits admit that we have received gifts we don't or will never use. But the only good can come from buying gifts from small businesses, being mindful of sustainability and going for gifts with less packaging. 

According to Gov.uk we use enough card packaging (and material) at Christmas to cover Big Ben nearly 260,000 times. That is mind-boggling! Were you aware that to make 1 tonne of paper, around 24 trees must be cut down? So why not get creative by making e-cards to send your Christmas wishes by text if you want to give a great gift to the planet? 

The main event 

Christmas is the ultimate time to overindulge by eating our body weight in pigs in blankets or stuffing. But all that overindulgence means that around 270,000 tonnes of food are thrown away at Christmas every year. That's five million Christmas puddings, seventy-four million mince pies and two million turkeys, according to the Big Issue. And if that statistic doesn't make you want to spit out your eggnog, the government reckons that the number of poultry we throw away yearly is enough to make eight hundred million Boxing Day curries. Unbelievably, a herd of 636,000 reindeer weighs the same carrots thrown away by UK households annually.  

Fareshare is a charity network focused on reliving food poverty and food waste in the UK, was awarded 1.9 million pounds in 2019 from Defra. With the funding, Fareshare could redistribute even more food to those who need it. Their work also prevented 2,000 frozen turkeys from Gressingham Foods from going to waste in 2019, almost double the number redistributed the year before. So why not donate some of your leftovers to them? 

What actions are we taking to do our bit? 

Around 114,000 tonnes of plastic packaging will be thrown away and not recycled in the UK this Christmas – which is more than the weight of 3.3 million Emperor penguins. One way to lower your contribution to the plastic plight is to buy products made of post-consumer recycled content. Ultimately you can only purchase the products available to you, and here at Delphis Eco, we offer refills on a range of our products so that you will be all kitted out for the festive season. 

 Here are our top ten Green Christmas tips: 

1. Use eco-friendly cleaning products that don't harm the planet but get the job done!
2. Donate your untouched food item to your local food bank  
3. Eat less meat - Christmas is the perfect opportunity to try something new 
4. Try out your local refill shop to dodge the unnecessary packaging at your supermarket 
5. Buy your food from suppliers that use minimal packaging 
6. Get all your food in one trip or order online if it's more convenient  
7. Buy loose fruit and veg to avoid unnecessary single-use plastic
8. Try and reduce your food waste by buying only what you need 
9. Invest in some reusable wax wraps and foil liners (foil is recyclable in most cases but check with your local authority)
10. Store your leftovers in the freezer

Written by Ellie Meredith

There are 500 times more bits of plastic in the ocean than there are stars in the galaxy.

The fact that 8 million tons of plastic waste is dumped in the ocean each year begs the question, why are our recycling rates so bad and how can I fix this? I am a huge buyer of plastic for all of our products which are packaged in plastic and in reality this isn’t going to change.  So being a totally focused eco business, I demanded from my supply chain that the plastic we use be only from post-consumer used recycled content (PCR). My belief is that if I can think it, it must therefore be possible.

13 billion single-use plastic bottles are sold globally every year and it’s anticipated that only between 3% and 9% are recycled. This needs to change.

In 2013, Coke and Unilever committed to using 15% recycled content in their packaging by 2025. Unsurprisingly when I said I wanted 100% PCR content I was told it was impossible.  Supplier after supplier, trade body after trade body and numerous Government officials all said no chance.  So not only demanding that it be 100% PCR, it also had to be Food Grade quality and 100% sourced and reprocessed in the UK – NOT going via China. They all laughed.

Eventually my belligerence paid off and a supplier said they would give it a go.  Yes it failed and then failed again. Getting a 100% PCR plus Food Safe grade was hard but third time lucky and 18 months after our first 100% sample had been attempted, we cracked it.

In December 2018 we switched all of our packaging from virgin plastic to 100% post-use recycled bottles. My little, London based SME had thrashed the global giants in creating a totally circular model, giving single-use plastic a second life. This proves that millions of tons can and must be redirected from going into landfill, incineration or the ocean and there’s a 70% carbon saving as well.

- Mark Jankovich, CEO