02/07/2024
MCR Group is proud to support Plastic Free July, addressing the global issue of plastic pollution. This year's campaign, "Small steps, big difference," emphasises how individual actions can significantly reduce plastic waste.
Wednesday 3rd July 2024, is International Plastic Bag Free Day. Annually, 500 billion plastic bags are used, harming wildlife, ecosystems and human health. These bags, often used for less than 25 minutes, take up to 500 years to decompose. Marine life suffers greatly, with many species ingesting or becoming entangled in plastic waste.
Plastic pollution spreads invasive species, disrupts biodiversity and introduces toxins into our food chain. Despite their convenience, plastic bags leave behind environmental devastation, ending up in landfills or oceans and taking centuries to break down.
Adopting a "no single-use plastic bag" lifestyle, using alternatives like reusable cotton, canvas, jute, or recycled plastic bags, helps conserve natural resources, reduce waste, lower greenhouse gas emissions and supports the circular economy principles.
Through our ÍON initiative, MCR Group has significantly reduced plastic usage in our head office and across our operations. We have replaced disposable plastic items with sustainable alternatives, encouraged the use of reusable containers, adopted sustainable packaging solutions and collaborated with suppliers who share our commitment to reducing plastic use.
Throughout July, MCR Group’s Green Team is committed to implementing actions that will bring us closer to our goal of eliminating single-use plastics completely from our operations. We will conduct a bin audit, an office supplies audit, identify other ways we can reduce plastic use in our head office kitchen, engage with our employees and clients to encourage them to join the Plastic Free July challenge, and refuse single-use plastic.
Together, we can create a cleaner, healthier and more sustainable world. Let’s take these small steps and make a big difference.