Australian sunscreen brand, We Are Feel Good Inc., is thrilled to announce it is in the early stages of introducing its new 2020 We Are Feel Good Inc. Bottle Recycling Program.
Because although it already uses ‘food grade packaging’ with the products being 100% recyclable once used, according to the brand, the main issue is that the majority of recyclable products don’t actually get recycled, even when they are placed in a recycling bin.
“In order for recyclable plastics to be recycled, they need to be washed, and have their lid separated from their bottle before they go into the bin,” We Are Feel Good Inc. said. “And even if you do this, another person may not, and their bottle may contaminate your rubbish, meaning the entire batch will be sent-off to landfill.”
In fact, key findings from the 2018 Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy, and New South Wales, Victorian and Western Australian state agencies Australian Plastics Recycling Survey found that a total of 3.4 million tonnes of plastics were consumed in Australia in 2018. A total of 320,000 tonnes of plastics were recycled, which is an increase of 10 per cent from the 2016-17 recovery.
In 2017-18, the national plastics recycling rate was 9.4 per cent. Of the 320,000 tonnes of plastics collected for reprocessing, 145,700 tonnes (46 per cent) was reprocessed in Australia and 174,300 tonnes (54 per cent) was exported for reprocessing.
Thus, the Aussie brand decided to take matters into its own hands by partnering with local plastic recycling plant, Precious Plastic Margaret River, which is currently working with a worldwide ‘Precious Plastic Community’ to turn plastic waste into useful, beautiful plastic objects.
So far with the plant's help, We Are Feel Good Inc. has established the correct way to wash its bottles and test that they are not contaminated after use. Additionally, it is working with stockists to create state wide collection points for people to return bottles, and are looking at carbon neutral courier services and compostable return to sender mailing bags for volunteer collection points.
“Like we said, we are in the early stages of setting up this program, but we are passionate about it and will do everything in our power to make it happen. We are currently trailing this program in WA only, as this is where our office is, meaning we can really get involved and get our hands dirty and will launch to the rest of Australia once our systems are established.”
You can read more about the different types of plastic and how to recycle here.
