The plastic free revolution

At UniBank, social responsibility is built into our very foundations. It drives who we are, what we do and why we do it.

For the fifth year in a row UniBank has been named one of the 2020 World’s Most Ethical Companies. Our Feel Good Wealth campaign explains our approach and what we are doing when it comes to sustainability.

In 2020 we are taking steps to become more environmentally sustainable, especially in the reduction of plastic across the organisation.

Plastic is convenient but our environment is paying the price

The Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS) estimates that plastics kill around 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals each year. Plastic can take up to 1,000 years to decompose in landfill.

Because of statistics like this, plastic bags are seen as one of the most harmful materials for our planet. This represents a huge problem, but how do we reduce our plastic waste when plastic is so integrated in our lives?

What we are doing at UniBank

Our most recent campaign at UniBank is asking staff to reduce their plastic waste and to utilise re-usable items. This includes:

1. Removing bottled water from our branches and offices.
2. Introducing KeepCups to reduce the amount of disposable coffee cups being used by our staff.
3. The creation of a Green Team who will investigate what staff members can do individually to reduce waste.

Join us going plastic free

The simplest answer to this global problem would be to reject plastic altogether, but with plastics featuring in almost every aspect of our lives, that would prove quite difficult for most of us. Instead, try implementing one – or all three – of the following R’s:

1. Reduce

If you can’t cut plastics out completely, you could always try reducing the amount of plastic that you use in your everyday life.

This could be as simple as using a keep cup for your daily coffees instead of using disposables, cutting out single-use plastic bottles, using greaseproof paper instead of plastic wrap for takeaway food, taking your own cutlery to work or on a family picnic instead of single-use cutlery, sourcing products from suppliers who use biodegradable packaging, instigating a plastic free day each week, or shopping at plastic free grocery stores.

2. Recycle

Recycling is widespread in Australia, with paper, glass and hard plastic being the most common materials collected.

While most households in cities and urban centres have dedicated recycling bins, recent sampling has shown that some education is still needed, with around 10% of material being collected being disposed of incorrectly.

To help improve the efficiency of your recycling efforts, visit your local council’s website to learn what materials can and can’t be recycled, or go to the Planet Ark website for more comprehensive information.

3. Reuse

Instead of single-use plastic bags, why not invest in a reusable bag? There are many different options available, with most retailers and grocery stores supplying their own branded re-usable bags at point-of-sale. Or you could go for something a little more stylish that can be picked up at any specialty sustainable stores.

There is a movement gaining momentum around the planet where people are returning to the age-old practice of using glass containers instead of plastic or cardboard. The forgotten phenomenon of milk deliveries is even making a comeback overseas in cities like New York and London, with concerned citizens rejecting plastic for more sustainable options and there is talk of the milkman returning to Australia.

Want to do something good for the planet, but find the usual glass bottles, jars and containers on offer quite boring? Your local op-shop or antique store could be a treasure-trove of vintage glass pieces that will jazz up your home, as they help keep your food and beverages safe.

While it might be easy to believe that our tiny efforts won’t have any great impact on the world, taking individual action is a great catalyst for change. As more of us start down that path we can truly effect change in the world, together. So, come join us – it’s time to join the plastic free revolution!