b'Managers, cost and quality are factors equaltoecologicalresponsibilityinEclectic Elementsdecidingbetweenvirginandrecycled plastic. Clothing, Dcor & GiftsEach manufacturer has its own re- WELCOME BACKquirements.And there are thousands of di erent types of plastic, each with dif- NEW SUMMER CLOTHINGferent properties.Thats where sortingAND ACCESSORIESthe containers is so important: to ensure 242 Queen Street, Port Perryconsistency.Its not just a case of compa- 905-982-2290nies wanting to use recycled material eclectic_elements@hotmail.com Better lives are created forSorting plastic containersThe Body Shop and Plasticsthey have to maintain standards. The deal process and mobile technology Indias urban poor while keepingis important for ensuringfor Change launched therstWe work with the recyclers to en- builds transparency and accountability into the plastic out of the ocean. consistency and high quality. fairly traded plastic. sure quality control.Its a sector, whichsupply chain to reward social responsibility. historically didnt have any.Thats our Plastics for change(continued from page 37) secret sauce. This situation has been developing clean up and to work on developing aof the poorbarely make a living sellingThreeyearsintoitsIndianopera- forthe60-70yearsplasticshavebeen bottle for Blush.It wasnt a huge sum,plastic theyve picked by hand to localtion, Plastics for Change met Fair Tradearound.And the ramp up is continuing but it was a start. scrap shops.But there were signi cantStandards as set out by the World Tradebecause of the rapid growth of plastic The plastic problem, as Andrew sawbarriers, and were talking nearlyfteenOrganization. packaging.it, was far more serious in less devel- million people. That certi cation demonstrates thePlasticsforChangefacesadaunt-oped countries. AndrewsPlasticsforChangesuccessofoure ortsthroughouttheingtask,withmultiplechallengesto I moved to Peru, learned Spanish,brought a measure of transparency andsupply chain. overcomeasitmovestowardamore and pursued the idea there.But in 2014,consistency to this casual supply chain. ecologically sound future.Taming those money ran dry and I was out of work. WestabilizedthepricethescrapNotsurprisingly,theoutbreakofmyriad diculties, I suggest to Andrew, Andrew backpacked through Southshops paid those informal waste work- COVID-19 has had devastating e ectsis comparable to the intimidating task of America while planning his future. ers,whichhelpedguaranteeadecenton Andrews work in India. eating an elephant: which, according to I did a lot of soul searching, he re- livingforbothsidesofthosetransac- Were still in crisis here, he says overthe clich, is only achievable by proceed-calls.But ultimately, I was determinedtions.At the same time, we ensured theZoom from Bangalore. Many of thoseing one bite at a time.tocontinuewithPlasticsforChange,scrappers would pay the waste workersinformal waste workers had their mea- But, he corrects me, The elephant and started a crowd funding campaign. on time.That was a necessity. ger livelihoods cut owhen the economyis growing very quickly.India would be his next destination.Plastics for Change marked a mile- was shut down and were stranded farIts a job, which, like working through Hesawinthatcountrytherawele- stonein2016,thankstoasigni cantfromtheirvillageswhentravelwasany of lifes tests, demands commitment ments for tangible change and ultimateinfusion of capital from skin-care giantcurtailed. and passion.success. The Body Shop. The pandemic has also made someBut give up?Absolutely not.Theres an enormous plastic prob- Pitching them was not a simple pro- companieshesitanttouserecycledThroughouthisnearlydecade-long leminIndiabecausetheirsanitationcess, Andrew remembers.But whenmaterial. odyssey in search of a sustainable solu-infrastructure is not well developed.Atwepartneredwiththem,thatwasanWhileCOVIDhasthrownanothertiontoourplanetsplasticsproblem, the same time, urbanization and plasticimportant moment. entirelyunexpectedroadblockinAndrew Almack has shown again and consumption was growing. Recyclingbene tssociety;nooneAndrews path, its not the only forceagain hes got that right stu .Someofthemostmarginalizedwould dispute that claim.But from thehes battling.The problem, he says, has members of Indian societythe poorestviewpointofcompaniesProcurementa considerable head start. By Scott Mercer, Focus on ScugogPRIDE THAT SHOWS THROUGH FROM START TO FINISHA. Oppers LtdScugogs premier supplierW i n d o w s & D o o r sof windows and doors since 1979 193 North St., Port Perry905-985-4910 www.oppers.caFOCUS - AUGUST 202039'