Kay Kay Sustainability Statement

 

At Kay Kay, sustainability is a very important goal. Where possible, we avoid using plastic in our packaging. As a business, we have to take into consideration a number of factors including affordability and sometimes the use of plastic is unavoidable (for now). Sustainable packaging often costs more. This is because: 

 

“The cost to produce new, fossil-fuel-based plastic is kept artificially low with global fossil fuel subsidies - $5.2 trillion annually. This disincentivises the use of recycled content and other alternatives” The Story of Plastic.

 

What about biodegradable/ compostable packaging? 

 

Unless labelled as suitable for home or garden composting, packaging labelled biodegradable and compostable needs industrial conditions for it to decompose, which can only happen in specialised plants. It’s not suitable for your kerbside, domestic compost collection, unless your Council has such facilities. This packaging usually ends up in landfills and will not degrade properly due to the landfill environment. Composting requires oxygen, moisture and churning. Simply, landfills aren’t designed for composting to occur. This is why we use packaging suitable for home composing. Something that often looks suitable for domestic recycling or composting isn’t always so. Vegware (a packaging brand made from plants using renewable, recycled or reclaimed materials) and Kraft packaging, which is made from paper that is sourced from managed plantations and coated PLA - a bioplastic made from plants, not oil, are widely use by food establishments. These types of packaging are designed to be commercially compostable but sadly end up in landfills because they’re not discarded properly. This is partly due to disposal guides not being user friendly.  

 

What about recyclable plastic?  

 

The majority of plastic is still, sadly, single use. Our domestic collection usually collects only one out of the seven types of recyclable plastic. These plastics are identifiable by their PET numbers. Please check with your local council for what can be collected. 

 

What happens to plastic that we use?

 

• 40% ends up in landfill;

• 32% litter the environment;

• 14% incinerated;

• 14% recycled (downcycled into a lesser product, such as bin liners);

• 2% effectively recycled (as useful as before)

 

“Plastic degrades when recycled and most are downcycled which means they are made into something worst and unfortunately it ends up back into the environment.” The Story of Plastic.

 

Plastic is a global issue, and it is destroying mother earth, wildlife and our health. We need the Oil Companies to take accountability. Whilst they have committed $1.5billion to clean up, $204billion has been invested into 334+ new petrochemical facilities to fill the void of the world moving towards more renewable energy.” The Story of Plastic.

 

Kay Kay Packaging Guidance

 

• Outer box and paper insulation – kerbside recyclable;

• Ice packs – currently NOT recyclable but are reusable;

• Internal insulation used for frozen items – currently NOT recyclable but is reusable;

• Foil tray – kerbside recyclable;

• Foil tray seal – currently NOT recyclable;

• Eco pouch (used for noodles and sauces) – compostable in your domestic collection.

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Useful resources

• Documentary, “The Story of Plastic”

• www.recycle.com

• www.terracycle.com