Although plastic is highly useful, most plastic products are single-use, with an estimated 50% of plastic being used once before being thrown away.
Ways to reduce the consumption of single-use plastics could include:
- Instead of allowing employees to bring single-use plastics and packaging to site, provide the workforce with sustainable alternatives. The construction industry consumes tens of thousands of plastic cups every year.
- Becoming free of single-use plastic on site by replacing plastic straws, plastic cutlery and plastic cups with paper, glass, metal or biodegradable alternatives.
- Providing the workforce with re-usable bags so operatives do not bring their own single-use plastic bags onto site.
- Avoiding using coloured plastics or plastics containing a mixture of polymers as these plastics cannot be recycled.
- Providing the workforce with re-usable PPE including re-usable eyewear and overshoes.
- Recycling used PPE including hard hats, face masks and goggles.
- Using hoarding materials made from materials which can be re-used or recycled.
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