The Single Use Plastics Project is an EOG initiative to tackle single-use plastic waste. Project Manager Scott Nelson explains their work.

Can you share a bit more what the Single Use Plastics Project is about?

Simply put, the Single Use Plastics Project is about working together to find a solution to the single-use plastics waste issue. Most companies are aware of negative ecological impacts and the business risk around not acting, but with so much competing information it can be very difficult to know how to make a difference. We believe that by working together, we can develop, test, and improve systematic changes that are otherwise frankly out of the reach of organizations working in isolation. Together we represent the entire value chain and make a much more sizeable dent in the problem as a whole.

What has the project achieved so far?

We are over 35 brands and retailers from the outdoor industry along with a select group of external partners from adjacent industries, and we are all working collectively to test solutions. So far, we have researched our own industry, sourced a broad spectrum of potential alternatives, and then commenced testing a small set of those solutions. We are measuring the ecological impact of our work, but also the operational, financial, legal/legislative, and customer experience impacts. We intend to share our findings early 2020.

What are the next steps, and how can others get involved?

The next steps are straightforward, but key to the ultimate success of the project. We will collect data from the tests and move forward with implementation. Our goal is to put into operation a solution that scales easily inside/outside of our industry and is inclusive of multi-national brands and independent retailers alike. The more organizations that join the project, the more representative our solutions will be.

– Scott Nelson, Project Manager at Single Use Plastics by EOG