EcoNorth’s environmental initiative for 2024 was launched in June, promoting the purchase and use of organic and plastic free sanitary products. A range of products in different sizes by various brands were purchased by the company. They were provided in both bathrooms at our Cramlington office for the free use by our employees during the summer period. Employees have been encouraged to try these products if they haven’t previously done so or to take them as freebies if they already used them.
Why
The initiative was originally inspired by our goal of achieving ISO 14001 certification which we successfully accomplished in March 2024. Following a review of our Environmental Policy, including the Aspects and Impacts Register, and our Waste Management Procedure and Waste Log, it was decided that this initiative would support our efforts to improve our environmental performance.
Most disposable sanitary products are predominantly made of and/or wrapped in non-biodegradable materials like plastic, which take hundreds of years to decompose in landfills. Most of this waste ends up in landfill where it causes pollution of the land and injury or death of terrestrial wildlife, and contributes to global warming through incinerator emissions leading to production of CO2 into atmosphere. Sanitary products that are flushed down the toilet often pollute our waterways; during the decomposition process, plastic breaks down into microplastics which results in harm to marine ecosystems and ocean biomes. The production of single use plastic requires the consumption of a huge amount of energy, water and other natural resources to provide a product which is only used for a short time. Promoting the use of organic and plastic free sanitary products is therefore essential for the future sustainability of the environment.
Going Forward
EcoNorth will continue to promote the purchase and use of organic and plastic free sanitary products . Thank you very much to everyone who has actively participated in EcoNorth’s environmental initiative and we hope you will continue to use these products.