悉尼企业向塑料说不
近日，悉尼市政府带领本市多家优秀企业正式做出明确承诺—— 大幅削减运营中对一次性塑料产品的使用。
来自酒店、住宿、活动、房地产等领域的业界领袖与悉尼市市长共同承诺减少对一次性塑料产品和包装的依赖并加入了悉尼限塑宣言（Sydney Single-use Pledge）。
目前为止，包括悉尼歌剧院（Sydney Opera House）、澳大利亚软件公司Atlassian、福克斯工作室（Fox Studios）、澳洲星亿集团（Star Entertainment Group）在内的30多家企业机构已加入了限塑行列。
此举意味着越来越多的悉尼酒店、娱乐场所、集市市场、节事活动、重大活动和户外场所都将开始削减使用塑料瓶、吸管、一次性杯具和餐具等塑料制品的数量。
悉尼市市长认为该限塑宣言表明了本市各大企业为降低一次性塑料制品对环境污染的决心。
市长说：“只要我们众志成城，就能为环保尽力，向世界证明悉尼企业正在力拔头筹，开辟一条零废弃之路。”
“研究表明，全世界每分钟对塑料瓶的购买量高达100万瓶（1,000,000），然而回收量还不及半数。”
“塑料吸管的寿命长达600年，其中多数会被丢弃到我们美丽的海港和河流中。到2050年，海洋里的塑料吸管要比鱼的数量还多，实在令人类汗颜。”
“回收虽然对废弃物治理管控起到了举足轻重的作用，但我们还应当在非环保制品的控制上加以重视。”
“悉尼市政府早已立下长远目标，欲在2030年做到零废弃。因此我们必须减少浪费，尽可能地回收利用，通过最为顺应可持续理念的环保方式处理剩余废物。”
“我感谢并欢迎已加盟悉尼限塑行列的机构，同时敦促更多团体参与其中，为了企业和环境的未来，淘汰一次性塑料制品。”
悉尼市政府组建的可持续发展理想之城伙伴计划（Sustainable Destination Partnership）、建筑改善合作团（Better Buildings Partnership）、CitySwitch绿色办公服务（CitySwitch Green Office Program）的成员机构已经开始减少在运营和办公场所中对一次性产品的使用。目前共有32家企业机构加入了悉尼限塑宣言，预计不久会有更多。
知名的优质家庭娱乐景点运营公司默林娱乐集团（Merlin Entertainments）产品卓越性和企业社会责任部经理阿什利·哈耶斯（Ashley Hayes）表示，该公司将从自身做起，全面减少运营对环境的影响。
她说：“我们近期在悉尼水族馆（SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium）开创的动物救援中心让我们亲眼目睹了一次性塑料产品对海洋生态的直接影响。”
“中心接纳的第一位伤员是一个名叫玛蒂尔达（Matilda）的绿海龟。由于误食塑料垃圾，入院时她的体重不足，健康状况极差。虽然玛蒂尔达在今年4月已经痊愈回归了野生生活，但她的康复过程足以证明塑料污染对海洋生物的重创。”
“类似玛蒂尔达的病例比比皆是，也让我们不禁对一次性塑料垃圾（如：塑料吸管、塑料袋、塑料包装等）所造成的环境污染感到无比担忧。对限塑宣言举措的拥护与支持是朝着正确的方向迈进的又一步，从而确保我们继续摸索如何在最大程度上降低商业运营对塑料的依赖。”
澳大利亚规模最大的廉价旅游住宿商YHA青年旅舍也加入了削减一次性塑料制品使用的行列。其首席执行官基里安·莱杰尔（Julian Ledger）认为该承诺信约与其机构价值观一致，且迎合旅客的期许。
莱杰尔先生称：“澳大利亚YHA青年旅舍一向在为环保而努力，在主要旅社的店址禁销了瓶装水。”
“我们为住客提供了饮水机和可重复使用的水瓶，这样节省下来的一次性水瓶数量高达40,000瓶左右，同时还能让游客了解到澳大利亚自来水是可以放心饮用的。”
加入限塑宣言的又一大企业成员为澳大利亚物业公司GPT集团。该集团环保及能源部负责人史蒂夫·福特（Steve Ford）认为GPT能在这方面扮演重要角色。
福特先生说：“我们意识到垃圾产生量的增长速度已超越了环境的负荷，因此采用了‘闭环结构（closed loop）’的理念来管理旗下物业租户废弃物的处理。”
“但更重要的是，只要在有可能的情况下，最好杜绝不必要的一次性产品。”
“悉尼限塑宣言是所有参与企业为应对一次性产品污染问题而号召业内群体采取行动一种表态。”
世界知名保险公司安联（Allianz）也是限塑宣言中的一员。其企业社会影响力部门负责人查瑞斯·马丁·罗斯（Charis Martin-Ross）认为塑料制品和塑料垃圾已经成为重大的全球性问题。
她说：“这是一个需要万众一心才能解决的问题。无论是企业还是社会都需要齐心协力减少对吸管、咖啡杯、塑料袋等一次性塑料产品和包装的依赖。”
“因此，安联为成为限塑宣言的一份子；与悉尼市政府和整个悉尼各界共同应对这一严峻问题而感到无比骄傲。”
根据宣言内容，参与机构需承诺至少实施四项环保措施，以减少对一次性塑料产品的依赖性。
悉尼市政府则选择了最高一级的白金宣言，承诺在旗下建筑内、市辖区市政场所和主办活动上逐步淘汰以下七种一次性用品。市政府决定削减或杜绝的塑料制产品有：
• 瓶装水
• 塑料吸管
• 塑料餐具，其中包括聚苯乙烯制品
• 塑料器皿
• 宣传单
• 一次性塑料试用品或赠品
• 一次性杯具
悉尼市政府特别制定了一份详尽指南，以便民众在市政场所和旗下户外场地寻找取代一次性产品的替代品，确保最大程度地回收利用。详见：cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Guidelines-for-single-use-items
欲参与悉尼限塑宣言，请登陆：betterbuildingspartnership.com.au/sydney-businesses-are-eliminating-single-use/
Sydney businesses take the no plastics pledge
Leading companies today joined forces with the City of Sydney and pledged to dramatically reduce single-use plastics across their businesses.
Industry leaders from the hospitality, accommodation, events and property sectors came together with Lord Mayor Clover Moore to sign up to the Sydney Single-use Pledge.
More than 30 organisations have so far taken the pledge, including the Sydney Opera House, Atlassian, Fox Studios and Star Entertainment Group.
The commitment means there will be fewer plastic bottles, straws, throwaway cups and food utensils at a growing number of Sydney hotels, entertainment venues, markets, festivals, major events and outdoor spaces.
The Lord Mayor said the pledge shows Sydney businesses are determined to reduce the devastating effect single-use plastics are having on the environment.
“Acting together, we can reduce our impact on the environment and show the world that Sydney businesses are leading the way to a zero waste future,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Studies show that up to 1 million plastic drinks bottles are purchased globally every minute, but less than 50 per cent are collected for recycling.
“Plastic straws can last up to 600 years and many end up in our beautiful harbour and waterways. It is shameful that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.
“While recycling plays an important role in managing our waste, we need to refocus on reduction and avoidance.
“The City has set bold targets to reach zero waste by 2030. We must reduce the amount of waste we produce, recycle as much as possible and treat what’s left over in the most sustainable way.
“I congratulate the businesses who have signed up to this pledge, and I urge others to get on board and commit to phasing out single-use plastic because it’s better for business and better for the environment.”
Businesses from the City of Sydney-led groups Sustainable Destination Partnership, Better Buildings Partnership and CitySwitch have committed to reducing single-use items in their businesses and buildings. So far 32 organisations have signed the pledge, with more expected to join.
Ashley Hayes, product excellence and social responsibility manager at Merlin Entertainments, said the company is committed to reducing their impact on the environment across the board.
“We have seen first-hand the direct impact plastic has on marine life through our recently opened Animal Rescue Centre at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium,” Ms Hayes said.
“The first rescue patient was a green sea turtle named Matilda who was found struggling and underweight. While Matilda was successfully nursed back to health and released back into the wild in April, her rescue reinforces the devastating impact that plastic pollution is having on marine life who mistake plastic for food.
“Like many of our guests, we’re concerned about the negative environmental impact associated with the disposal of single-use plastic, such as plastic straws, bags and packaging. Supporting this pledge is another step in the right direction to ensure we continue to assess how we minimise the use of plastics within our business.”
YHA, the largest provider of budget travel accommodation in Australia, has taken the single-use pledge. CEO Julian Ledger said the plastics pledge closely aligns with the organisation’s values and guests expectations.
“YHA Australia is striving towards sustainability, including a ban on the sale of bottled water at major youth hostels,” Mr Ledge said.
“By providing chilled water fountains and re-usable bottles instead, around 40,000 less single-use water bottles will be sold each year and travellers will be educated about how drinking tap water in Australia is safe.”
Property group GPT joined other businesses to show support for the Sydney Single-use Pledge. The company’s head of sustainability & energy, Steve Ford, said organisations have a big part to play.
“GPT recognises that waste is being generated at unsustainable rates. We’ve adopted a ‘closed loop’ objective to manage materials that tenants dispose of,” Mr Ford said.
“But we recognise that wherever possible, it’s better to eliminate unnecessary single-use items.
“The single-use pledge is a call to action for all organisations to acknowledge they have a major role to play in tackling the problem of single-use items.”
Insurance company Allianz has also signed up to the pledge. Charis Martin-Ross, senior manager social impact, said the use of plastic and plastic waste has become a major global issue.
“This is an issue that requires a united response. As businesses and as a community we need to come together to take action to reduce our reliance on single-use plastics such as straws, coffee cups and plastic bags.
“That's why Allianz is proud to sign this pledge and join the City of Sydney and the broader Sydney community in tackling this serious issue," Ms Martin-Ross said.
Under the new environmental pledge, businesses commit to implementing at least four actions that will reduce reliance on single-use plastic items.
The City of Sydney has taken a platinum pledge, committing to phasing out seven single-use items in its buildings, at its own venues and at events within our local government area. The City will eliminate or reduce the use of the following items:
• bottled water
• plastic straws
• plastic serve ware, including expanded polystyrene
• plastic utensils
• promotional flyers
• plastic single-use sampling or giveaways
• single-use cups
The City has developed guidelines to help everyone using its venues and outdoor space find sustainable alternatives to single-use items and ensure that where waste is generated, recycling is maximised: cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/Guidelines-for-single-use-items
