Plastic pollution is one of the worlds greatest problems and for some time I have

been searching for alternatives for ecostore. Finding a better alternative to plastic
packaging has been a priority and now with sugarcane-based, high-density
polyethylene (HDPE) from Brazil becoming available to ecostore, we are able to
manufacture plastic bottles made from sugarcane, says Malcolm Rands, Founder
and Chief Executive Officer of ecostore.
As sugarcane grows it captures CO2 from the atmosphere, which is then stored
inthe plastic. This natural process actually reduces atmospheric carbon, which can
help to reduce our carbon footprint, he says.
The CO2 captured during the sugarcane cultivation process remains stored during
the plastics entire life cycle, as long as it is not incinerated.
The incentive for ecostore to convert to sugarcane-based HPDE stems from the fact
that New Zealand increased its total greenhouse gas emissions by 111.41%
between 1990 and 2012, according to a recent UN report.
New Zealand is now ranked 43rd out of 44 countries for the largest increase in
greenhouse gas emissions: its a disgrace particularly when many countries are
decreasing their emissions, Malcom says.
Every kilogram of Carbon Capture plastic produced captures and stores two
kilograms of CO2 from the atmosphere. Every kilogram of petrochemical plastic
produced causes just under two kilograms of CO2.
If we look at ecostores current production , we will save 639 tonnes of
CO2 each year compared to using the traditional petrochemical plastic. Thats the
equivalent of 123,000 daily commutes, Malcolm says.
Plant based plastics can be a bane for recycling businesses, as they cannot be
recycled with petrochemical based products. Sugarcane-based HDPE bottles have
the same characteristics as petrochemical based products, which means they can be
recycled together. ecostore worked with Visy Recycle Centre NZ to ensure that the
bottles can be correctly recycled through the Auckland council recycling system.
The new ecostore Carbon Capture Paks are already appearing on supermarket
and health store shelves with Carbon Capture embossed on the base. Rands
says this move currently excludes polypropylene caps, bulk stock bottles and lip
balms.
Its just a matter of time before the technology evolves and we will be able to
manufacture 100% of our products in sugarcane-based HDPE. Right now, 98% of
our bottled product is converting to sugarcane-based HDPE. No other company in
the world has made a commitment like this, Malcolm says.