Magenta goes green – February update
Last month we told you about the Magenta Goes Green initiative for 2020.
We’ve lots of ideas and things in motion and every month we’ll publish an update about what we’ve been up to.
This month we’ve got ourselves organised with our recycling targets and we’re starting to build Ecobricks.
We want to be recycling more plastic
There’s more plastic in the ocean than ever before, but plastic production isn’t slowing down. Over 99% of plastics come from chemicals sourced from oil and gas production – contributing massively to climate change.
We already recycle as much plastic as possible and have cut down our single-use plastic, but what should we do with the plastic that we can’t avoid?
That’s where the idea of an Ecobrick comes in! Ecobricks are an ethical way of using up the plastic that can’t be recycled and won’t break down, like cling film, crisp packets and plastic bags.
What are ecobricks used for?
The plastic in an ecobrick is very durable and will never break down, making it an ideal building material. They’re used in developing countries to construct furniture and even buildings, and they’re also used in the UK to build children’s playgrounds.
What are the advantages of ecobricks?
Ecobricks are a great way to recycle plastic that doesn’t break down and would most likely end up in landfill, or worse, the ocean.
But there are lots of other great things about ecobricks:
- Plastic is actually a very useful material – we’re just producing too much of it and disposing of it in an unsustainable way. The characteristics that make plastic so difficult to dispose of – its durability, longevity and water resistance – also make it a brilliant building material.
- As well as preventing plastics from ending up in the ocean, ecobricks also save plastic from being incinerated. When plastic is burned, it releases CO2, generating carbon emissions and contributing to global warming.
- The biggest advantage of ecobricks is that they take something that would otherwise have a negative impact on the environment, and turn it into something that benefits local communities.
How do you make an Ecobrick?
It’s really simple to make an Ecobrick. All you need is a plastic bottle (the collection point near Bridgend want 2L ecobricks but you can use smaller bottles if collected nearby where you live) and a piece of dowel or wood (something to push the plastic in tightly).
Then watch this YouTube video to find out how to pack your ecobrick.
How’s Magenta’s Ecobrick looking?
We started our ecobrick on the 27th January and it looks like this now!
Fancy doing your own and getting involved? You can always drop your ecobrick once complete into our office and we will deliver to a community project for you!