TMA01 Essay: Ambercycle
Triple Bottom Line
The role of green Innovation
SDGs it addresses (http://sdgcompass.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/SDG_Compass_Guide.pdf)
Stakeholders
Owners of Ambercycle
- Responsible consumption and production
fashion consumption is major problem - creates a lot of textile waste
Ambercycle recycles textiles and creates a new recycled virgin fiber
if they can scale their recycling processes across major retailers, they will be able to tackle a major textile waste problem
puts textile waste back into circulation
responsible production includes using materials that do not harm environment
ambercycle uses less carbon and earth resources to create their recycles fibers
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has more positive impact on communities as it does not waste their local resources as much as regular textile production/recycling
we dont have to use virgin resources
- Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
"To achieve inclusive and sustainable industrialization, competitive economic forces need to be unleashed to generate employment and income, facilitate international trade and enable the efficient use of resources" (SDG report)
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Goal 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans...
Ambercycle recycles plastics, preventing textile waste from going into the ocean.
37% of plastic waste in ocean comes from textile waste
retailers
manufacturers/factories
factory staff
surrounding communities
partnering brands
consumers
partners with Ambercycle
H&M
partnering factories
good PR move
better rating on sustainability reporting
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societal
economic
environmental
"Extraction of raw materials in the developing world is supporting the consumption patterns of richer nations" (SDG report 2018)
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ambercycle solves a problem whereby the environmental degradation of poor countries benefits rich countries' hunger for consumption
by using textile waste to make new textiles, it slows valuable earth resources from being consumed.
saves reources
helps communities affected previously by textile polluting their water, etc.
provides an affordable way to recycle textiles so there is incentive to use this method without affecting financial bottom line.
is measured through the so-called 'planet account', which identifies the environmental sustainability of the business.
is typically measured by profit.
is accounted for by human well-being, or to what extent business cares about people and societal needs.
if we stop creating new plastics it reduces waste in ocean
ambercycle solves this problem if it can scale enough to be implemented on a large enough scale across industry
ambercycle is innovative solution to sustainable production
saves water
prevents chemicals in water streams near factories
ways of measuring:
- environmental and social auditing, eco-efficiency analyses,
lifecycle assessments (LCAs), environmental management systems (EMS),
and sustainability reporting.
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financial costs, resources to implement. economic, fiscal and political constraints. policymakers face substantial obstacles in engaging with these
businesses, including: the sheer scale and diversity of the SME population3,
resource constraints and educational, ethical and motivational issues that
limit the ability of many smaller firms to adopt pro-environmental practices
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Gov funding, grants, partnerships, education on the benefits and benchmarking to show it will benefit them in the long run. The critical task for policymakers
is to devise more effective vehicles for the promotion and governance
of such activities over extended periods.
task 4.2B
What is meant by the term ‘green’ innovation
taking a product/process that already exists and re-designing the product or process to reduce its carbon footprint/environmental impact
What do you see as the main drivers, barriers and facilitators, as illustrated in these examples (and those highlighted in Task A)?
cost to implement and build infrastructure to support it
convincing businesses to be on board with methods and make the investment
convincing businesses to change their ways for environmental good even if no net economic benefit.
Conduct a web search, or use local contacts, to find your own example of an environmental issue that might be addressed through some form of ‘green’ innovation.
Bio textiles for fashion industry (made from oranges for example)
innovative recycling methods
Prepare a short briefing paper (maximum 800 words) that summarises the key challenge and outlines your proposal for an innovative solution. Try to include one or two relevant images or diagrams to support your explanation.
refer to my papers stats and info to use in my essay, as it was also on Ambercycle