An Overview Of Our Solution
We are manufacturers of cleaning products and we have noticed the large number of disposable plastic containers that we use to sell our products, as well as the vast majority of companies. We know that these plastics after using the content will give to the trash contributing to the pollution of the planet. That is why we have proposed to stop using these disposable plastic containers and we have a plan to decontaminate our planet by not using them. In this way we contribute to eliminate plastics that do so much harm to the environment. Next, we propose a more economical, friendlier and healthier system for the planet.
I leave you invited to continue reading our plan.
- Population Impacted: 130.000
- Continent: South America
Last name
Organization type
Context Analysis
We are a small company in Chile called Emporio House and we are manufacturers of cleaning items such as detergents, chlorines, softeners, degreasers, etc., and we pack our products in disposable plastic bottles in different formats from 200 cc to 5,000 cc. Therefore, we use too much disposable plastic to sell our products. Like our company many others are selling their products in the same formats. This translates into millions of tons of plastic garbage in our country and in the world.
As our paradigm is to use those small formats and then throw them away, the population is not aware of the environmental damage that we are generating.
Our project aims to reduce the use of plastic containers in cleaning products, for a new, more economic, friendlier and healthier system for the planet
Describe the technical solution you wanted the target audience to adopt
The solution we propose has already been implemented in our premises and has had an excellent reception by our customers, they have loved it.
Our project consists of the implementation of a cabinet with several 60-liter barrels with a key, filled with different cleaning items. In this way our customers carry their own packaging and buy in bulk the cleaning item and the amount they want. With this system we have attracted customers from other sectors of the commune that have liked this new form that does not pollute. In addition, it is a cheaper system for all because our customers do not pay for the packaging or labeling and neither do we. None of us contaminates and we remove thousands of plastic containers that do not even reach to circulate.
This new system can be implemented in schools, universities, public and private institutions, condominiums, individuals, merchants, etc., and in this way we would remove millions of plastic containers from circulation
Type of intervention
Describe your behavioral intervention
We already have the sales system implemented in our business and people have adapted quickly because they understand that it is not polluting and people are willing to help, we also give incentives for them to buy in this way, such as discounting the value of the products and also making a discount for bringing their disposable plastic containers that they no longer use (recycling). We have attracted customers and merchants from other regions who want to use this system either to buy or to sell in the same way in their businesses.
On the other hand, we have achieved that schools have stopped buying in small and disposable containers and buy us in barrels of 60 liters, when they finish a product they call us and we change the barrel for another full one.
As needed, please explain the type of intervention in more detail
Our intervention has been an emotional and social appeal.
Since we appeal to the correct actions of people, we show him the damage that plastics are generating on this planet, how difficult it is to eliminate them and that if we do not do something that reverses the situation, our children, grandchildren and future generations will receive a planet in very bad condition. We also make known with comparative tables that save money. This saves a lot of money and does not pollute the environment.
Describe your implementation
Our solution promotes the elimination of the use of disposable plastic containers that pollute our planet. We change it for a more economic system for the population and cleaner for the environment. Since when installing barrels filled with different cleaning items in our business, the population only needs one container per product. In this way they visit our store and only buy the amount they are going to use at that moment.
With our system we remove thousands of disposable plastic containers from circulation only in our district, these disposable plastic containers do not even reach the market, so it is not even necessary to recycle them.
We are still in the growth stage as we intend to implement it in different industrial sectors, be it commerce, mining, retail, public and private institutions and many other companies. It should be noted that we are already implementing this system in schools that have joined the campaign to stop using disposable plastics.
The favorable conditions and the key factors of success have been that the population and the government have become aware of the importance of taking care of the environment, campaigns have been made for the recycling and disuse of plastic bags, as well as decontamination programs.
The obstacles that we have had have been the purchase of the barrels, furniture and keys, since we needed a large investment that we are still solving.
External connections
We have had connections in the beginning with our clients since with them we started implementing the system and somehow it was they who were advertising in their neighborhoods.
Then we contacted the community schools that decided to support us and implement this system that does not pollute, and in this way demonstrate to the community that they are helping the environment.
We are currently talking with different municipalities to see how to implement in public institutions. In addition, we are contacting the Ministry of Environment to get our idea and in this way we can apply this system that does not pollute the entire country.
Who adopted the desired behaviors and to what degree?
The commitments are adopted by the neighbors close to our business who have already become accustomed to buying in this way. The others who have committed themselves are some schools of the commune.
I must emphasize that day after day more people and institutions are adapting to our system.
In addition, we as manufacturers have already stopped buying 1,800 units of packaging per month and each time we are buying fewer containers and more barrels.
You can also sell to individuals in smaller barrels of 20 liters and adapt the system to private homes.
How did you impact natural resource use and greenhouse gas emissions?
We help reduce the carbon footprint by the simple fact of encouraging more and more people every day to stop using plastic containers, this means that less disposable plastic containers for the use of cleaning products will be produced day after day. At this time we can not measure the impact or emissions of greenhouse gases, but, if we are sure that thanks to our endeavor we are contributing to decontaminate.
What were some of the resulting co-benefits?
The first was to reduce expenses in the category of cleaning items for people with limited resources, because when buying in bulk they were able to save significant amounts of money.
The second was to save money in the schools because when buying in barrels the monthly cost decreased them considerably.
The third is to reduce the contamination by disposable plastics and reduce the carbon footprint with respect to the use of cleaning articles.
Sustainability
Economic sustainability is based on market-based income, although the investment is fairly significant at first. The business will be sustained thanks to the sales that are made, it should be noted that if there are environmental policies and people are willing to collaborate with the environment, it is expected that our sales will increase significantly.
Return on investment
Implementing this system has cost around $ 15,000 divided into three new categories are: Manufactured furniture, the acquisition of barrels and the acquisition of keys. The toiletries we already had with them only that we sold them in traditional formats.
With this investment we have been able to have a 40% increase in sales and these are increasing as this system is known.
How could we successfully replicate this solution elsewhere?
Replicating this solution in other towns and cities is not very difficult since it is a simple idea that requires small changes, but that will have a great impact on society and the environment.
The funds needed to make this solution in another city would be around $ 15,000 to buy furniture, barrels and keys. And you should have a partner to do the distribution in that city. They could sell franchises and train distributors. We estimate that with around 20,000 dollars another point of sale could be built to replicate this system.
Subsequently, the gains from sales in the market and advertising will facilitate the opening of new points of sale in new cities.