- The goal is to ban plastic bags, plastic cups and the reduction of plastic bottles in buildings & shops by 50% in the end of 2019
COSMOTE takes a stand in the global alliance to reduce plastic waste by taking drastic measures to reduce the use of single-use plastic in its buildings and shops.
The goals of the #ZEROPLASTIC initiative are:
- End the use of single-use plastic cups in the canteens and restaurants of the OTE Group buildings by the end of 2019.
- Reduce by 50% in 2019 and by 75% in 2020 of the use of single use plastic bottles.
- Replace the plastic bag with paper at the COSMOTE and GERMANOS stores all over Greece.
- Raise awareness among all employees of the Group, through informative actions, to reduce the use of plastic in their everyday life, as well as recycling correctly.
In this way, the Group's environmental footprint will be reduced by 500,000 plastic bottles, 1,200,000 plastic cups and 1,500,000 plastic bags per year.
"
The planet calls out for help. Climate change and sea pollution from plastic waste pose a threat to the future of our children. If we want to inherit a better world to the next generations, we must take action immediately. It is the responsibility of all of us - governments, businesses and citizens - to find ways to serve our needs in a more sustainable manner", stated the OTE Group Chairman and CEO, Mr Michael Tsamaz. "
OTE Group implements a broad strategic program for the environment. This year, for the first time, a drastic reduction of single use plastic in our infrastructures becomes our primary goal. We all want our employees to become ambassadors of a new “less plastic” everyday life", Mr Tsamaz noted.
With a life span of up to 600 years, plastic is one of the greatest threats to the planet and humans. At a global level, only 9% of plastics are recycled, while the remaining 91% end up in landfills, the environment and the sea
[1]. Today, almost 80% of marine litter comes from single use plastic
[2]. Over time, plastics are broken down into smaller pieces, known as "microplastics", consumed by marine species and thus passed into the food chain.
Over time, OTE Group implements a strategic program for the environment, focusing on improving its energy efficiency, reducing direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions, and recycling waste generated by its activities. The reduction of plastic waste will further improve the overall footprint of the Group.
[1] Royal Statistical Society, https://www.rss.org.uk/RSS/Get_involved/Statistic_of_the_year/RSS/Get_involved/Statistic_of_the_Year_.aspx?hkey=e5008987-fab9-4385-9110-4287e487b8d6
[2] European Committee Studies