After the success of its first internal CSR workshop, Novéa Energies offered a second workshop to its employees, still for its QSE (Quality, Safety, Environment) policy. The subject this time was ECO Plastic to become aware of the impact of plastic on pollution, especially marine pollution, and to discover actions that can help to preserve the environment. This workshop was animated by our International Corporate Volunteering from Gabon, Justine, who came to visit us at the head office. Its purpose was to alert employees about the daily use of plastic, to be better informed and to consume better. Plastic appeared in the 1950s. In 70 years, more than 8.3 billion tonnes of plastics have been produced and only 10% of plastic has been recycled[1]. Events throughout the year increase plastic waste: summer and picnics on the beach, for example, Halloween and its costumes, nicely wrapped Christmas presents or even Easter eggs, often overwrapped. Not to mention the coronavirus which blew up single-use products: 129 billion masks are used each month worldwide[2]! The problem is, this waste can end up ... in the oceans. Thus, more than 9 million tonnes of waste per year is poured into the seas, or 1 garbage truck per minute, until it forms what is called "the 7th continent". This waste takes years, centuries, or even more to disintegrate (450 for a non-submerged bottle). And when they disintegrate, they turn into microparticles, ingested by birds (1 million killed each year) and marine animals (100,000 marine mammals killed each year)[3]. Our own waste therefore ends up on our plates, after making a lot of damage on their way. So what can we do to limit our environmental impact? Rethink the way you consume, by using reusable fabric for gifts for example, or by learning about terms related to plastic, and their real meaning (Biodegradable, compostable, recycled, etc.). Many initiatives are also emerging, on a more or less large scale. Like the project of the navigator Yvan Bourgnon, who imagined a factory ship to clean the seas "The Manta". This boat should be operational in 2024, and will collect between 1 to 3 tonnes of waste per hour to treat and transform these in energyThere is also the Green Pact for Europe, the objective of which is to make Europe climate neutral by 2050. This workshop informed employees about the environmental issues related to plastic. There was also a short quiz on key figures, won again by the white team. This workshop complements the first one on ECO SI, to raise awareness of our impact on the environment in all our daily activities. 1 – National Geographic https://www.nationalgeographic.fr/environnement/91-des-dechets-plastiques-ne-sont-pas-recycles 2 - National Geographic https://www.nationalgeographic.fr/environnement/le-nombre-de-masques-jetables-dans-les-oceans-se-multiplient 3 – UNESCO « Vers des sociétés vertes, équitables et inclusive » http://www.unesco.org/new/fr/natural-sciences/ioc-oceans/focus-areas/rio-20-ocean/blueprint-for-the-future-we-want/marine-pollution/facts-and-figures-on-marine-pollution/ 4 – The Sea Cleaners https://www.theseacleaners.org/fr/manta-innovation/
