Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Policy
At AIL, we are committed to upholding the highest standards of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles in our operations and products. As part of our dedication to environmental sustainability, we have developed this ESG policy specifically focusing on our recycled plastic bags. This policy outlines our approach to minimizing the environmental impact, promoting social responsibility, and adhering to strong governance practices related to the production and use of recycled plastic bags.
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Environmental Commitment
AIL as a business has switched all plastic products to contain a minimum of 30% recycled plastic, up to 100% recycled plastic where possible. This has been achievable by carrying out extensive research and testing to develop smarter blends of films for our products to ensure we don’t compromise on quality and film strength. This is coupled with reducing our plastic packaging to 0%.
We are dedicated to sourcing high-quality recycled plastic material for our bags, reducing the demand for virgin plastics and diverting waste from landfills and oceans.
We have also revised our ordering by shipping all products on 40HC and 40ft containers instead of 20ft containers reducing our transport usage by 50%.
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Environmental Alternatives To Plastic
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Corn starch: We offer a range of compostable bags as an environmentally friendly alternative to traditional plastic bags. These bags are primarily made from corn starch, which is a renewable and biodegradable material in compliance with EN 13432. These biodegradable bags reduce plastic waste and has a lower carbon footprint.
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Paper carrier bags: We offer a range of paper bags which have several benefits as an eco-friendly alternative to plastic bags reducing plastic usage with a lower carbon footprint in the production process.
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Marine Waste: We are working closely with our factories looking into the recycling of plastic marine waste. This is aimed at addressing the environmental challenge posed by the accumulation of plastic waste in our oceans and waterways. This is often referred to as marine plastic pollution and is detrimental to marine ecosystems, wildlife and human health. The process of recycling plastic marine waste involves collecting, sorting, processing and reusing plastic materials found in oceans and coastal areas.
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Lifecycle Consideration: Our recycled plastic bags for life are designed with a focus on durability, longevity and recyclability. We encourage customers to responsibly reuse and recycle their bags at the end of their useful life reducing single use plastic by 90%.
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Resource Efficiency: We strive to optimize resource utilization throughout the bag production process including minimizing energy consumption, water usage and emissions.
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Waste Reduction: We are committed to minimizing waste generated during the bag manufacturing process through lean production practices and waste reduction strategies.
Social Responsibility
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Labour Standards: We adhere to fair labour practices and prioritize the well-being of our employees and those in our supply chain, ensuring safe working conditions and fair compensation.
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Community Engagement: We engage with local communities to understand their needs and concerns related to plastic waste. We actively seek opportunities to collaborate on plastic waste management initiatives.
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Consumer Education: We strive to educate consumers about the benefits of using recycled plastic bags and the importance of responsible disposal and recycling.
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Supplier Partnerships: We work closely with our suppliers to ensure they share our commitment to ESG principles and we encourage them to implement sustainable practices in their operations.
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Governance Practices
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Transparency: We are transparent about our operations, supply chain, and the environmental and social impacts of our recycled plastic bags. We provide clear information to stakeholders regarding our efforts and progress toward our ESG goals.
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Compliance: We adhere to all relevant environmental regulations and standards governing the production and distribution of plastic bags.
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Risk Management: We conduct regular assessments to identify and mitigate potential environmental, social, and governance risks associated with our recycled plastic bag production.
Continuous Improvement
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Innovation: We invest in research and development to identify innovative materials and technologies that can further improve the sustainability of our recycled plastic bags.
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Feedback Loop: We welcome feedback from stakeholders, including customers, employees, factories, to continuously improve our ESG practices.
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Goals and Targets: We set measurable goals related to our recycled plastic bags and regularly review our performance against these targets.
At AIL our commitment to ESG principles is ingrained in every aspect of our business, including the production and use of recycled plastic bags. By adhering to this policy, we contribute to a more sustainable future, promote responsible consumption, and actively engage with stakeholders to address the challenges posed by plastic waste.