Plastic Waste Reduction Strategies Training Course

Participants can establish a reliable plastic waste baseline from operational data.

• Define system boundaries for sites, departments, products and outsourced activities
• Waste-stream inventory structured by material, source, quantity, destination and cost
• Material-flow analysis tracing plastics from purchase through use and disposal
• Sampling plans for mixed waste, bin audits and composition studies
• Calculate generation intensity per employee, customer, unit output or revenue
• Reconcile invoices, weighbridge tickets, contractor reports and internal purchasing records

Participants can plan and quality-check a practical plastic waste audit.

• Audit objectives linked to reduction decisions, compliance checks and reporting
• Representative sampling methods for offices, kitchens, warehouses and production areas
• Sort-and-weigh protocols using consistent material categories and recording sheets
• Contamination measurement for recycling streams, organics collections and residual waste
• Chain-of-custody records for samples, photographs, weights and contractor evidence
• Data-quality checks covering completeness, units, assumptions and abnormal results

Participants can select prevention and reuse interventions suited to operational conditions.

• Source reduction through product elimination, refill formats and bulk dispensing
• Reusable service models for foodware, transport packaging and workplace consumables
• Packaging optimisation using right-sizing, consolidation and returnable transit packaging
• Behavioural prompts targeting convenience habits, contamination and disposable-item demand
• Hygiene, safety and quality constraints affecting reusable system design
• Pilot criteria covering user acceptance, logistics, breakage, washing and costs

Participants can embed plastic reduction requirements within procurement and supplier management.

• Procurement spend analysis identifying high-volume plastics and priority supplier categories
• Specification clauses for minimal packaging, recycled content and material disclosure
• Supplier questionnaires assessing packaging design, take-back schemes and traceability
• Total cost of ownership comparing disposable, reusable and refill alternatives
• Contract performance measures for packaging reduction, collection and reporting
• Verification evidence for recycled-content claims, recyclability claims and certifications

Participants can design controlled collection and recovery arrangements for remaining plastics.

• Segregation system design using bin locations, labels, colours and signage
• Collection specifications defining frequencies, container types, weights and contamination thresholds
• Contractor due diligence covering permits, downstream destinations and reporting capability
• Recovery-route verification through transfer notes, recycling certificates and site visits
• Managing flexible films, composite packaging, black plastics and contaminated materials
• Escalation procedures for missed collections, rejected loads and inaccurate reports

Participants can assess plastic alternatives without transferring impacts to other areas.

• Life-cycle stages: raw materials, manufacturing, transport, use and end-of-life
• Functional unit selection for packaging, serviceware and protective product comparisons
• ISO 14044 principles for goal definition, inventory and impact interpretation
• Substitution risks involving paper coatings, bioplastics, glass and aluminium
• Trade-off assessment covering carbon, water, land use, hygiene and durability
• Decision matrix weighting environmental performance, cost, availability and operational fit

Participants can establish accountable targets and controls for plastic waste reduction.

• SMART targets expressed as absolute reductions, intensity reductions and diversion rates
• Leading indicators covering reusable uptake, supplier compliance and segregation accuracy
• Lagging indicators covering plastic tonnage, disposal cost and contamination rate
• ISO 14001 operational controls for significant environmental aspects and objectives
• RACI matrix assigning accountability, responsibility, consultation and information roles
• Management review agenda covering progress, barriers, resources and corrective actions

Participants can plan stakeholder engagement that supports sustained reduction behaviours.

• Stakeholder mapping for employees, suppliers, tenants, customers and waste contractors
• Behaviour-change messages linked to specific disposal points and purchasing choices
• Visual management using bin labels, point-of-use instructions and feedback boards
• Training briefings for cleaners, catering teams, receiving staff and supervisors
• Addressing resistance related to convenience, hygiene concerns and perceived cost
• Communication controls preventing unsupported recyclable, biodegradable and plastic-free claims

Participants can produce a phased implementation plan and review cycle for plastic reduction.

• Prioritisation matrix scoring impact, feasibility, cost, risk and implementation time
• Ninety-day action plan with milestones, owners, dependencies and required approvals
• Budget estimates covering equipment, reusable stock, communications and contractor changes
• Risk register for service disruption, contamination, supplier failure and unintended impacts
• Dashboard design combining waste weights, costs, procurement and behavioural indicators
• Review cadence for corrective action, target revision and annual improvement planning