Plastic… Not So Fantastic

<p class="para">In collaboration with our partner <span class="u-link-blue">Elevate Super</span> </p>

<p class="para">The world recently achieved a milestone to rid ourselves of single-use plastic.</p>

<p class="para">Representatives recently made a historic resolution of over 175 nations at the UN Environment Assembly to <a class="u-link-lighter-blue" target="_blank" href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2022/03/1113142">endorse</a> a move to <a class="u-link-lighter-blue" href="https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/38522/k2200647_-_unep-ea-5-l-23-rev-1_-_advance.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y">end plastic pollution</a> and forge an international legally binding agreement by the end of 2024.</p>

<p class="para">This is the world's first global plastic pollution treaty which aims to reduce the volume of plastic in our world drastically. Some have described the treaty as: "the most significant environmental deal since the 2015 Paris climate agreement."</p>

<p class="para-header" style="padding-top: 30px !important">What is the Agreement?</p>

<p class="para">A legally binding set of protocols restricts companies that manufacture plastic and consumer goods from using single-use packaging. Hooray!</p>

<p class="para">The resolution also includes the recognition of <a class="u-link-lighter-blue" target="_blank" href="https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/microplastics.html">microplastics</a>, those tiny plastic pieces less than five millimetres long, which can be particularly harmful to our oceans and aquatic life.</p>

<p class="para">The agreement isn't due to be finalized until 2024, but it's still a positive move in the right direction for the world's oceans, rivers and other waterways.</p>

<p class="para-header" style="font-size: 24px !important; padding-top: 30px !important">Why now?</p>

<p class="para">The high and rapidly increasing levels of plastic pollution represent a serious global environmental problem that negatively impacts sustainable development's environmental, social and economic dimensions.</p>

<p class="para">The stats are pretty alarming; approximately 7 billion of the estimated 9.2 billion tonnes of plastics produced between 1950 and 2017 are now <a class="u-link-lighter-blue" target="_blank" href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/mar/02/world-leaders-agree-draw-up-historic-treaty-plastic-waste">waste</a>.</p>

<p class="para">About 75% of that waste ends up in landfills or terrestrial and aquatic environments and ecosystems.</p>

<p class="para">The world has been attempting to tackle plastic waste for years – on a consumer, environmental, organizational, and even (most recently) at a country level (thanks, <a class="u-link-lighter-blue" target="_blank" href="https://environment.govt.nz/what-government-is-doing/areas-of-work/waste/plastic-phase-out/">NZ</a>).</p>

<p class="para">Other initiatives such as the Ocean Clean Up Project are doing fantastic work to help support our oceans and rivers. They are actively cleaning waterways and using AI to monitor ocean plastic density, and its mission is to clean up 90% of the world's floating ocean plastic by 2040.</p>

<p class="para-header" style="padding-top: 30px !important; padding-bottom: 40px !important">A complex problem requires multi-faceted solutions.</p>

<p class="para">Currently, there is a <a class="u-link-lighter-blue" target="_blank" href="https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/38522/k2200647_-_unep-ea-5-l-23-rev-1_-_advance.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y">wide range</a> of approaches and organizations, as well various sustainable alternatives and technologies, to address the entire lifecycle of plastics. This further highlights the need for enhanced international collaboration to facilitate access to technology, capacity building, and scientific and technical cooperation - here's hoping the treaty can do just that.</p>

<p class="para">Another essential <a class="u-link-lighter-blue" target="_blank" href="https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handle/20.500.11822/38522/k2200647_-_unep-ea-5-l-23-rev-1_-_advance.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y">feature of the treaty</a> will be minimizing plastic waste produced in the first place. It will promote the sustainable design of products and materials so that they can be reused, remanufactured or recycled.</p>

<p class="para">We are pleased to see this initiative recognized and supported worldwide as an essential initial step towards better care for our environment. And we realize that we can all do our part towards this goal before 2024.</p>

<p class="para">Co-written by <a class="u-link-blue" target="_blank" href="https://aus01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.elevatesuper.com.au%2Fabout%2F&data=05%7C01%7Colivia%40atlastrend.com%7C8655fc691a6744bfc3bd08da8ba34351%7C7537821cfed149168715f91f727214ef%7C0%7C0%7C637975831542338810%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=Ovf7N%2F0l6NOJBFpSJALpmfgLjf86CMvaIJj8d07B4To%3D&reserved=0">Victoria Kent</a>, Senior Investment Specialist, Elevate Super & Blossom App.</p>

<p class="para" style="margin: 0">About Elevate Super:</p>

<p class="footnote"><a class="u-link-lighter-red" href="https://elevatesuper.com.au/?utm_source=blossom&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=article">Elevate Super</a> is a retail super fund, powered by successful fintech AtlasTrend. <a class="u-link-lighter-red" href="https://www.atlastrend.com/?utm_source=blossom&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=article">AtlasTrend</a> was created in 2015 to build a new investment service to help our customers learn and invest with purpose in long term world trends. At Elevate Super, we believe you shouldn’t have to give up competitive financial returns to do good. <br />We assess and measure investments based on their long-term growth fundamentals plus positive contribution to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – a global blueprint for balancing our economic, social and environmental needs.</p>

<p class="footnote">Important notice: Elevate Super is a sub plan of the Aracon Superannuation Fund (ABN 40 586 548 205) (Fund) issued by Equity Trustees Superannuation Limited (ABN 50 055 641 757, AFS Licence No. 229757, RSE Licence No. L0001458) (Equity Trustees). AtlasTrend Pty Ltd (ABN 83 605 565 491) is the promoter of Elevate Super and an AFSL Corporate Authorised Representative (No. 001233660) of Fundhost Limited (AFSL 233045) (Fundhost) and Havana Financial Services Pty Ltd (AFSL 500435) (Havana). This communication contains general advice only and does not take into consideration your personal objectives, financial situation or needs. None of the information provided is, or should be considered to be, personal financial advice. The information provided in this communication is believed to be accurate at the time of writing. None of AtlasTrend, Equity Trustees, Havana, Fundhost or their related entities nor their respective officers and agents accept responsibility for any inaccuracy in, or any actions taken in reliance upon the general advice provided. A copy of AtlasTrend’s financial services guide can be found at <a class="u-link-lighter-red" href="https://atlastrend.com/fsg/">www.atlastrend.com/fsg</a>.<br />This communication is not an offer to invest in Elevate Super. Before deciding on Elevate Super, you should read the Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Target Market Determination (TMD) and seek professional financial advice to consider if Elevate Super is appropriate for you. The PDS is available at <a class="u-link-lighter-red" href="https://elevatesuper.com.au/pds/">www.elevatesuper.com.au/pds</a> or by calling Elevate Super on 1800 875 148. The TMD is available at <a class="u-link-lighter-red" href="https://elevatesuper.com.au/tmd/">www.elevatesuper.com.au/tmd</a>.<br />Any managed investment fund product (Fund) mentioned in this communication is offered via a Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) which contains all the details of the offer. The PDS is issued by Fundhost as responsible entity for the Funds. Before making any decision to make or hold any investment in a Fund you should consider the PDS in full. The PDS is available at <a class="u-link-lighter-red" href="https://atlastrend.com/pds/">www.atlastrend.com/pds</a> or by calling AtlasTrend on 1800 589 778. The Target Market Determination is available <a class="u-link-lighter-red" href="http://help.atlastrend.com/en/articles/5576094-target-market-determination-tmd/">here</a>.</p>