Mayo student spearheads sustainability initiative for beverage industry

A Mayo student has led a major initiative for sustainable change in the beverage industry.

In an endeavour to promote environmental sustainability, Peter Joyce, a final year student from Westport, alongside his classmate, Padraic Clarke of Tipperary, are at the forefront of a pioneering project aimed at transforming the beverage sector. 

Both students, currently in their final year at Trinity College Dublin, are leveraging their capstone project to lobby the Irish government for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their shift from single-use plastics to eco-friendly alternatives.

This innovative project is part of their challenge-based learning curriculum, a dynamic approach that not only enhances their educational experience but also addresses real-world problems. 

Mr Joyce, who is studying Global Business, was inspired to tackle this issue upon noticing the prevalent consumption of single-use plastic beverage bottles across campus and retail outlets nationwide. 

With the beverage industry being a significant contributor to plastic waste, Mr Joyce and Mr Clarke decided to act.

Their ongoing engagement with the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, along with the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, has culminated in the drafting of a policy proposal. This proposal aims to offer viable solutions for the reduction of single-use plastics within the industry.

The duo's in-depth research into single-use plastics, their alternatives, and their environmental impact has not only broadened their knowledge but also honed their leadership skills. Their goal is to utilise these skills to influence meaningful change.

Joyce and Clarke’s mission centres around assisting SMEs in the food and beverage sector to transition away from single-use plastics. 

"The primary objective of our initiative is to persuade the Irish government to introduce programmes, policies, or incentives that support SMEs in making a sustainable shift," explained Mr Clarke.

Their focus on SMEs stems from the challenges these businesses face in adapting to environmental policies due to limited capital, unlike their multinational counterparts.

The students’ project is particularly timely, resonating with an increasing awareness among consumers about the health and environmental impacts of their choices. This shift is evident in both spending patterns and the support for legislative actions aimed at reducing plastic waste, such as the recently introduced Re-turn scheme. 

While these initiatives are crucial steps towards sustainability, they present a considerable financial challenge for small and medium-sized enterprises. Thus, underlining the importance of their proposal, which seeks to balance environmental progress with economic viability for businesses of all sizes.

Expanding their initiative's reach, the students have been actively engaging with key stakeholders in the industry including Britvic, one of the country's largest beverage distributors as well as smaller enterprises like X-LITE, and SAOR water. 

The collaborations aim to gather a broad spectrum of insights, ensuring that their policy proposal is both comprehensive and practical.

For those interested in supporting or providing insights into this transformative project, Peter and Padraic welcome communication. The pair can be reached via email at plasticproblemtcd@gmail.com.