Only 9% of plastic waste is recycled annually, with 85% ending up in landfills where they leech forever chemicals into the ground and water supplies. Mixed container recycling bins contain a lot of contaminants that make plastic unrecyclable.
When it comes to the cleaning industry in particular, the problem gets even more complicated. The chemicals contained within cleaning products often contain highly harmful toxic known as VOCs. These pose a risk to human health when being used, leave harmful traces on the surfaces being cleaned, and leech into their plastic containers making the bottles even more difficult to recycle.
By addressing contamination, improving logistics, and creating economic incentives, Viking Pure’s co-founder and President Joshua Schwartz believes the industry can better manage its plastic waste and contribute to a cleaner, healthier environment.