R3Rewards Management Corporation Investigates COVID-19 Effects on the Environment

VANCOUVER, British Columbia - March 12, 2021 - PRLog -- The COVID-19 pandemic has generated a new source of plastic pollution in the form of single-use personal protective equipment (PPE), such as masks, gloves, face shields, and gowns. Single-use PPE is a necessary and effective public health measure, but most of those products are made from non-biodegradable, petroleum-based polymers and are designed to be used only once and then discarded. The federal government estimates that in 2021 approximately 63,000 tons of COVID-19-related PPE could end up as waste in landfills and oceans.

To reduce the environmental impact of PPE in Canada and make personal protective equipment more compostable and recyclable, the federal government launched COVID-19 related challenges. It supports the development of solutions that will lead to more sustainable PPE, including reusability, alternative materials, improved recyclability, novel recycling technologies and compostability. Although efforts are already underway to develop biodegradable or recyclable products, even a temporary surge in plastic litter can lead to long-term impacts on the environment.

Given the setbacks posed by the pandemic, now is the time to redouble efforts to tackle plastic pollution. That is why the problem R3Rewards is trying to solve by developing digital and physical solutions for recyclables is so relevant in these times of change. Currently, the central concept the start-up is working towards realizing is suitable for recyclable consumer products like containers and packaging. The newly emerged problem of PPE waste will take R3Rewards additional resources to tackle and the company founders are starting to work out potential solutions and roadmap pivots to address these unprecedented circumstances.

About R3Rewards Management Corporation: R3Rewards offers a mixed digital and physical solution for recyclables, integrating reverse vending machines, unique software, and secure mobile application, encouraging, motivating, and rewarding Canadians to reprocess their waste. The Mission is to contribute to the world's sustainable development by continuously improving the customers' expectations, creating "green" habits, and educating the public about environmental management. (https://r3rewards.com/)