Group members

1. Cecile Timp from the Netherlands.

2. Lizi Kadagidhvili from Georgia.

3. Manisha Somnath from India.

4. Aya Abu Dayyeh from Palestine.

5. Akash Shaji from India.

6. Jedidah Evans from Nigeria.

India - Palestine - Netherlands - Georgia - Nigeria

First of all we looked at the positive (visible) impacts of our topic, which is written at the top of the iceberg. In addition we looked at the negative impacts, that you cannot see but can feel. Second of all, we used three aspects for both impacts; environmental, social and economic.

Visible Impact (Above the Surface) – Positive Effects

Environmental Benefits:

• Reduction in plastic waste and pollution.

• Less reliance on fossil fuels for plastic production.

• Decreased microplastic contamination in oceans and soil.

Social Benefits:

• Enhanced brand reputation and consumer trust.

• Growing eco-conscious consumer base supporting sustainability.

• Encourages businesses to adopt greener practices.

Economic Benefits:

• Boosts innovation in sustainable packaging alternatives.

• Creates demand for biodegradable and recyclable materials.

• Reduces long-term waste management costs.

Hidden Impact (Below the Surface) – Negative Effects

Environmental Challenges:

• Some biodegradable alternatives still require energy-intensive production.

• Increased land use for plant-based packaging materials (e.g., deforestation).

• Potential increase in carbon footprint if alternatives require more processing.

Social Challenges:

• Higher costs may lead to increased product prices for consumers.

• Job losses in plastic production industries.

• Accessibility issues if sustainable alternatives are not widely available.

Economic Challenges:

• Higher initial investment for businesses in research and development.

• Supply chain disruptions if alternative materials are scarce.

• Possible resistance from industries reliant on plastic production.

Using Google Docs is essential for our teamwork, as it allows everyone to see each other's contributions and offer assistance if needed.

Cecile Timp- Leader of the group

Lizi Kadagidhvili- Co leader

Manish Somnath- Organizer operation manager

Aya Abu Dayyeh- Content creator

Akash Shaji- Social media/ influencers

Jedidah Evans- Marketing manager

In the second breakout room, we identified the most significant negative impact—whether social, environmental, or economic. We collectively agreed that environmental concerns are the most critical for our topic. We then compared the environmental impact of plastic bottle packaging across our respective countries.

This post includes a link to our document, where we discussed these topics in detail during the breakout session.

Also we want to make sure everybody understands the assignment we got for working on the vlog.

They argue that:

• Bottles are never entirely made from recycled material.

• Claims are misleading when paired with eco-friendly branding.

• Recycling rates and infrastructure vary by country, making “100% recyclable” untrue in practice.

Client Earth stresses that companies must stop presenting recycling as a silver bullet, and instead reduce plastic at the source.

In response:

• Coca-Cola and Nestlé say their claims are substantiated and transparent.

• Danone emphasizes its investment in recycling infrastructure.

The European Commission may investigate further and coordinate national consumer action, but it cannot impose fines directly.