Els, Cmart Life project

My name is Els Herremans, I studied bio-engineering with a focus on agriculture and environmental sciences. I work as policy advisor for the plastics product chain OVAM, the Flemish public waste agency.

I currently coordinate the LIFE project Cmartlife. This project focuses on finding smart and effective ways to prevent recyclable plastic from ending up in household and industrial waste. It will bring together everyone involved in waste management to work together on solutions. The goal is to recycle and reuse more, make products last longer, and use fewer raw materials, all while reducing plastic litter.

The project tackles four main areas: using less plastic and making it more efficient, stopping plastic waste from polluting, creating a stronger recycling market for plastics, and encouraging the use of recycled plastic as a valuable raw material. 

Tips and tricks for home:

1 -Avoid waste whenever you can! Find out if you can borrow or swap something you only need for a short time (toys, electrical appliances, clothes, reusable diapers, books, bicycles...). Sell or give away what you don’t need anymore. And repair what is broken.

2 - Plan your meals in advance to avoid wasting food. If your fridge is full of leftovers or forgotten ingredients, check out online for recipes that use what you’ve got, so nothing goes to waste.

3- Bring reusable bags everywhere—for groceries, clothes shopping, and even books. And don’t forget second-hand shops, which are great for finding things you need while being eco-friendly.

4 - When hosting a party, use reusable plates, cups, and cutlery. It’ll cut down on waste and keep your event looking clean. 

5 - Ask for reusable containers when ordering take-out. It may not always be available, but it can make restaurants think about offering it in the future. And remember, there is upcoming EU legislation which should make reusable packaging easily available for customers.

6 - Think before you buy:

• Choose reusable glass bottles over plastic ones.
• If you pick plastic, go for the largest bottle possible.
• Choose glass over single-use cans or bottles when you can.

7 - Make sorting waste easy at home and work. Place the right bins in the right spots with fun reminders (like stickers) for kids or even your in-laws! It’ll help everyone sort waste correctly.

8 - Keep chickens in your garden to help with kitchen waste—and they’ll give you fresh eggs in return!

9 - Looking for a fun activity with your family or colleagues? Look out if you can organize a clean-up activity. You get to enjoy the outdoors and make your neighborhood more beautiful while being at it. You can even make a trash-bingo-card and organize a little litter-picking contest. Don’t forget to arrange the proper equipment and get started.

#ForOurPlanet campaign