We’ve been more and more exposed to the advances of climate change over the last few years – and we are starting to witness a shift in mindset on the impact we can all have in driving change. 

So now, to celebrate all things sustainability, help share tips for smarter environmental thinking and remind each other just how much our carbon impact matters, we’re inviting colleagues, friends of the business and our peers in the wider industry to take part in this quickfire environmental Q&A.

Next up, it’s Arslan Malin, managing director of waste specialist Wastemove Ltd…

Where do you fit into the environmental sector? Tell us a little bit about your role at Wastemove… 

I first set up Wastemove to help customers declutter homes and regain headspace. People lead such busy lives nowadays that they need help clearing rooms and moving large items away from their property. Our dedication to sustainability is evident in our practices — we divert over 90% of the rubbish we collect away from landfill through careful recycling and responsible disposal methods. Working with local charities, we ensure that lots of the items we collect are given a second chance. 

Complete the sentence – the UK is great at recycling…

… paper and cardboard. For individual households, it’s the easiest item to separate, closely followed by glass and metal. As a nation, we’re not great at recycling plastic, so our focus needs to be on reducing waste rather than sending it to the recycling centre. This makes it harder to track whether it truly gets recycled, is incinerated, or if it gets sent abroad as two-thirds of our plastic waste does. 

Which sector do you think could achieve significant environmental progress this year?

The UK has successfully positioned itself as a leader in innovation of renewable energy, and we have made significant strides in this area. However, this progress is offset by the UK’s continued – and considerable – investment into fossil fuels such as coal and oil, and exploration of alternative extraction techniques such as fracking. To combat this, I’d like to see even more focus on a credible transition pathway to clean and sustainable energy sources, to ensure we stay on track. 

What do you wish you’d know about the environment, as a child?

I wish I’d known about the impact of human activities on our planet. Realising the potential consequences of pollution, deforestation, and overconsumption has taken longer than necessary, due to large corporations not taking responsibility. 

What’s the single biggest threat to the environment, in your opinion?

The lack of leadership in launching environmental policies and changing public mindsets so we can live in an environmentally low-impact way. Rising temperatures are a tipping point that will end up affecting every aspect of our lives — more severe weather patterns such as heatwaves and flooding will mean more drought, fewer stable food supplies, and a detrimental impact on people’s health and wellbeing. Starting locally and simplifying supply chains means that we’ll be able to cope better as a society. But this mindset starts in leadership positions, to dial back the expectations of the ‘on-demand’ culture we live in today. 

Share one tip to help people be ‘greener’ at work or home

Focus on the ‘reduce’ part of reduce, re-use, recycle — it’s key to becoming greener. All too often at Wastemove, we carry out house clearances where the inhabitants have bought the same item numerous times, forgetting they already had one — something I’m sure we’re all guilty of. This is especially true of small household appliances, coats, and even shopping bags. Reducing your overall consumption — and really considering whether you need to buy another 30p plastic bag or if you can reuse the bags you have — contributes to a greener mindset. 

Tell us an environmental statistic that you think people need to know

Approximately eight million metric tonnes of plastic enter the world’s oceans each year. That statistic is absolutely astounding to me.

In 100 years time… 

I hope that the global landscape of sustainability will reflect our shared commitment to preserve and regenerate our planet for future generations. It will take a concerted effort to redesign energy systems, restore ecosystems, and ensure governments and corporations hold themselves accountable, but the result of breathable air, a deep understanding of how nature and technology can benefit each other, and respect for our place on Earth is utterly priceless.