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, to celebrate all things sustainability, 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 Hannah Wray, sales and marketing administrator at UNTHA UK…

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

On a day-to-day basis, I support my colleagues in the sales and marketing departments — assisting with global communication initiatives, aiding the sales function, and ensuring the office operations continue to run smoothly.

Complete the sentence – the UK is great at recycling… 

…but there’s so much more we can do!

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

The WEEE sector. Despite a 34% decrease since 2017 in the total number of electrical items thrown away — and a 60% recycling rate — lots more attention is needed in order to liberate, segregate, and recycle the high-value components that would otherwise remain ‘locked’ inside e-waste.

On a positive note, the Government’s plans to ban disposable vapes this year will address the five-million-strong heap that is discarded each week in the UK — putting human, wildlife, and environmental health at risk.

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

That just one person’s positive contributions to recycling can help foster a better, cleaner future.

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

Air pollution. Mounting CO2 emissions are detrimental to air quality, which is significantly impacting the planet’s inhabitants. 

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

As we embrace an increasingly digital world, think twice before hitting ‘print’. 

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

Only nine per cent of all plastic produced is recycled.

Complete the sentence – in 100 years’ time… 

I hope the ocean is cleaner, the rainforests are fuller, and the air is less polluted.

Want more content like this? Catch up on our previous Q&A with Claudia Johnson, parts and maintenance administrator at UNTHA UK.