“The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015, provides a shared blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet, now and into the future.”
The UN Sustainable Development Goals are a call to action to all developed and developing countries. The seventeen development goals, ten of which outline goals relevant to our mission, address climate change and environmental destruction as integral to global campaigns that take on poverty and champion human rights.
By integrating compostable and non-toxic packaging and products into their field operations, humanitarian organizations can anticipate and help prevent environmental pollution and toxic residues created by the plastic and styrofoam materials they have used to date. Communities who live without the privilege of solid waste infrastructure will rely on the soil, water, plant and animal life in affected areas for decades to come—it is critical they are not saddled with toxins, often invisible, in their living environment. Living with clean air, soil and water are rights, not privileges.
It is well-known that traditional plastics and styrofoams leach toxic residues, and after many decades reduce to microplastics which can now be found in our waterways, soils, and even in the rain. To help address this, Geosphere develops and manufactures renewable, non-toxic and compostable products that are then third party certified to leave no toxic waste behind during decomposition.
We are also deep into new development on products made from PHBH, a marine degradable non-toxic bioplastic created using a solvent-free fermentation process.
In many areas impacted by pollution and climate change, local communities live and work on the land and adjacent waterways. Trash burn pits, unmanaged landfills, and waste ditches render soil and well-water toxic to drink. It is already the case that many people worldwide, often young women, must walk miles to acquire potable water for their homes and families on a daily basis. Aid agencies should help address these issues, not exacerbate them. The materials that aid agencies bring into their fields of operation must by design be free of toxins. Geosphere’s mission, to replace plastic products that leach toxins and microplastics into our soil and waterways, protects human health and works to ensure the well-being of future generations.
When communities are experiencing shocks brought about by rapid development and climate change, it is frequently the closest solution that becomes the chosen solution. This hardly ensures that the chosen solution will be the best one long term. By offering and/or developing innovative sustainable materials and products designed for reality on the ground and in the field, Geosphere contributes to best practices global supply chains, working with partners committed to workers rights and who share our vision of a better and cleaner tomorrow for every stakeholder.