LOOP

The Problem

Plastic pollution is ubiquitous, posing a serious threat to both human and ecosystem health, especially in aquatic ecosystems. Plastics are the fastest growing component of waste, considering that nearly all consumer goods contain plastic or the product itself is contained in plastic. Plastics have become emblematic of the current disposable consumer culture; 280M tonnes of plastics are produced annually – a 65% increase in the last two decades. In Peru, alone in the capital city of Lima, 1793M single-use plastic bags were used annually before the ban in recent years, The consequence: plastic oceans - 90% of marine debris are plastics. Plastics have invaded our oceans due to their physical property and the lack of an adequate waste management systems. The physical characteristic of most plastics make them highly resistant to biodegradation. Limited decomposition takes place when plastics are exposed to UVB radiation from sunlight, oxidative properties of the atmosphere and the hydrolytic properties of seawater. Under these conditions, plastic polymers eventually break down into individual polymer molecule. However, these will never disappear – all plastic ever made still exists in one form or another. In addition, the general lack of waste disposal infrastructure, especially in developing countries like Peru, means that lightweight plastic, such as bags, are carried off downstream, ending up in oceans.

Our Proposal

L.O.O.P. takes on a three-pronged approach of combining knowledge creation and commercial activities with public advocacy to bring about social change. To achieve its mission, L.O.O.P. is founded on three pillars of activities, symbolized in the logo by the three arrows forming the second “O". 1- ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS: Funded by profit and/or through sponsorship, the aim of these activities is to raise awareness. These include an annual recycled art exhibition, beach clean-ups (like the national beach cleanup the first weekend of march every year) and workshops held at low- income coastal schools and communities across Peru. 2- KNOWLEDGE CREATION: L.O.O.P. seeks to articulate and analyze the diverse information it receives from varied stakeholders to develop new strategies and design campaigns. It collects and adapts international evidence to the local context. We have also managed to be a source of local empiric evidence through data collected during the cleanups that informed the bills presented before the law banning single use plastic bags was passed. 3- COMPANY ADVISING L.O.O.P. works with different clients to help them find more sustainable solutions whether through workshops, events or even products that will allow them to make better decisions that impact the planet in a positive way. Through concrete actions we can help stop the plastic pollution up stream,

We Assume that...

We assume that it's a slow process (to treat the data which influences laws for instance)

We assume that other issues become more important (such as climate change, coronavirus...)

We assume that people feel discouraged (as a week after a cleanup more plastic washes up on the beach or change is slow in communities who think its cheaper to use disposable plastic)

Constraints to Overcome

Lack of evidence on the consequences of plastic pollution is often the excuse used to prevent action. With data collected over the past 10 years LOOP has already proven that the plastic pollution issue is right on the shores of Peru and cannot be ignored. Collecting the data is not enough, we need to analyse it and make it available to the public which is what we have started to do. This means not only publishing the findings but making sure that people from all walks of life appropriate this issue and make it their own. Shaping leaders is one of LOOPs main actions to insure the maintainability of the system. Leaders then become advocates for the reduction. For example, Inés, current co-coordinator was once a volunteer in 2012 and is now creating a program for a group of volunteers to help them make the most of their experience of volunteers while making the most impact. These participants do not come from the same places, allowing a richer interaction with bigger impact across Lima.

Current Work

- Grant writing - Impact measurement - project timeline development - data analysis

Current Needs

- Funding - data analysis expertise