Nowadays, clicking your way through online marketplaces like Amazon, eBay, or even SHEIN to snag clothes, gadgets, kitchenware, or even that random giant inflatable unicorn you never knew you needed has become as routine as morning coffee.
But here’s the scoop: behind every cool purchase, there’s a sneaky aspect we often overlook — waste.
Plastic packaging waste is dramatically increasing, with online retail giant Amazon one of the biggest contributors. Over 709 million pounds of packaging waste were tracked in 2021 (source: Oceana). That’s equivalent to the weight of 1,772 blue whales, which are affected by the plastic that ends up in the ocean.
For every fancy gadget or trendy outfit we buy, there is waste associated, whether manufacturing waste from its creation or packaging waste when we bring it home and open it. The waste trading industry is a massive, complex process, from recycling to processing to trading. Old, manual processes aren’t keeping up with the waste we generate. It’s why companies like Xworks Tech are stepping up to help smooth the process and make it easier and better for waste professionals to do their jobs.
How much plastic is traded?
Waste traders play a crucial role in ensuring our planet doesn’t drown in its discarded treasures. And, of course, importing plastics can bring economic benefits. Repurposed and recycled plastics are cheaper and less damaging to the environment than virgin plastics. There is an idea that most of the world’s plastic waste is shipped overseas, but that is incorrect.
The world generates around 72 billion pounds of plastic waste a year, and in 2020, only 11 billion pounds of waste were traded. That’s about 2% of the waste, with the other 98% being handled domestically, sent to landfills, incinerated, or recycled. Only 20% of the world’s plastic is recycled. Still, waste trading can help send recyclables to places with the infrastructure to recycle them.
Imagine a world where your old gadgets, forgotten furniture, and discarded treasures find new life. We’re not talking about just buying and selling! This is about embracing the circle of sustainability and working towards a circular economy.
Manual systems: inefficient, slow, and error-prone
Traditionally, waste management companies have looked for people to buy or sell waste products. They do manual checks for compliance, organize logistics, handle paperwork, and keep an eye on shipments. These steps are crucial for protecting the environment public health, and conserving resources.
A big problem for waste management pros is sharing information. Manual systems slow down communication, causing delays in how things work. These manual methods work slower and are more likely to produce errors, making operations less efficient.
Streamlining waste trading in one platform
Xworks Tech is an app that provides a platform for waste and recovery industries. It allows users to browse various materials and instantly connect with sellers to find more information and negotiate conditions. Users can also list their commodities, add all the details, and get notifications whenever someone expresses interest in their listing. The app also provides a global network of verified waste and recovery stakeholders, which helps users trade with trust and confidence.
All traders, buyers, and suppliers in the Xworks network are authenticated step-by-step, meaning you never have to wonder about their identity. You can explore other users’ trading scores and history in their profiles and share your own experience when trading with them to help other users.
This streamlined process saves time and promotes efficiency and transparency in the waste supply chain.
The platform encourages businesses to adopt sustainable practices by providing better access to recovered materials. This reduces the demand for virgin resources and minimizes the carbon footprint associated with traditional manufacturing processes.
Xworks also leverages advanced analytics to provide real-time insights into waste trends, market prices, and environmental impact. This data empowers users to make informed decisions, optimize waste management strategies, and contribute to a more sustainable future.
With users spanning across the globe, Xworks is creating a significant impact on a global scale. The platform facilitates international waste and recovery trading and opens up new avenues for
collaboration and innovation. Waste that was once a burden for one region can now become a valuable resource for another.
By harnessing digital innovation capabilities, the platform is redefining waste
management and recovery trading, proving that technology can be a force for positive change in the fight against environmental degradation. The goal is a circular economy, a sustainable future, and a greener planet.
