Is there actually an official plastic-free seal for plastic-free products? Yes, there is FLUSTIX Seal. I arranged an interview with initiator Malte Biss to find out more. He launched the urgently needed seal and we will therefore be working more closely together in future. Go straight to the interview about the FLUSTIX plastic-free seal, which will help you in the future, plastic free products more quickly.
Hello Mr. Biss! What exactly is the FLUSTIX seal?
The FLUSTIX seal distinguishes products that do not use plastics in their packaging or product. Thus, for the first time, the seal offers consumers absolute certainty that they are not buying plastic.
FLUSTIX is an initiative with which we want to integrate the solution to the plastic problem into everyday life and offer consumers guidance when shopping. Environmental protection concerns us all - without an intact nature and a healthy ecosystem, we are harming ourselves in the long term. With FLUSTIX, we therefore start where each individual can make a difference and at the same time avoid plastic waste before it is produced. The issue has reached society, the problem has been recognized and action must be taken, because the valuable material Plastic has already penetrated so far into our lives and thus even directly into our cycles. Our oceans, our soils, even the tap water and the salts we all have on our tables are already demonstrably affected, demonstrating that contamination of products can no longer be completely ruled out. We had to start from 100 percent plastic-free down to 99.5 percent. This 0.5 percent of the total weight of the consumer product must not be exceeded within the definition of "plastic-free/plastic-free" and must only have been caused by contamination.
Consumer demand for plastic-free products is now huge and should encourage companies to reduce plastic in production and replace it with suitable alternatives. Of course, our aim is to replace the material where it makes sense, especially plastics that are only used once. Where plastics make sense for hygienic reasons, for example, in medicine or research, or in transportation to save CO2, or for functional reasons such as for paramedics, police or firefighters, we naturally do not want to avoid the use of plastics. We are concerned with the responsible use of plastic.
To which development in society are you reacting with the FLUSTIX seal?
To the flood of plastic that already exists and will continue to grow. A lot of plastic waste ends up in the sea. Even the waste that we lose or carelessly throw away in cities far from the seas ends up in the oceans. Due to the ocean currents, plastic waste has Five particularly large garbage patches in the sea formed, the so-called "garbage patches". The largest is the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch". Scientists suspect several million tons of plastic in this one whirlpool alone. In the sea Plastic waste a danger for marine animals and seabirds. It is eaten by sea creatures and birds that starve to death with a stomach full of plastic. It's not just small pieces of plastic that are problematic: waste such as fishing nets, plastic sheets and buckets are repeatedly found in the stomachs of whales. Animals also become entangled in garbage and die from suffocation, strangulation or simply from exhaustion after attempts to free themselves. Animals living in rivers, lakes and on land are also affected. Plastic does not degrade, but breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces - so-called microplastics. It becomes saturated with toxins. These can be carcinogenic components of hydraulic fluids and plasticizers, for example. If fish eat these microplastics, the pollutants accumulate in their tissue.
We humans also ingest these chemicals through the consumption of seafood. (See the article Plastic in the food chain)
These substances have an impact on all living organisms: Chemicals such as BPA cause hormonal changes and a decrease in fertility. These and other components are suspected of causing cancer. Action must be taken before it is too late.
How can we recognize plastic-free products tested by you in the future?
The FLUSTIX seal on the licensed products. Any product that has been successfully tested and confirmed to be plastic-free by us and our testing partner Wessling GmbH in accordance with the latest laboratory technology and has then acquired the right to use the FLUSTIX seal from our logo and license partner RAL can use our seal on its product.
Our seal is unique, immediately recognizable and unmistakable due to the fish's connection to the environment. It therefore provides consumers with clear orientation for the plastic free shopping and business also have the opportunity to reach more and more consumers - as they look for plastic-free alternatives, such as a Representative study by KANATR TNS on behalf of FLUSTIX 2017 has resulted:
What does the introduction of the FLUSTIX seal achieve?
First and foremost, this reduces the unnecessary use of plastic, which is actually such a valuable material. FLUSTIX meets the existing demand for plastic-free products by providing clear guidance in the shopping jungle. Consumer demand also reaches businesses, producers and manufacturers and encourages them to rethink. Being plastic-free is and will no longer be a negative, but a bonus for the economy, because the future belongs to ethical consumption. FLUSTIX will also provide education, advice and information in the plastics sector so that everyone really knows what they are actually buying. Let's be honest: can you recognize a shampoo or shower gel that doesn't contain microplastics? (see also CodeCheck App against Microplastics in cosmetics)
Do you know which paper bag is actually plastic-free? Do the self-test and you will find out that even responsible shoppers will fail here. With FLUSTIX, we bring transparency to this.
How can we help you promote the FLUSTIX seal?
By getting on everyone's lips, minds and hearts. Be it through certified products in stores, publicity on our social media channels (FB | INSTA | TWITTER), notes on our homepage (flustix.com), mentioning FLUSTIX in discussion groups, on forums or with good old word-of-mouth advertising - we are completely open and not afraid of anything - anything that helps the cause, namely saving unnecessary plastic, is good.
Thank you very much for the pleasant interview and see you soon!
I was on the verge of taking the development of a plastic-free seal into my own hands, as it is absolutely necessary in the fight against excessive plastic consumption. I am glad that Malte Biss and FLUSTIX have taken this company into their own hands and are bringing clarity to the market. Every supplier can have their products tested there and, if necessary, have them labeled with the FLUSTIX seal. It is important that we all spread the word about this plastic-free seal so that more and more consumers pay attention to it. The plastics industry is the powerful opponent that is naturally trying to put the brakes on this development. But we are smarter and stronger.
What do you think about the seal? I look forward to your comment.
Stay clean,
PS.: Do you actually know the Zero Waste Lifestyle? This way of life is a great development towards less waste in everyday life and the FLUSTIX seal is a great addition.
