Understanding the Significance of Reducing Plastic Waste and How You Can Contribute
Do you know the impact that plastic has on our environment? Today plastic waste is one of the topics most discussed within the climate change initiative and rightfully so as it is one of the biggest challenges that we face. Plastic Free July is one of the initiatives helping make the difference and raise awareness to the problems that plastic brings to our environment, our nature and ourselves.
Plastic Free July is a month-long campaign that is dedicated to raising awareness to and reducing plastic waste across the globe. The campaign was launched in 2011 and quickly grew to be a worldwide event. After just six years the campaign developed into the Plastic Free Foundation as an independent and non-profit charity to support their growing audience of participants and develop the campaign.
Why is this important?
Single use plastics are used daily by millions of households across the UK. Unfortunately, an estimated 91% of plastic that is used is not recycled or disposed of correctly. This can lead to landfills filled with plastic that does not decompose for hundreds of years.
If we dedicate ourselves to reducing plastic waste and cut down on single use plastics, we can save our planet. If we do not reduce plastic waste, it will continue to harm our environment, polluting the planet and threatening our wildlife. Marine life suffers the most, with plastic waste floating in our oceans, in some cases suffocating animals and damaging their habitats.
How can we help?
Try plastic free alternatives: There are many different alternatives for plastics such as water bottles, food wrap and packaging, nappies, and sanitary pads.
Refill stores: Refill shops are stores that sell non-packaged goods, things like food, toiletries, and cleaning products. This allows you to take what you need when you need it, reducing the waste of plastic and food. You can find your local refill store as well as single-use-plastic-free businesses on the Refill App. We have more information in a previous article ‘Reuse Refill Recycle’.
Shop local: local suppliers use less materials, and less packaging as it does not have to travel as far. When food is transported around the world it needs extra packaging to keep it protected and fresh. Without this, it can lead to mass amounts of food waste. Instead, local suppliers use less packaging as it only has to travel a few short miles to the shop, and it is much better quality.
Pledge to cut down: Sign up to our single use plastics pledge and commit to reducing, and ultimately removing, your single use plastic waste. You can pledge to do as much or as little as you can, but anything makes a difference and could be all we need to tackle this problem.
Visit the Plastic Free July website: Plastic Free July have many resources and information that you can use to join the movement and take action against plastic pollution. If you need a little more incentive, you can also sign up to take the challenge.
Did you know that across the world, an astonishing one million plastic bottles are bought every second? Plastic waste is a huge mountain we must tackle, so why not join us in taking part in plastic free July and reduce our plastic waste to protect our environment.
