Solutions to plastic pollution
Let's beat plastic pollution
This year World Environment Day 2023 focuses on solutions to beat plastic pollution. But why does it matter?
Plastic pollution is a climate issue, producing greenhouse emissions during their lifecycle from production, recycling, and incineration.
When did you last go out and not see a discarded plastic wrapper, bottle or other plastic waste dumped in the street? You only need to look at the supermarket shelves to see how plastic has become a problem. Plastics consumption combined with our inability to ‘get rid of it’ impacts all our communities. It impacts our future.
That doesn’t mean to say all plastic is bad, and there is a lot of research being carried out to redesign the polymers that make up plastic so it can be broken down effectively.
But it’s fair to say that from being of relatively low use in the 1950’s the production of plastics has boomed. It is hard to believe that some plastic products were even created to protect nature. For example, Bakelite billiard balls replaced those made of ivory and plastic bags were created to save trees.
However, today the use of plastics is becoming unmanageable. The UN estimates that we produce an estimated 400 million tonnes of plastic every year. Microplastics have already found their way into all ecosystems on the planet from mountain tops to deep in the ocean and even in us. It is estimated each person consumes more than 50,000 plastic particles a year.
A large part of the challenge lies in how we consume and manage plastic waste.
The UK has pledged to eliminate all avoidable plastic waste by 2040.
And on 14 January 2023 Government said it will be introducing a ban on the supply of a range on single-use plastics in England. This ban is to be introduced from October 2023.
But as part of a world community we need to do more.
Current commitments around the world will only reduce the annual discharge of plastic into the ocean by 7% by 2040, according to the Breaking the Plastic Wave report published by the Pew Charitable Trusts.
The only way to achieve a significant reduction in the flow of plastic into the environment is by acting across the whole lifecycle of plastic, reducing our consumption of plastic, re-using plastic products and improving waste management systems.
And don’t forget as consumers we have incredible strength – we can choose what we buy and how we buy our goods. We can send a clear message to businesses and governments – we want a healthy planet for future generations.
What can you do as an individual to reduce plastic pollution?
- Reduce the amount of plastic you use, by opting for environmentally neutral options. For example, reducing the amount of single use plastic like plastic bags and replacing this with long lasting items like canvas tote bags.
- Dispose of the plastic you use correctly. Make use of the recycling options in your area. Not all plastics can be recycled so check what you can recycle with your local council.
- Share ideas and research that can help reduce single-use plastic in local communities.
- Volunteer with local plastic clean-up groups and raise money to donate to charities that are working to solve the plastic pollution crisis.
- Talk to your local representatives about the issue. Ask them to sign your town or city up to the Plastic Smart Cities Initiative, which mobilises cities and regions to prevent plastic leakage into the natural environment.
- Finally, ask your employer to carry out a plastic audit – looking at what we can do in the workplace as individuals, how we can inform and educate colleagues. At Salix, we are currently working on our own environmental audit that considers plastic waste.
Further solutions for businesses and finance can be found in the world environment day practical guide.
Sources
The University of Birmingham, the Birmingham Plastics Network