Plastic is a huge polluter of the environment, with almost 100 billion bits of plastic packaging thrown away each year in the UK alone. However, efforts are being made to reduce plastic pollution, and from this month, businesses in England are prohibited from supplying, selling, or offering certain single-use plastic items. Although there is still a long way to go, much has already changed for the better, with reductions in the use of plastic bottles and bags being compared to cultural shifts in previous years.
One way the UK has started to turn away from plastics is through the use of refillable water bottles. Approximately 60% of the British population now use a reusable bottle, compared to just 20% eight years ago, and refill stations have been established through the Refill app, which guides users to venues offering free water refills. The app also shows which shops offer discounts to customers using a reusable coffee cup or lunchbox for food-to-go.
Another way the UK is aiming to reduce plastic pollution is through the use of tote bags. A plastic tax at checkouts and increased public awareness has led to a third reduction in the number of single-use bags used, with only 133 million being used annually, compared to 7.6 billion in 2014.
However, there are still problem areas, especially in the use of microplastics. The UK government banned microbeads in rinse-off cosmetics and personal care products in 2018 and is now exploring an across-the-board microplastics ban, which would align with measures introduced by the EU in recent days. The banning of microplastics would be popular with the public, with 60% supporting an outright ban and 89% wanting washing machine manufacturers to fit microfibre filters as standard.
Looking to the future, innovative technological advancements will help reduce plastic pollution. For example, biodegradable plastic made from farm and brewing waste is currently being developed by the German-based company Traceless, which degrades in as few as two weeks. The Global Plastics Treaty – aimed at reducing plastic pollution by 80% by 2040 – is being drafted, with the task of implementing the treaty starting after it is published in November
Read the full article on Positive News here: Read More