By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies and similar tracking technologies described in our, skyrocketing plastic production, low levels of recycling, and poor waste management, more than half of the worlds sea turtles, it doesnt go away: plastics are forever., taking action to reduce their plastic use, a cleanup of your local beach or waterway, Harnessing Tourism for Thresher Shark Conservation in Alor, Indonesia, Impacting Communities & Oceans: Expedition Impact Fund Supports Cleanup Campaign, 5 SENS CEO Divya Gugnani Talks Sustainability and Supporting Oceanic Societys Global Ocean Cleanup, 2nd Annual Global Ocean Cleanup Unites Organizations, Artists, and Brands to Fight Ocean Pollution Worldwide. Ten ways to reduce plastic in our canals The amount of plastic and litter in our waterways had dropped by 30% at the start of 2020, thanks to our volunteers and everyone who has taken part in the Plastics Challenge so far. This solution can not only reduce pollutants entering the ocean from the reduction in single-use plastic bottles, but also help the 1 in 3 people worldwide who lack access to clean drinking water. Each year, close to 20 billion plastic bottles are tossed in the trash. In countries with fewer effective end-of-life waste management systems, plastic waste is far more likely to end up in inadequately controlled landfills or open dumps. This approach can support consumer choice of sustainable products. We spoke earlier on the recycling myth and how most recycled packaging waste is downcycled into lower value or non recyclable products, meaning that the myth of recycling only delays the plastics inevitable journey to the landfill. Only about 9% of plastic has ever been recycled since the 1950s. Governments must work to ensure a just transition for workers working in the plastics economy and guarantee the health of the most affected communities. Washington DC 20002 Menstrual products are the fifth most common item found on Europe's beaches, more widespread than single-use coffee cups, cutlery or straws! Bioplastics not as green as they seem, approach with caution. DIY your cleaning products- use a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water as an all-purpose spray cleaner (storing it in a reused spray bottle) and produce wash. The demand for plastics doubled in the last 20 years and is expected to double again in the next 20 years. Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs can ensure that manufacturers maintain responsibility for single-use plastic products throughout the whole life cycles of those products. World Resources Institute protect the planet for this Plastic bag alternatives may also have higher carbon footprints, be difficult to compost or release microplastics into the environment. Youll receive your first NRDC action alert and update email soon! Try natural beeswax coated cloth wraps instead of plastic cling film. Contrary to common belief, the plastics industry/fossil fuel industry supports/upholds the lifestyles of billionaires and keeps people in poverty. Over 90% of plastics are not recycled. They must have supporting legal frameworks at the global, regional, national and local levels that create the conditions for a no-plastic-in-nature future. With skyrocketing plastic production, low levels of recycling, and poor waste management, between 4 and 12 million metric tons of plastic enter the ocean each yearenough to cover every foot of coastline on the planet! How Do We Solve the Plastic Pollution Crisis? Three Plastics are ingested through seafood, drinks and even common salt. Urge your elected officials to follow the lead of those in San Francisco, Chicago, and close to 150 other cities and counties by introducing or supporting legislation that would make plastic-bag use less desirable. Currently, plastic accounts for 85 per cent ofallmarine litter. Since the pandemic, 50 U.S. cities moved away from plastic regulation. Plastic pollution is one of the greatest threats to ocean health worldwide. Your voice is powerful. Ocean pollution effects run deep. As a result, plastic has contaminated the planets soils, freshwater bodies and oceans. All plastic produced is derived primarily from oil. NRDC works to safeguard the earthits people, its plants and animals, and the natural systems on which all life depends. If you need help finding a place to recycle plastic waste near you, check Earth911s recycling directory. Take note of how often you rely on these products and replace them with reusable versions. In what other ways did we arrive at this crisis, and how can we reverse it? Wherever you live, the easiest and most direct way that you can get started is by reducing your own use of single-use plastics. Microplastics: Australian lake among world's most polluted in landmark Several million tons of debris end up in the worlds oceans every year, and much of it is improperly discarded plastic litter. Before it banned the trade in 2018, China alone imported nearly 8 million tonnes of plastic waste a year. Take your own containers or cloth bags to your favorite store and purchase in bulk. This constant barrage (the equivalent of 136 billion milk jugs each year, estimates a study published in the journal Science) poses a serious danger to marine life. In Kenya, it is common to find water refill stations in supermarkets or local kiosks. .chakra .wef-10kdnp0{margin-top:16px;margin-bottom:16px;line-height:1.388;}What is the World Economic Forum doing about plastic pollution? Corporates should also invest in Research & Development and come up with sustainable packaging and delivery channels. To stop plastic pollution, tactics should include building on and reinforcing existing initiatives, such as banning single-use plastics and upgrading national waste management plans. These processes, particularly open incineration, release toxic gasses, as well as nitrous and sulphur oxides, all of which can affect air quality. Look for alternatives. There are 4,000 plastic bottles used every second. Together, we can. Reducing the amount of plastic in the ocean can improve the health of mother nature and keep microplastics out of drinking water, rain, and even human placenta. Importantly, these initiatives cannot exist in a vacuum. Mechanical recycling: a worker feeds plastic waste into a crushing machine at a recycling facility in . Join the global movement to fight plastic waste by participating in our 7-day challenge. Greenpeace Africa, with the help of its outstanding volunteers, is doing a lot of work in this direction. 10 tips to reduce plastic pollution - National Geographic Kids But our road to recovery must include the development of a circular economy. U.S. Actions to Address Plastic Pollution It seems obvious, but were not doing a great job of it. There are also terrestrial aspects to plastic pollution. These programs require producers to be proper stewards of their own products. 1. 9. These organizations rely on donations from people like you to continue their important work. The good news? Local governments must create plastic waste standards and regulations to deliver upon these policies. Reduce Pollutants Choose nontoxic chemicals and dispose of herbicides, pesticides, and cleaning products properly. This means about 50kg of plastic per meter of coastline. These pollutants enter the ocean directly, through rivers, stormwater or the wind. For example, in Muncar, a small village in East Java, Indonesia, public private partnership organizers built a waste management system and strategy to optimize waste collection and processing for both inorganic and organic wastes, change behaviors, set regulations, and build institutional capacity. Tell your friends and family about how they can be part of the solution, or host a viewing party for one of the many plastic pollution focused documentaries, like A Plastic Ocean, Garbage Island: An Ocean Full of Plastic, Bag It, Addicted to Plastic, Plasticized, or Garbage Island. We will keep you informed with the latest alerts and progress reports. Regulating the use of single-use plastic is an important step towards solving the plastics problem. 10 G Street NE Plastic pollution has become one of the most visible environmental problems of our time, with an estimated 11 million metric tons leaking into the ocean per yearequivalent to more than a garbage truck's worth per minute. Plastics are making the climate crisis worse 99% of plastics are made from fossil fuels and corporations keep making more. Since 2000, the world has produced as much plastic as all the preceding years combined. World Resources Institute Nestl, Unilever, The Coca Cola Company and Diageo announced plans to improve the collection and recycling of plastics across Africa, marginalized communities face disproportionate health impacts. Most plastic products are designed for single use only, without considering their potential for reuse. Different rates apply to different plastic packaging materials, with the lowest rate for recycled plastics and the highest rate for primary plastics. So the best thing we can do to protect our waterways is try to keep as much plastic as possible out of the waste stream in the first place. China's rising tide: Expanding investment in blue finance, How AI and underwater microphones are helping in marine life conservation, How innovation and collaboration can transform ocean health, Marine heatwave threatens UK's seagrass meadows, but clean-up can help. But heres the thing: Plastic bags and straws arent the oceans only pollution problem. For those times when you do order in or eat out, tell the establishment you dont need any plastic cutlery or, for some serious extra credit, bring your own food-storage containers to restaurants for leftovers. Pew will continue to engage with stakeholders and policymakers at the INC to support efforts to develop an ambitious, evidence-based approach for reducing plastic pollution, including from microplastics . Add your voice https://t.co/zS6u8Klxv3 pic.twitter.com/XnjzbG0k7Z. Plastic pollutionin oceans and other bodies of watercontinues togrow sharply andcouldmore than double by 2030,according to anassessmentreleasedonThursdayby the UN Environment Programme (UNEP). Currently, many of us see convenience as being equal to disposal, we need to work toward a vision of healthy, sustainable and more connected communities free of plastics. 10 Simple Ways to Cut Back on Single-Use Plastic in Your Life #CleanSeashttps://t.co/97DMOZD3Ee pic.twitter.com/3xjthnsTh2. Most beverage and liquid cleaner bottles will be #1 (PET), which is commonly accepted by most curbside recycling companies. Bionic's ocean-recovered plastic polymers can be used in a wide range of products. 10 Ways to Reduce Plastic Pollution - Ocean Legacy Foundation Through the collective efforts of millions of people globally, an unstoppable movement can push for an ambitious Global Plastics Treaty that will effectively halt the flow of plastic and put an end to the plastic era. 8. We can wean ourselves off plastic by looking for alternatives like glass, ceramic, stainless steel or wood. Shifting to sustainable land-based aquaculture systems could reduce a number of pollutants associated with coastal aquaculture, such as plastic pollution from lost or discarded gear and untreated waste with high levels of nitrogen and phosphorous. Buy in bulk. It includes both plastic shopping bags and plastic sachets of drinking water. As important as it is to change our individual behaviors, such changes alone are insufficient to stop ocean plastic pollution. We need increased ambition and innovation by governments, companies and civil society, as well as the thoughtful adoption of a variety of preventative policy and legislative measures to address the scale of the problem. Thanks for signing up. Around Town 4. If we are going to reduce plastic pollution, there must be comprehensive implementation. Marine debris, including plastics, paper, wood, metal and other manufactured material is found on beaches worldwide and at all depths of the ocean. We need to enforce and strengthen legislation to curb plastic pollution. This includes imposing fees on single-use plastics, encouraging voluntary industry standards to reduce fossil-fuel-based plastics ,and shifting cultural norms around waste generation, consumption and reuse. 15 Ways to Reduce Your Plastic Waste | Earth.Org The issue of plastic pollution demands attention at virtually every level of government. Other failures that we witness all through the plastic lifecycle: To tackle the plastic pollution crisis and end the throwaway culture, big brands like Coca-Cola, Nestl, Pepsi and Unilever need to urgently phase out single-use plastic by replacing their packaging with systems of refill and reuse. To reduce plastic pollution caused primarily by the throwaway culture pushed by big brands like Unilever and Coca-Cola, we must work towards an ambitious, legally-binding global plastics treaty that will cap and phase out or stop production and use, and ultimately end single-use plastic pollution. Our Federal Tax ID is 94-3105570.

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