13 June 2018
Last Week's World Environment Day
Last Tuesday, June 5th, was the United Nations World Environment Day, which this year focussed on the theme ‘Beat Plastic Pollution’. Coincidentally on June 8th, it was also World Oceans Day.
Each year, 9 million tons of plastic waste ends up in the ocean. Some estimates suggest this plastic could remain in marine environments for 450 years or longer, and the problem is only getting worse. Addressing a challenge of this magnitude requires an unprecedented approach.
If you can’t reuse it, refuse it.
National Geographic is this year launching a multiyear initiative to reduce single-use plastics and their impact on the world’s oceans. They’ve prompted the question – planet or plastic?
91% of plastic isn’t recycled
Even one of the most remote places on Earth couldn’t hide from the scourge of plastic trash.
A recent study revealed that a plastic bag, like the kind given away at grocery stores, is now the deepest known piece of plastic trash, found at a depth of nearly 11,000 metres inside the Mariana Trench
Join the fight
Thankfully, some major brands are now joining the fight to reduce plastic bags from the planet, encouraging consumers to bring reusable bags. Woolworths is one of these companies. Currently, the company gives out a whopping 3.2 billion plastic bags annually which has prompted them to recently announce the brave choice to ban plastic bags in Australia. More durable plastic bags will be made available for 15c, and of course, their green hessian bags will also be available.
It would be ignorant to think it’s solely up to large companies to tread this path for society; the responsibility is equally worn by consumers – you and I – who need to change our daily habits to help combat this crisis.
Start small, by taking your green bags with you when you go grocery shopping and using reusable water bottles as opposed to purchasing bottled water. Say no to plastic straws. It’s small actions like these that will build to a greater movement, and will just become part of your everyday lifestyle.
Main Image by Justin Hofman. To ride currents, seahorses clutch drifting seagrass or other natural debris. In the polluted waters off the Indonesian island of Sumbawa, this seahorse latched onto a plastic cotton swab—“a photo I wish didn’t exist,” says photographer Justin Hofman.
To learn more head to the World Environment Day website or National Geographic to read more about how to fight the plastic crisis.