Earth day is a celebration of the planet we live on as well as an opportunity to talk about climate change action.
The theme of Earth Day 2024 is “Planet vs. Plastics”. This is about fighting the big problem of plastic all over the world. The goal is to join together to make much less plastic – 60% less by 2040.
Facts and information about plastics
- Half of all plastics ever manufactured have been made in the last 20 years.
- In 2020, we generated more than 500 million tonnes of plastic waste – 900% more than in 1980
- 40%of the plastics produced yearly are single-use plastics.
- Every year, about eight million tonnes of plastic waste escape into the oceans from coastal nations. That’s the equivalent of setting five bin bags full of rubbish on every foot of coastline around the world.
- It takes up to 400 years to break down plastics and their additives.
- Microplastics have become a new health hazard, as they have been found in public drinking water systems and drifting through the air.
- Each year 100,000 animals in the sea are killed by plastic.
What has Transform done to reduce plastic waste?
- Every office has its own cups and mugs to avoid consuming single-use plastics such as bottles.
- We have arranged for all our offices to have recycling bins by May 2024.
- We also have provided all our offices with stainless steel cutlery to replace single-use plastic cutlery.
- Our offices are also equipped with Microwaves and plates to encourage us to bring our own lunch to work, which also reduces plastic from packaging.
What changes can you make to reduce plastic waste?
Wrapping up your sandwiches?
Instead of using cling film which is not recyclable, use foil or reusable beeswax wraps.
Fancy a cuppa?
Make sure you use teabags that don't contain plastic or perhaps use loose leaf tea and a tea strainer!
Need fresh breath after lunch?
Conventional chewing gum is made from plastic (yes really!) so look out for plastic free alternatives.
Call Ernie!
He drove the fastest milk cart in the west apparently… More and more people are going old school and having their milk delivered in glass bottles. Milk floats are even electric to reduce CO2 emissions!
How can you re-use plastic?
There's lot's of crafty ideas for re-using your plastics – who remembers their dad's Vitalite tubs full of screws?
Small changes make all the difference
There are lots of small changes you can make to reduce plastic in your life:
- Buy tomato sauce or mayonnaise in a glass jar rather than a plastic squeezy bottle.
- Pick loose fruit and veg and take your own reusable bag.
- Not all plastics can be recycled ‘kerb side’, so why not use one of your ‘bags for life', save up all those other things, and take them with you to the supermarket to be recycled.
- Avoid buying bottled water and buy your own reusable water bottle.
- Carry a reusable coffee cup that you can have filled at the coffee shop, that saves on the plastic disposable lids and can sometimes come with a discount!
