Reform Studio Bag – Feature Photo Credit: Suzi Potts
Today, plastic is pervasive in our lives, found in everything, Due to its convenience, plastic is used for almost everything, from single-use plastic bags, kitchen utensils, and food wraps, from storage containers to packaged food, even most milk containers and cardboard cartons are covered with plastic, but that’s not my only concern. We are all literally consuming plastic. There is plastic in the food we eat, the water we drink and even the air we breathe.
This widespread use of plastic has led to a global plastic pollution crisis that harms humans, animals, and the environment. To address this, International Plastic Bag Free Day is observed annually on July 3rd, at the start of Plastic Free July, to encourage reducing plastic bag usage and promoting sustainable alternatives.
WHAT’S THE PROBLEM WITH PLASTIC?
Plastic, the cheap, versatile, and multipurpose material that dominates today’s fast-paced economy, has become a significant environmental issue. Pointless plastic packaging is overwhelming our food and everyday products, and single-use packaging has become the norm in retail, especially in UK supermarkets. Although plastics revolutionised our lives a few decades ago, they have also created immense problems for future generations and the environment, with billions of tons of rubbish being deposited in landfills every year. Plastic packaging that’s not accepted by public recycling systems ends up in landfills and, in some cases, oceans, posing a significant public health hazard.
plastic takes hundreds of years to decompose
Many plastics can take hundreds of years to decompose if they decompose at all. Plastic waste is now considered to be one of the most significant public health and environmental issues of our time. Approximately 79% of all global plastic, including product packaging and shopping bags, ends up in landfills, washes into the ocean, or litters our streets and countryside.
Plastic bottles are one of the worst offenders, with over a million sold every minute globally, or about 20,000 per second, according to market research company Euromonitor. The amount of bottled water consumed has skyrocketed, with over 2,988 million litres consumed in recent years. To prevent plastic from ending up in landfills, one solution is to avoid using plastic altogether or reuse and refill the plastic containers you already have. As the amount of plastic being used continues to grow, it’s vital that we all find ways to reduce our plastic consumption and take steps towards a healthier, sustainable future.
Furthermore, as plastic is made from chemicals, this material also leaves chemicals behind, and many of the chemical additives that give plastic products desirable performance properties have negative effects on human health, as well as the environment.
Related – REFILL NOT LANDFILL – The Growing Global Landfill Crisis
the HUMAN IMPACT
People are exposed to toxic chemicals and plastic particles, called microplastics, whilst using plastic, as some toxic chemicals can leach from the plastic packaging and containers to the foods they contain.
Some plastics that people are exposed to are from Bisphenol, found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins used in food and drink containers; Phthalates, used in food packaging, toys, and cosmetics; Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), commonly used in pipes, vinyl flooring, and credit cards, and Polystyrene, used in packaging materials and disposables.
These plastics are contaminating our food and it has been shown that regular exposure to these chemicals that come from plastic can cause cancers, leukaemia, impaired immunity, birth defects and endocrine disruption. These endocrine disrupters can mimic or interfere with the body’s hormones and are linked with developmental, reproductive, brain, immune, and other problems.
It’s not just the packaging that is poisoning us, microplastics are literally everywhere and they have officially entered our food chain. Once at sea, sunlight, wind, and wave action break down plastic waste into small particles, called microplastics. Microplastics have been found in every corner of the globe, from Mount Everest, the highest peak, to the Mariana Trench, the deepest trough.
Plastic never fully biodegrades, it just breaks down into these small, toxic, pieces. As animals mistakenly ingest microplastics and plants grow on microplastics polluted soils, we also ingest them when we in turn eat the animals, fruit and vegetables.
plastics in the ocean
Similarly, fish are contaminated with microplastics through the ingestion of small plastic particles present in oceans and other water bodies. These microplastics come from a variety of sources, including the breakdown of larger plastic debris, microbeads in personal care products, and synthetic fibres from clothing. Once ingested by fish, microplastics can accumulate in their digestive systems and tissues. When these contaminated fish are consumed by larger predators, including birds, animals and humans, the microplastics enter the food chain, posing potential health risks to all organisms involved.
This bioaccumulation highlights the pervasive nature of plastic pollution and its impact on global food safety and health. Additionally, plastic is polluting our oceans at an astounding rate. 22 million kgs of plastic enter our oceans every day, and this number is increasing. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), 89% of the plastic in the ocean is single-use plastic items such as plastic bags, straws, and disposable utensils. This data was collected through more than 5,000 dives that collected 3,000 pieces of manmade debris.
This pollution is now reaching deeper ocean locations than ever. As well as microplastics, UNEP stated that plastic bags have also been found in the Marina Trench, the world’s deepest ocean trench, which extends 10,898 meters below the surface of the water.
“Finding plastic this deep in the ocean reveals the devastating link between human activity on land and the consequences from marine life below water.”
United nations environment programme
the impact of plastics in the ocean
The impact of plastic is becoming catastrophic; 1000 marine mammals and turtles and 1 million seabirds are killed by plastic pollution annually. Turtles can mistake plastic bags for jellyfish, as a plastic bag floating in the sea not only looks like a jellyfish snack, but it gives off a similar odour. According to a BBC article, this “olfactory trap” might help explain why sea turtles are prone to eating and getting entangled in plastic, say US researchers.
Plastic is often found in the stomachs or necks of dead marine birds and animals as various species, including sea turtles and whales, mistakenly ingest it.
Related – SKIN DEEP: THE PROBLEM WITH PLASTICS AND NANO PARTICLES
ABOUT INTERNATIONAL PLASTIC BAG FREE DAY
At the start of July, which is now globally recognized as Plastic Free July, International Plastic Bag Free Day is observed annually on July 3rd. Plastic bags contribute to vast oceanic waste reefs, forming floating islands of human-made debris stretching hundreds of miles. International Plastic Bag Free Day serves as a reminder that our actions impact the world for generations to come, urging us to rethink our use of plastic bags and consider eco-friendly alternatives.
Related – WHAT IS PLASTIC-FREE JULY?
why plastic bags shouuld be banned
According to WWF, the statistics are as follows:
- Plastic bags were first introduced in 1965;
- On average, plastic bags are used for 25 minutes;
- It takes between 100 to 500 years for a plastic bag to disintegrate (depending on the type of plastic);
- 1 million plastic bags are in used around the world every minute;
- The average European uses about 500 plastic bags per year (zero-waste Europe). Yet Europeans overwhelmingly support a ban on single-use plastic bags;
- 80% of marine litter is plastic; and
- 3.4 million tonnes of plastic carrier bags are produced in the EU every year. This corresponds to the weight of more than two million cars!
THE PLASTIC BAG BAN
This may be something you’re already familiar with, but because of green EU-directives, since 5 October 2015, all large retailers in England have been required by law to charge 5p for all single-use plastic carrier bags. This has now increased to 10p and has been extended to all businesses in the country. The charge has seen a 95% cut in plastic bag sales in major supermarkets since 2015, which is a great step forward and yet not enough to cut down on single-use plastic waste.
Before the 5p bag charge was introduced, the average household used around 140 single-use plastic carrier bags a year, and this has now been reduced to four. A recent report published by charity WRAP – a charity, working with governments, businesses and citizens around the globe to create a world in which resources are used sustainably – revealed that 95% of people in England recognised the wide-ranging benefits to the environment so far from their reduction of single-use plastic bags.
bbc blue planet
In 2017, footage from Blue Planet of a hawksbill turtle entangled in a plastic sack, which was later freed by a cameraman, marked a turning point in public awareness about plastic pollution. Before this, the general understanding of where plastic waste ended up was vague and theoretical. While measures such as charging for carrier bags and promoting reusable coffee cups were already in place, the stark imagery of the turtle brought the dire consequences of consumption and disposability into sharp focus. This footage heightened awareness about issues like microplastics, garbage patches, and the export of Western waste to poorer nations, with seahorses holding plastic cotton buds off the coast of Indonesia serving as another striking example. The response was significant, with 88% of viewers reporting lifestyle changes inspired by what they saw.
Despite this increased awareness and intention to reduce plastic use, the UK remains the second-largest producer of plastic waste per person after the US. Annually, the UK generates nearly five million tonnes of plastic waste, including enough single-use plastic to fill 1,000 Albert Halls, with around two-thirds of this waste being exported to countries with less stringent environmental regulations. This highlights that, despite progress, there is still a considerable amount of work to be done in tackling plastic waste effectively.
THE impact of the PLASTIC BAG BAN
The UK still has a long road ahead to go to make its plastic problem vanish and it can surely take Rwanda and Norway as leading examples – just like any other country should! In fact, in 2008, Rwanda took a significant step by becoming one of the first countries globally to prohibit single-use plastic bags and bottles.
Since then, Rwanda has progressively expanded the ban on single-use plastic items beyond bags. The enforcement has been strict, with fines of US$60 imposed from the outset for carrying a single-use plastic bag. This measure has been crucial in raising awareness about plastic pollution and promoting responsible plastic usage and waste disposal. Consequently, plastic litter has significantly decreased.
Rwanda, in collaboration with Norway, leads the High Ambition Coalition intending to boost efforts to establish a Global Treaty to End Plastic Pollution by 2040.
In Hungary, a tax on plastic bags was put in place in 2012. There were discussions in 2017 about drastically increasing the environmental tax on lightweight plastic bags in supermarkets but no change in the law has been made yet. Then on May 13, 2020 Greenpeace and other NGOs celebrated victory when the Ministry of Innovation and Technology (ITM) submitted a bill on banning disposable plastic bags in Hungary, but it was withdrawn six days later. The bill aimed to ban all disposable and biodegradable plastic bags from January 1, 2021.
Elsewhere, Slovakia has taxed disposable plastic bags since March 2017, with prices between €0.03 and €0.09. Romania imposes a €0.04 eco-tax on non-biodegradable bags and banned lightweight plastic bags from July 1, 2018. Bulgaria taxed plastic bags in 2012, increasing it annually until 2014, and prohibits giving away certain plastic bags for free.
PLASTIC-FREE BAG ALTERNATIVES
Our only hope to reverse the problem we have with plastic pollution is to cut back on our plastic use on land, lessening the amount of plastic that finds its way into the oceans. How do we do that? By finding new materials that can replace our so-loved plastic.
BIOPLASTICS
Bioplastics are plastic alternatives made from biological sources like sugarcane, corn starch, potato starch, fats, oils, soy, proteins, cellulose, and bio-waste, unlike conventional plastics that are made from petroleum-based products. They are less toxic than traditional plastics and do not contain bisphenol A (BPA), a common hormone disruptor. Most bioplastics can be mechanically recycled and are fully biodegradable and compostable, breaking down into water, CO2, and organic matter that is easily absorbed by the environment.
There are three types of bioplastics:
- Bio-based: such as bio-based polyethene (PE), bio-based polyethene terephthalate (PET), and bio-based polyurethanes.
- Biobased and biodegradable plastics: including polylactic acid (PLA), polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), and polybutylene succinate (PBS).
- Petrochemical-based biodegradable plastics: like PBAT and PCL.
However, they often require high-temperature industrial composting facilities for decomposition, and many cities lack the necessary infrastructure. That means, they most likely end up in landfills, where they release methane, a greenhouse gas 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide.
brand recommendations
SURI
You might have already seen SURI on social media, but I love my Suri electronic toothbrush as it delivers a truly exceptional clean for my teeth with a minimal impact on our planet, contrary to plastic toothbrushes!
The brush heads are made from plant-based corn starch and the bristles are made from castor oil, which means these toothbrushes are bio-based and reduce the reliance on petroleum-based plastics. Furthermore, Suri will recycle the heads for free in the UK and US, if you just send them back to them. The body of the brush is made from aluminium, which makes it long-lasting and easily recycled, but you’re most likely to keep the same one for years before changing it. So, in the long run, this toothbrush is saving not only waste to end up in landfill but your money too! Plus, the brand is currently waiting to get its own B Corp approval. You can shop their capsule collection here.
Truthbrush
Truthbrush, designed in Devon, is crafted from organic bamboo and features plant-based bristles made from 100% castor bean oil, significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The company is committed to sustainability, offsetting the carbon footprint produced by shipping their products. Each Truthbrush is meticulously hand-wrapped in fully recyclable packaging, ensuring an eco-friendly approach from production to delivery.
The brushes are cruelty-free and vegan, reflecting the brand’s dedication to ethical standards. Truthbrush are members of 1% for the planet and embody a blend of luxury and sustainability, offering a beautiful bamboo toothbrush that aligns with environmentally conscious values.
BIODEGRADABLES
This type of plastic is commonly seen in supermarkets labelled as “biodegradable plastic bags,” “photodegradable,” or “oxo-biodegradable plastic bags.” They differ from bioplastics as they break down in the presence of oxygen and light, chemically resembling traditional petrochemical bags. They contain pro-oxidant additives that accelerate their decomposition under specific conditions and are widely used as alternatives to regular plastic bags, but there are concerns about their decomposition process.
The practical breakdown of biodegradable plastic bags through anaerobic digestion in landfills or oceans often does not occur as expected. Without the necessary temperature, light, and oxygen levels, decomposition fails, leading to incomplete breakdown and the formation of smaller plastic pieces, microplastics, that pose a threat to wildlife and marine ecosystems.
brand recommendations
Hedoine
Hedoine is a UK-based brand that has released one of the world’s first biodegradable tights in its quest to make hosiery more sustainable and address the issue of billions of pairs ending up in landfills. The nylon is tights is also a type of plastic and takes way too long to decompose, if it does at all. By making their tights from biodegradable materials, Hedoine is trying to put a stop to the billions of tights that add to our plastic waste problem every day.
Community Clothing
If you’re in search of eco-friendly sports apparel (which can be quite challenging to find without breaking the bank), I’ve come across the brand Community Clothing which I’m excited to introduce to you. Their products are plant-based, organic, natural, biodegradable, and proudly made in the UK.
Community Clothing exclusively uses natural fabrics in their clothing and minimises the use of synthetic materials. Their Organic Athletic range comprises running and sports shorts, vests, t-shirts, and training tops – all crafted entirely without plastic. This collection is the outcome of a 5-year collaboration with the UK and one European textile manufacturer, focusing on creating lightweight, quick-drying, breathable cotton fabrics and introducing an innovative woven natural rubber and cotton elastic. Eliminating plastic proved to be more challenging than anticipated, from sourcing cotton thread for sewing to using oil-free printing inks and plastic-free packaging. Despite the hurdles, their dedication prevailed.
RECYCLED PLASTICS
This is plastic that gets broken down and recycled into new plastic, new products and new uses. Over and over again. Due to varying molecular compositions, different plastics necessitate distinct recycling methods. For instance, plastic bags may require a different recycling process compared to plastic bottles and packaging materials. Nonetheless, when the recycling process is done correctly, this solution is one to keep in mind as it allows us to keep using and reusing the same plastic for years to come. By recycling the plastic already out there, we can actually help put a stop to plastic pollution, as this recycled waste is the one currently polluting out planet.
brand recommendations
La Pochette
La Pochette is a luxury, sustainable accessories company known for designing bags and accessories suited for modern lifestyles. Their signature fabric, made from 100% recycled plastic bottles, is machine washable at low temperatures and offers a sustainable alternative to single-use plastic bags. Notably, their Sweat Bag is an antibacterial, water-resistant kit bag designed for workout gear, using antimicrobial technology to stop bacteria and deodorizing fabric to keep odors at bay. Lightweight and compact, the Sweat Bag provides convenient and hygienic storage for gym gear..
4Ocean
4Ocean, a profit-oriented venture, is built on the idea that business can have a positive impact. Their commitment to action over words is evident in their initiative to remove one pound of ocean trash for every product sold. Their iconic bracelets are crafted from recycled plastic materials and symbolize various ocean animals, promoting environmental awareness. Additionally, they offer a variety of reusable products to tackle pollution at its root. Recently, they introduced iPhone cases crafted from ocean debris and jewelry made from trash collected in Oahu.
Been London
BEEN London is a UK-based brand creating versatile, timeless handbags from discarded materials like plastic and leather trimmings. Their goal is to shift the narrative around waste through innovation and protect nature. Each piece is handcrafted in the UK to minimize carbon footprint and preserve local skills. They use materials such as recycled leather, plastics for linings and zips, and vegan leather from pineapple leaves and apple peels. Their zero waste design approach uses only square and rectangular panels. For every bag purchased, they plant a tree and have planted one acre in the Peruvian Amazon.
Solgaard
Solgaard’s goal is to reduce ocean plastic by 50% by 2025, and they collaborate with The Plastic Bank to combat ocean pollution. The Plastic Bank retrieves plastic from the ocean and transforms it into practical items, creating employment opportunities for teams in the Philippines while addressing plastic waste. When designing their products, Solgaard prioritises sustainability. In addition to their eco-friendly approach, their designs also incorporate innovative elements such as solar panels on backpacks and USB charging ports in luggage!
RubyMoon
If you seek a brand that embodies genuine social and environmental responsibility, look no further than RubyMoon. They utilise recycled nylon fabric crafted from fishing nets retrieved from the ocean, producing innovative “Gym to Swim” attire. Moreover, they allocate all their profits towards providing 100% microloans to women entrepreneurs worldwide, in partnership with LendwithCare.org. This initiative aims to offer business training and financial support to help break the ongoing cycles of poverty.
RubyMoon incorporates Econyl recycled nylon from abandoned fishing nets and other waste materials like carpets in their production process. Their designs adhere to the core principles of circular design by ensuring materials are versatile and long-lasting. They also employ efficient printing techniques to reduce ink and fabric wastage, along with minimising the use of tags and packaging whenever feasible.
ECOER
ECOER is a sustainable online fashion brand offering high-quality, eco-friendly, and economical clothing and sunglasses made from recycled plastic and ocean fishing nets. ECOER uses recycled plastic from landfills and ghost fishing nets, which are the most prevalent type of micro-plastic in the ocean and pose a significant threat to marine life. These durable nets can entrap marine creatures for over 500 years unless removed from the ocean.
ECOER strives to minimize waste at the source and reduce environmental impact. They discard single-use plastics by using only FSC certified and 100% recycled packaging for tags and inserts, and 100% recyclable and biodegradable shipping mailers.
Boden
Boden utilizes ECONYL®, a nylon fibre made from fishnets and other nylon waste from both pre-consumer and post-consumer sources. Their recycled swimwear fabric offers the same performance as traditional materials while contributing to environmental clean-up efforts.
Boden is dedicated to fostering a safe working environment for all individuals engaged in the production of their garments. The company has already integrated commendable sustainable and ethical practices into its operations and has outlined objectives for the future. In addition to their recycled fabrics, they also have a colourful range of non-plastic bags made from natural fibres.
Parley for the Oceans
Parley for the Oceans is the global environmental organisation and network where creators, thinkers and leaders come together to raise awareness for the beauty and fragility of the oceans and collaborate on projects that can end their destruction. Working across the creative communities, brands, governments and environmental groups, they take action to protect the oceans, Earth’s largest and most vital ecosystem, with an approach led by creativity, collaboration and eco-innovation.
Their mission is to rapidly transform human-made materials and systems to work in harmony with the ecosystem of nature, and to inspire and empower more impactful participation in the environmental cause. With initiatives combining science, art, fashion, design, technology, finance, entertainment, sport, space and ocean exploration, they address today’s biggest ocean threats, challenge the status quo and invite everyone to own their role in the solutions. They believe that the only way forward is together — and there is no greater unifier than the life force that connects us all: the oceans.
An example of their efforts is the Tobias Rehberger x Parley Special Edition Ocean Bag. This limited-edition tote bag, designed by artist Tobias Rehberger, removes 20 pounds of marine plastic debris and is made from Ocean Plastic®, utilising approximately five intercepted plastic bottles. The bag supports Parley’s cleanup network in 28 countries, serves as a replacement for single-use plastic bags, and highlights the importance of giving back to the oceans.
FacePlant Sunglasses
FacePlant Sunglasses are dedicated to transforming plastic waste into durable eyewear for adventure. Each pair of their sustainable sunglasses is made from five recycled plastic bottles, featuring biodegradable and replaceable lenses. In the UK alone, 7.7 billion plastic bottles are used annually, with only 45% being recycled. FacePlant not only recycles these bottles but upcycles them into durable frames.
Partnering with Greenspark, they remove an additional 20 plastic bottles from the ocean for every pair sold, totaling 25 recycled bottles per sale.
Their tough, impact-resistant lenses, made from bio-nylon polymer, biodegrade after 10 days in the ground but remain durable during use. Scratched lenses can be composted and replaced, extending the sunglasses’ lifecycle indefinitely.
what can we do to help?
Individual actions, however small, make a difference. Here are four simple ways to have an impact:
- Answer Free the Ocean’s daily trivia question to fund plastic removal from oceans and coastlines.
- Shop sustainably to reduce plastic use by choosing plastic-free alternatives.
- Say ‘No’ to single-use plastics to show corporations you want change.
- Start conversations about the plastic issue with friends, family, and local businesses to promote solutions.
By promoting environmental conservation and encouraging the adoption of sustainable practices, this initiative aims to diminish the harmful effects of plastic bags on marine and wildlife, as well as the environment. By raising awareness and speaking out on this day, we can make a difference and work towards a more sustainable future for all, and that’s what I’m here to do with this article. So feel free to read, learn and share it with your pals!
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