Turn Off The Tap To #BeatPlasticPollution: Get Involved!

Turn Off The Tap To #BeatPlasticPollution: Get Involved!

UN Environment Program logo with banner Protecting the plant is everyone's responsibility

The 2023 World Environment Day campaign is #BeatPlasticPollution. It is a global call-out for  global solutions to combat plastic pollution.

An excellent report was released earlier in May 2023 by the UN Environment Programme: Turning off the Tap: How the world can end plastic pollution and create a circular economy. It is my hope that the Treaty currently being investigated in Paris incorporates most of the recommended actions in this report.

The report is thoroughly researched and analytic of the systemic changes needed to be made by all stakeholders in all industries and policy environments to eliminate plastic manufacturing and usage going forward AND to deal with the huge legacy of manufacturing and products in plastic. The report contains tables identifying actions from consumers upwards and downwards which are a great implementation plan for attacking the plastic problem.

What I find particularly instructive about the report is the attention it puts on the activities needed by the supply side to address reuse, recycling, developing alternatives et al. Especially the need for Government action to introduce legislation to ban particular plastics (in my view, that includes vegan leather made in PU or PVC) and the need for Government to oversee standards being introduced for definitions of biodegradable and compostable materials, safe disposal and returns.

AND the absolute importance of the communication strategies required for the demand side to adopt actions to reduce plastic pollution.

In the report is an image that represents the message repeatedly put out by James&Co: an individual carrying a string bag. Here it is:

from UN EP report to turn off the tap on plastic pollution. Showing carrying a cotton string bag

It is the simplest of consumer actions which can be taken - an effective communications strategy beyond the James&Co call-outs would be huge!

World Environment Day on 5 June is calling on us all to take action to #BeatPlasticPollution. We recommend following the UN Environment Protection website for actions and our website for the deals we're offering for retailers and consumers to Get Involved!

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