As holidaymakers pack their inflatable lilos for holiday, Polly Eaton, A Rocha UK’s Eco Diocese Officer, reflects on the problem of plastic and what we can do about it.
The sun is shining and holidaymakers are hitting beaches and pools with inflatable lilos, donuts and even unicorns. However, new research has found that over half (53%) of people throw away their inflatables every year. The holiday company Thomas Cook has partnered with the Marine Conservation Society to urge holidaymakers to consider the impact of plastics on marine wildlife and ecosystems when they are deciding whether or not to bring that inflatable home and reuse it next year.
So, what’s the problem with plastic? Although plastics have only been around for the last 60-70 years, they have transformed our lives. Light, durable, versatile and cheap to produce, plastic is all around us in items such as tea bags, wet wipes and even clothing. However, plastic production is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions because it is made from chemicals that come from oil, petrol, gas or coal. The main issue with plastic is that it takes hundreds of years to decompose, and even then, it never fully disappears, ultimately turning into microplastic particles. Toothbrushes, for example, can take up to 500 years or more to decompose.
Clearly much bolder action on plastic pollution is required on all levels, from individual and household, to national and global. There is much to build on, for example, in 2011 the Plastic Free Foundation launched Plastic Free July which has become a global movement with millions of people taking action locally. Maybe you were involved last month? The idea is to commit a month to going ‘plastic free’ to raise awareness of the issue and show how anyone can reduce their own plastic consumption while advocating for policies to reduce plastic pollution on a global scale. The UK government introduced the plastic bag charge in 2015 intended to encourage people to reuse bags and reduce plastic waste and this has been a hugely successful policy with plastic bag use falling by 98%.
However, despite further efforts to cut single-use plastic in the UK, much of our plastic waste is simply dumped. Every year the UK produces 2.5 to 5 million tonnes of plastic waste, over 50% of which is exported. Once overseas, plastic waste continues to cause harm including respiratory problems in people near dumping sites and microplastics infesting fish. In March 2022, the governments of 175 countries agreed to start work on a landmark global treaty on plastic pollution. This treaty would cover the full plastic lifecycle, from extraction of oil and gas and plastic production, through to design, use, and management of plastic waste. Negotiations will conclude in 2024, so this is a critical opportunity to encourage the new Labour government to champion this critical treaty.
If we take seriously the instruction from Jesus to ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ (Mark 12:31) then surely the action of sending ‘our problem’ elsewhere has got to be challenged? Our global brothers and sisters are not only facing the greatest impact of climate change, they are suffering directly from our overconsumption of plastic. Banning plastic waste exportation would force more dramatic steps to be taken within the UK and necessitate a reduction in the reliance on single-use plastic. Whilst the raw materials, allowing us to create such a transformative material come from God’s creation, our Christian duty to love our neighbour must shape how we use this resource. That’s why it’s so important to act locally, by reducing your plastic waste at home, and think globally by supporting international movements and policies to end plastic pollution.
For tips on reducing your plastic consumption on holiday and more about the campaign, visit the Marine Conservation Society website.
