Influential figures from various industries and celebrities have united to urge all political parties to take decisive action to protect Britain from the growing issue of plastic pollution. Greenpeace UK, Oceana UK, and Ocean Bottle are among the signatories of an open letter organized by UK environmental charity City to Sea ahead of Word Refill Day on June 16th. They are demanding the implementation of legally binding reuse targets by the new government to combat plastic waste effectively.
The letter, delivered to the leaders of the Conservative, Labour, and Liberal Democrat parties at their headquarters in London, emphasizes the need for swift progress in transitioning away from single-use packaging. City to Sea is calling for legally binding targets of 30 percent reusable packaging by 2030 to address the significant problem of single-use plastic packaging in the UK, where almost two billion pieces of plastic packaging are discarded each week.
As the general election campaign progresses, it is vital for parties to commit to fighting plastic pollution by embracing City to Sea’s reuse manifesto, which calls for a national shift towards reuse and refill systems that eliminate the need for unnecessary single-use plastic packaging.
While some retailers and brands have initiated trials for refillable and returnable packaging, legislative changes are necessary to scale these programs and drive industry-wide transformation. Government intervention is crucial to creating a level playing field and ensuring that businesses operate within a standardized regulatory framework.
Jane Martin, CEO of City to Sea, emphasizes the importance of collaboration in addressing plastic pollution, stating, “Here at City to Sea, we have been working with our partners to expand refill and reuse trials, helping industry take steps towards a world with less plastic pollution. However, for real change to occur, a harmonized regulatory framework facilitated by government intervention is essential.”
Thalia Day, Impact Lead for Ocean Bottle, highlights the need to move away from a throwaway culture to promote a sustainable, circular economy that preserves natural resources and fosters social well-being.
Hugo Tagholm, Executive Director of Oceana UK, stresses the urgency of reducing single-use plastic for the sake of the ocean, wildlife, and human health. He emphasizes the role of government in encouraging industry to adopt less harmful business models and create sustainable solutions.
Rudy Schulkind, Political Campaigner at Greenpeace UK, criticizes the lack of decisive action by the government in addressing the plastics crisis and calls for binding reuse targets in the UK and a Global Plastics Treaty to cut production worldwide.
The open letter includes signatures from influential individuals and organizations committed to fighting plastic pollution through innovative solutions and policy changes.
City to Sea, an environmental charity dedicated to preventing plastic pollution, leads global campaigns to implement refill and reuse initiatives and create a more sustainable future.
For more information on City to Sea’s reuse manifesto, visit: https://www.citytosea.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/The-Reuse-Manifesto.pdf
