WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY: BEATING PLASTIC POLLUTION ONE DAY AT A TIME

Since it was first invented in the early 1900s, the use of plastic globally has escalated to the point of becoming one of today’s leading environmental issues. Each year eight million tons of plastic is deposited into our oceans, killing an estimated 100,000 marine mammals.  A significant contributor to this pollution are single use plastics such as plastic bags, coffee cups and straws contaminating the ocean and making its way into marine food webs. This is where we all come in!

Currently, New Zealand is rated the 10th worst nation for creating urban waste. But by saying 'No' to plastic waste each of us commit the first step to reducing our plastic footprint and maintaining our clean green kiwi reputation even in our concrete jungles. Did you know that 50% of consumer plastics are designed to be used only once! Rather than living a life of convenience we can live a life of sustainability and make that significant first step towards reducing plastic pollution for the benefit of people, animals and the planet. A trillion plastic bags are used annually worldwide, nearly a million plastic drink bottles are sold every minute and globally only 18 percent of all plastic is recycled. Cumulatively we all can contribute to creating a plastic world, cumulatively we all can contribute to creating a plastic-free one.

So each morning wake up and think about the huge difference that you can make that day by saying 'No' to plastic waste, by talking with your friends and family about sustainable living, by actively contributing to a plastic free New Zealand and a plastic free world.

See how you can beat plastic pollution every day.