Earth Day 2024 – Planet vs Plastics

Earth Day has arrived, a poignant reminder of our collective responsibility to come together to protect the planet we all call home. It also has a poignant ‘mirror’ moment where you may realise how little may have improved in terms of change or genuine impact since the last one. For us, Earth Day is not confined to a single date on the calendar; it’s a guiding principle ingrained in our mission every day. However, this year’s theme, “Planet vs Plastics” underscores the urgent need to address the threat of plastic pollution, one issue that now affects every person on this planet every day.  

Plastic, once hailed as a revolutionary material, has now become one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. The planet is suffocating in plastic waste, from clogging our oceans to infiltrating our soils, the problem is undeniable. It’s harming wildlife and ecosystems and microplastics are found everywhere, disrupting waterways, oceans, food chains and human health. In this blog, we’ll explore ways to reduce plastic use and emphasise the critical role nature can play in helping to alleviate the weight of the problem.  

PLASTIC’S Environmental TOLL

Every year, millions of tons of plastic cascade into our oceans, poisoning marine life and the earth’s ecosystems. The staggering truth of over 8 million tons of plastic entering the ocean annually paints a grim picture. From entanglement in discarded fishing gear to ingestion of microplastics, the consequences are dire. Furthermore, plastic debris can persist for centuries breaking down into smaller particles but never truly disappearing. 

In the UK, this problem has never been more prevalent. The UK is one of the worst countries in the world at producing and recycling plastic. The recent UK ‘Big Plastic Count’ campaign by Greenpeace and Everyday Plastic provided a stark reminder of these statistics where they reported:

🏠 UK households are throwing away an estimated 1.7billion pieces of plastic packaging every week. That’s 90 billion pieces a year.  

🥦 The most counted category was food and drink packaging (3,769,205 pieces).  

🔥 Over half (58%) of the pieces are being incinerated which is up from 46% in the 2022 count. 

♻️ Only 17% would get recycled, 14% would be exported and 11% would end up in landfill.

THE INTERCONNECTED CRISES

Plastic pollution is just one strand of the interconnected crises we face. The climate emergency and biodiversity loss are twin challenges demanding our immediate attention. Plastic’s origin lies in fossil fuels, linking its proliferation directly to the extraction and burning of oil and gas. To combat plastic pollution, we must confront its roots. We must drop drilling for new oil and gas and reduce the amount of carbon emissions emitted into our atmosphere.

However, we do believe nature recovery has a role to play in alleviating the strains of plastic pollution on our planet. The dual biodiversity and climate crises are complex and interconnected and require a variety of solutions. Reducing the number of plastics created and reducing the amount incinerated is extremely important but understanding that nature itself also offers powerful solutions to support combatting this is vital. Restoring natural processes in grasslands, forests and wetlands (to name just a few) can play an important role in building healthier ecosystems to better deal with plastic debris and prevent plastic from entering our waterways and improving water quality.  

How CAN NATURAL PROCESS RESTORATION HELP TO ALLEVIATE THE WEIGHT OF THE PROBLEM?

As a business, we strongly believe in the power of natural process restoration and believe this can help to support the weight of the plastic pollution crisis. Using our recent wetland restoration project at Watercress Farm as an example, restoring natural process within this agricultural land holding is supporting:

1. Floodplain Management 

• By restoring rivers and wetland features, we create natural buffers against flooding. This not only protects communities from downstream flooding but prevents plastic debris or microplastics from being washed into waterways during heavy rainfall. 

2. Water Quality Improvement 

• Wetlands are nature’s water purifiers. They absorb excess nutrients and pollutants, including plastics, before they reach rivers and oceans. This can help alleviate the amount of pollution entering other marine ecosystems and helps to improve the quality of the water for those organisms in both ecosystems.

3. Community Benefits 

• Engaging communities in nature recovery projects brings people closer to nature. It fosters appreciation for our ecosystems and educates about the importance of plastic-free environments. Moreover, it provides opportunities for community involvement, from volunteering to organised litter clean-ups.

The path to change – Simple steps for impact

We understand that plastic is an issue deeply engrained in society and the problem should not be placed on just the individual. We as humans can only do as much as we can in reducing and removing it from our lives and when it comes to plastic, currently it is everywhere. This is a problem that requires global systems change at policy and business level to change our relationship with plastic from the source. However, we believe in collective action and if we can inspire any small changes for impact, then we will all be making some progress. Below are some simple steps for reducing plastic consumption:

1. Reduce, reuse and recycle

• Embrace reusable alternatives: Swap single-use plastics for durable, reusable options. Stainless steel water bottles, cloth shopping bags, and refillable containers can replace their disposable counterparts. 
• Give items a second life. Before discarding, consider if an item can be repurposed or repaired. Extend the lifespan of products to reduce waste. 
• Know your local recycling guidelines: Proper sorting is crucial for effective recycling. Educate yourself and others on what can and cannot be recycled in your area. 

• Look for biodegradable materials. There are innovative and sustainable alternatives to plastic emerging quickly so look for plant-based packaging, natural fibres or compostable materials where possible.

2. Join community clean-up events

• Take part in local initiatives to remove plastic waste from natural areas. Every piece collected is a step towards cleaner ecosystems. An example of an inspiring, local organisation who is already doing this is Trash Free Trails – go check them out.
• Raise awareness about the problem amongst employees, community members and customers about plastic pollution. Talk about it, volunteer together and advocate for change from within.

3. PRessure and policy

• Advocate for policy changes and improved recycling infrastructure. Support legislation that promotes plastic reduction and invests in better recycling facilities in your local area. Your voice matters. 

• Support businesses with sustainable practices. Choose products from companies committed to reducing plastic packaging. Your purchasing power can drive change.

• Put pressure on the government and sign petitions (like this one) demanding an ambitious and strong global plastics treaty that will limit plastic production and use. 

Together for tomorrow

As we stand at the intersection of plastic pollution and nature’s recovery and look towards the global 30×30 target, the path forward is clear: reduce, reuse, recycle, and restore. Each action we take, no matter how small, ripples outward, creating a wave of positive change. 

We must pledge to reduce our plastic footprint, support businesses aligned with sustainability, and champion nature-based solutions. Together, we can turn the tide on plastic pollution and pave the way for a world where people and planet thrives. Take the first step today and demand change – sign this petition.