The list of products which should disappear to make a trip to the supermarket more eco-friendly includes plastic cutlery, straws, PVC packaging, hot drink stirrers, plastic bowls and plates, polystyrene packaging, cotton buds and micro-plastics - the small plastic pieces less than 5mm long, which break down and harm our oceans and marine life.
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As well as the eight items that are supposed to be eliminated by 2020, there's a second list containing 19 more items. These are being “actively investigated” by members of the Plastics Pact, with a view to avoiding, reusing, re-designing, recycling or composting them by 2025.
The items on the second list include plastic film packaging, plastic bags, multi-pack plastic rings for drinks cans, fruit and vegetable net bags, PVC cling film and secondary wrapping around multi-packs.
Effects of plastic pollution
Wrap believes that more people are becoming concerned about the impact that plastic waste is having on the planet. In particular, it is damaging our ocean environment and killing marine life. Studies show around 5,000 items of plastic waste have been found per mile of beach in the UK - more than 150 plastic bottles can be found per mile.
Marine plastic pollution is killing our sea creatures. Scientific studies of deceased marine life have revealed 100% of the marine turtles had ingested plastic waste, as had 59% of whales, 40% of seabirds and 36% of seals.
Plastic pollution is now infesting every beach in the world, say scientists. Not only does it affect the busy tourist beaches, it has even spread to uninhabited tropical islands. The reason supermarkets are being targeted and asked to stop stocking certain items is that single-use plastics are among the biggest offenders.
Food wrappers, straws and throwaway plastic plates (all the items people may use for a picnic on the beach, or an al fresco meal on the riverbank) are among the main items that are turning up in the sea and littering the world's beaches.
How the industry can help
The retail industry can help to eliminate waste if they stop selling the plastic packaging that causes most of the problems.
Some of the UK's major supermarkets and retailers have signed up to support the Plastics Pact. These include Aldi, Lidl, Asda, Boots, John Lewis, Tesco, Waitrose and Morrisons.
Under the pact, the businesses have also agreed to meet targets - the first is to ensure 100% of their plastic packaging is recyclable, reusable or compostable. The second is to make sure 70% is recycled or composted.
How consumers can help
The environmental charity Friends of the Earth has suggested some "green" alternatives to plastic, such as buying fresh fruit and veg and carrying it home in a box. Never buy fresh food in plastic wrapping. The organisation says it's ridiculous to sell organic produce, only to wrap it in plastic.
Never buy plastic throwaway cups - if you're in the habit of buying coffee to go, have your own reusable cup with you and ask for that to be filled up instead.
Instead of using plastic throwaway straws, one of the biggest plastic polluters, you can get alternative ones today made from paper, bamboo or steel.
Rather than using plastic cotton buds, another big polluter and destroyer of wildlife, you can now buy organic cotton buds that have 100% bio-degradable card, rather than plastic.
Solent Plastics supports responsible recycling and our range of recycling storage and plastic waste bins helps people to set up commercial or domestic recycling schemes. We DO NOT sell single-use plastics! Our products can be reused time and time again.
We also stock products made from recycled plastic, such as our ECO recycled plastic storage containers.
Please contact us for more information.