The tide could be turning against plastic
06/12/2017
At the event, the head of the UN Environmental Programme (UNEP), Erik Solheim, called on governments to take three important steps with regard to plastic. The first is to cut out “plastics we do not need”. The second is to use the economically viable alternatives to many forms of plastic that already exist. He said consumer products manufacturers Nestlé and Danone have set a good example by stipulating that all their plastic bottles will be made from bio-based plastics by 2020, material that will biodegrade.
Finally, Mr Solheim said all new products need to be designed with the circular economy in mind. He told the assembly: “With affluence we have moved to an economy in which it’s easy to throw away virtually everything. We should be able to make cell phones, cars, solar panels and so on in such a way that every component can be used again. It would be a failure if we can’t do that.”
UNEP has said that unless governments take action there will be more plastic in the oceans of the world than fish (by weight) by 2050.
Image: UNEP
Share this story:
