Queen Elizabeth recently made an impactful, environmentally friendly move by phasing out plastics and taking on other eco-conscious initiatives within Buckingham Palace. Now the rest of the country might follow suit, with a proposed ban on single-use plastics making its way through the British government.
The ban would outlaw products such as straws, cotton swabs, and other one-use items. Currently, 23 million straws are thrown away every day in the United Kingdom—500 million in the United States.
The ban was introduced on April 19, during a meeting of the Commonwealth Heads of Government, according to Time; if passed, it would outlaw products such as straws, cotton swabs, and other one-use items. The proposal is a response to the obviously worsening burden on the planet: 23 million straws are thrown away every day in the United Kingdom—500 million in the United States.
The UK has already banned microbeads and, like the US, has begun charging people for using disposable bags (although only some places in the US do this). Plastic consumption is a big part of the Earth’s deterioration and is a particular threat to the ocean. A government report from the UK found that 70 percent of the litter in the ocean is plastic-related. For those who need evidence that this is a problem, well, know that you might be getting a side of plastic with your plate of fish.
It’s about time that the world’s leaders do something about this threat to our planet, and some influential entities are doing just that. Take for example Adidas, which is upcycling plastic waste from the ocean into shoes. But, don’t worry, you and you alone can do your part to reduce plastic waste, too.
You can help out the planet by using your own to go mug at coffee shops. And if you mention your eco-conscious interests in your dating profile, you might score love points, too.
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