Policy positions
Policy position 1
Policy actions -taking individual action
Environmental charities have lots of guidance to guide individual activities
Friends of the earth how to reduce plastic use in:
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Gardens
Surfers against Sewage
• How to organise a beach clean - www.sas.org.uk/our-work/beach-cleans/
Marine conservation society
• a personal plastic challenge - www.mcsuk.org/campaigns/plastic-challenge-home
Policy position 2
Policy action ideas – Develop school systems
Schools systems are complicated and tied into wider local and national systems. Here are links to some great policy ideas.
• Surfers against Sewage ‘Plastic free schools’ - www.sas.org.uk/plastic-free-schools/
• Marine conservation society - www.sas.org.uk/plastic-free-schools/
• Practical Action links school policy to global issues - www.practicalaction.org/schools/plastics-challenge/
Policy position 3
Policy actions ideas - Develop national and international systems
The Rethink Plastic alliance is a great place to start.
• works with European decision-makers to design and deliver policies solutions for a future free from plastic pollution.
• ….urgent action in 3 key areas: reduction, redesign and better management of plastics.
https://rethinkplasticalliance.eu/campaign/
Policy position 4
Policy action ideas – systems background (1)
Close the tap of plastic pollution by cutting the use of single-use items, overpackaging and top littered products, while eliminating microplastics and oxoplastics.
Preventing plastic waste must be a priority, followed by reuse and recycling, with landfill or incineration as a last resort. With the right economic incentives and a strong legislative framework, we can reduce our plastic footprint.
Policy position 5
Policy action ideas –systems background (2)
Improve plastic waste managment to end landfill, incineration and leakages of plastics into the environment.
Ensure a responsible, local management of plastic waste, by empowering producers, retailers and municipalities to achieve maximum collection and safe recycling.
The key? Improved collection, better monitoring, and economic incentives to support safe recycling and discourage virgin plastic
Policy position 6
Policy action ideas – systems background (3)
Redesign plastic products to make the circular economy come true. Make plastics responsible by design: long-lasting, reusable, recyclable, toxic-free, and incorporating recycled content.
It’s about producers taking responsibility for the products they put on the market, eco-design being extended to all plastic products, chemical ingredients being traced, and harmful chemicals being phased out.