Earth Day 2024: Planet vs Plastics
/“The Planet vs. Plastics campaign is a call to arms, a demand that we act now to end the scourge of plastics and safeguard the health of every living being upon our planet.”
~ KATHLEEN ROGERS, President EarthDay.Org
EarthDay.Org is demanding a 60% reduction in the production of ALL plastics by 2040. The organisation explains that plastics present a grave threat to human health. As plastics break down into microplastics, they release toxic chemicals into our food and water sources and circulate through the air we breathe. Plastic production has grown to more than 380 million tons per year. More plastic has been produced in the last ten years than in the entire 20th century, and the industry plans to grow explosively for the indefinite future.
“All this plastic was produced by a petrochemical industry with an abysmal record of toxic emissions, spills, and explosions,” said Denis Hayes, Chair Emeritus of EARTHDAY.ORG. “Plastics are produced in polluting facilities that somehow seem to always be located in the poorest neighborhoods. Some plastics are lethal when combusted; other plastics transmit hormone-disrupting chemicals; and all plastics can starve birds and suffocate sea life. At every stage of their life cycles, from the oil well to the town dump, plastics are a dangerous blight.”
Sign the Global Plastics Treaty Petition to call on the United Nations and Governmental Organizations to commit once and for all to:
Support a highly ambitious Global Plastic Treaty that binds all to the same standards
A 60% of reduction of all fossil fuel-based plastic production by 2040
Requiring producers and retailers of plastics to be liable for the cost of any environmental or health-related damages in accordance with the “producer pays” principle
Public and private sector investments in innovation to replace all fossil fuel-based plastics
Ban all plastic-related tobacco products including, but not limited to tobacco filters and e-cigarettes
Ban the export of plastic waste
End the incineration of plastic waste
Support innovative solutions and alternatives to plastic in all sectors
Fully-financed education and public awareness campaigns to inform the public about reasons and strategies for ending plastic pollution
Information from Earth Day 2024
For further info check out:
End Plastic Pollution Toolkits
Find out more about plastics impact on our health
What actions will you take this Earth Day to challenge plastics?
Sign the petition and share with friends and family to sign too
Look to refill one new item: check out our products page to see what new item you can refill to avoid single use plastic. Our locations page will let you know where you can find us for refills or plastic free home delivery.
Say no to plastic clothing- check the fabric content before buying a new piece of clothing and look to avoid synthetic plastic based fabrics.
Do a beach clean/ litter pick - cleaning your local beach helps reduce the long term impact of plastic pollution.
Don’t underestimate your individual impact! Together we can create huge change!
Want to do more? Check out actions from EarthDay.Org