Every year, 8 million metric tonnes of plastic end up in our oceans. Plastic wreaks havoc on marine habitats, with animals often mistaking it for food, causing blockages and malnutrition. Plastic also breaks up into much smaller particles, called microplastics. Because they are so tiny, microplastics have been found in seafood, air, rivers, soil, rain, drinking water, table salt and even your Friday night beer!
We can make a difference by reducing our reliance on plastics. Businesses have a big part to play in ensuring that their supply chain is sustainable. As consumers, we can tell companies what we want through our buying habits and ensuring that our personal consumption is as plastic free as possible.
Plastic Free July is a chance to take a step back and look at simple actions we can take to tackle plastic pollution.
Did you know?
- Kiwis consume five million packaged drinks every day.
- Cigarette butts are the most littered plastic item in the entire world!
- Food wrappers are one of the most commonly found items on our beach clean-ups.
- Every time you wash your clothes, they shed plastic microfibers.