We are already well into the New Year, have you any plans to reduce your reliance on single use plastic and be more #sustainable in 2023?
Single use plastic is a huge problem on our environment, with the reports on its impact on wildlife, our food chain and now in human blood. Now is the time to think about plastic differently, not as a use once and throw away item but as something that is durable to be used over and over again.
Come along on our journey to help individuals and businesses make a change or help us to clean plastic from our environment with our litter picks.
This is why…. we are eating microplastics and its getting into our blood
Microplastics in Your Carrots
The BBC reported on the microplastics that end up in sewage sludge that then goes onto our farm land. The UK has some of the highest concentrations of microplastics in Europe, with between 500 and 1,000 microplastic particles are spread on farmland there each year.
Chemicals found in plastic have been linked to a range of other health problems including cancer, heart disease and poor foetal development. High levels of ingested microplastics may also cause cell damage which could lead to inflammation and allergic reactions, according to analysis by researchers at the University of Hull, in the UK.
READ FULL ARTICLE AND SEE WHAT YOU THINK – LINK
Plastic In Our Blood
Baroness Meacher pushed the UK Government over the introduction of a £15m National Plastic Health Impact Research Fund to investigate the effects of #microplastics in our blood. Baroness Meacher asked the Government “When almost 4 out 5 of people in this country have plastic particles in their blood, and when these particles are associated with cancer, diabetes and other serious chronic illnesses, does the Minister accept that this is a priority?”
WATCH THE VIDEO AND READ MORE ON THE RESERACH FROM COMMON SEAS- LINK
Whats changing…
The UK are looking to ban further single use plastic items
We are falling behind the EU and legislation we would have had to impose if it wasn’t for Brexit. This is to little to slowly. The legislation is expected to ban plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon sticks and certain types of polystyrene cups and food containers next week. READ MORE VIA BBC – LINK
Single Use Legislation in France will effects chains like MacDonalds and Burger King.
This is great to see. If chains like MacDonalds and Burger King can bring this in in France then surely they can roll it out for sit in meals around the globe. All sit in food should be served on reusables. So no more single use items where people sit inside in places like MacDonalds, Burger King and KFC. Coffee Shops will have to stop using single use cups when people are sitting in. READ MORE VIA BBC – LINK
What next?
Creating a movement which is stopping the tide of plastic, at source.
We are part of a UK network of small groups of committed people, slowly but surely changing the places where we live, and in turn the world. Join us and our work with Surfers Against Sewage and City to Sea. Email helenecocommunities@gmail.com to get involved with Plastic Free Cheshire.
Sustainable Cheshire 