Blue Planet Effect: The United Kingdom Says No to Single-Use Plastics

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE, England, April 2, 2018 (Newswire.com) - Scyphus follows trends and it is evident to the company that one show from someone of Sir David Attenborough's position has a greater impact than any government initiative has. Starting from 2016, Scyphus has been shifting to Biodegradable and Compostable paper board for its bespoke branded coffee cup ranges, and this now seems to be the future. After the initial teething problems as is common with every initiative, production has become smooth and free of defects and errors after hundreds of trials and runs, and Scyphus has declared a complete shift to biodegradable paper cups by the end of 2018. Leslie here writes about the impact the show had and how it is going to affect the UK and the world as a whole.

The BBC TV series Blue Planet II has spurred a strong wave of environmental consciousness among populations. In the final episode, Sir David Attenborough took an unflinching look at the impact of human activity on marine life, calling viewers to do more to protect the environment. The reaction — referred to as the Blue Planet Effect — was spontaneous with Queen Elizabeth herself banning all plastic cutlery, cups and plates from her royal estates.

Buckingham Palace outlines new waste plans

Buckingham Palace has shared that there is a “strong desire” to tackle plastic pollution in the royal household. One of the steps taken to reduce the environmental impact regards a total ban by the Queen herself on plastic cutlery, plates and cups. Internal caterers at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh will now apparently be allowed to use only china plates and glasses, or recyclable paper cups. It is believed that Queen Elizabeth has developed a strong personal interest in the problem of plastic waste after working with Sir David Attenborough on a conservation documentary on wildlife in the Commonwealth.

The BBC pledges to ban all single-use plastics by 2020

The BBC, which is behind the production of the Blue Planet II series, has equally pledged to ban all single-use plastics by 2020. It has drafted a three-step plan to eliminate single-use plastics from its operations. The BBC has already set a target to eradicate single-use plastic cups and cutlery by the end of 2018. Plastic containers from canteens should be banned by 2019. Its target is to be completely free of single-use plastics by 2020.

The BBC considered it as its responsibility to sensitize its millions of viewers on plastic pollution. As a result, it created the Blue Planet II series emphasizing the damage caused by plastic waste in the marine environment. While making the series, the staff and other people working in its production were themselves shocked to realise the extent of damage caused by plastic waste and the degree of avoidable waste. Plastic waste encountered was gathered while animals and birds trapped in plastics were freed ty the team to be able to live. Following this series, the BBC decided to lead the way in scrapping single-use plastics. Various pilot programs and assessments are underway.

The Marine Conservation Society applauded the initiative of the BBC. It has been highlighting the presence of plastic straws, plastic cups and coffee stirrers on beaches across the country. These items make up over 20 percent of all the litter gathered by volunteers.

The Blue Planet II Effect triggers a string of pledges

Various businesses and regions in the UK have equally followed the steps of the BBC, engaging themselves to eradicate single-use plastics. While supermarkets such as Asda and Iceland have formerly stated that they will be reducing single-use plastics, the Scottish government has drafted plans to eliminate cotton buds and plastic straws. It is now expected that each of the individual actions taken will create a domino effect as more and more people, businesses and groups are realizing that single-use plastic is harmful and that recyclable alternatives can be adopted.

Washed out on coasts around the world in blatant and clearly visible form, the plastic pollution scene viewed from land is only the prelude of a greater tragedy that is increasingly unfolding itself day after day further away in the world’s oceans. Yet, all originate from the land itself. From whales, sea lions, and birds to the microscopic organisms such as zooplankton, the entirety of marine life is being affected dramatically by plastic waste. Most suffer from entanglement and ingestion of plastic debris.

Versatile, lightweight, flexible, moisture resistant, strong, and relatively inexpensive, plastic has imposed itself as a prime choice in various markets since decades. Its global production and consumption have not ceased to rise, making it an indispensable component in everyday life. However, its qualities have morphed into global environmental issues for the simple fact that it can take up to 1,000 years for plastic items to decompose. Every year, over 8 million tons of plastic are dumped into the oceans. Every minute, more than one million plastic bags are being used worldwide. And every plastic bag has an average “working life” of 15 minutes only. In other words, plastic has become a waste with staying power and its excessive consumption has made it a lethal weapon.

The UK is set on a 25-year environmental plan

Eliminating plastic waste has been a top priority on the government’s agenda. Theresa May launched a 25-year environment plan aiming at eliminating all avoidable plastic waste such as carrier bags, food packaging and disposable straws by the end of 2042. Under this plan, supermarkets will also be encouraged to create plastic-free aisles for products having no packaging. A 5p charge for carrier bags could be extended to all English retailers.

To implement this broad plan, a string of measures will be enforced. This 25-year environmental plan comes amidst a wider plastic strategy to tackle plastic waste across the whole of Europe. The EU has devised plans to make all plastic packaging recyclable or reusable by 2030.

After China banned imports of plastic waste, the UK’s recycling industry is facing a dilemma. According to the UK Recycling Association, the UK cannot handle such an amount of waste. Even if this shift is seen as a challenge in the short term, the long-term solution should be to drastically reduce the amount of single-use plastics being produced and consumed to reduce the build-up.

Biodegradable foodservice disposables are considered as a long-term solution

As consumers and businesses are becoming more conscious about the impact of plastic waste, they are changing their consuming behaviour. Statistics reveal an increasing consumer adoption of eco-friendly products. At the same time, foodservice providers, restaurants, bars, pubs and hotels are adopting sustainable business approaches. Biodegradable cups used for serving hot or cold drinks are acting as the key driver in the growth of this segment in the European region.

Source: Scyphus