Maya Ellison
Anti-plastic campaigns have been around for decades, with the earliest mentions of such campaigns dating back to the 1990s. These campaigns aim to address the growing problem of plastic pollution, which has seen a significant increase in plastic production over the past 50 years, with about $180 billion invested in production facilities in the last decade alone. The proliferation of plastic waste has led to environmental degradation, with plastic littering market places, tourist spots, beaches, roads, and natural ecosystems, as well as contributing to the deaths of marine life and causing serious damage to public health. Campaigns against plastic pollution have been gaining momentum, with individuals, non-profits, local and national governments, and international bodies all playing a role in advocating for a reduction in single-use plastics and promoting sustainable alternatives. While progress has been made, including the ban of single-use plastic bags in certain regions, the battle against plastic pollution continues, with ongoing negotiations for a global plastics pollution treaty.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | The anti-plastic campaign started in the 1990s and has been ongoing since then. |
| Initiated by | The anti-plastic campaign was initiated by various organisations, governments, and individuals. For example, the #BreakFreeFromPlastic movement was launched in 2016 and has since gained over 13,000 supporters worldwide. |
| Goals | The campaigns aim to reduce plastic pollution, promote sustainable practices, and phase out single-use plastics. |
| Strategies | Strategies include lobbying decision-makers, raising awareness, promoting alternatives to plastics, implementing policies and bans, and developing frameworks for a circular economy. |
| Progress | Some progress has been made, such as the reduction of plastic bag usage and the increase in recycled content in plastic packaging. However, plastic production and plastic waste continue to be a significant issue, with plastic pollution causing damage to the environment and public health. |
| Challenges | Challenges include corporate lobbying, threats of litigation, and insufficient waste disposal systems. |
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What You'll Learn
The Indian government's anti-plastic campaign
The Indian government has been taking steps to tackle the problem of plastic waste for over two decades. In 1999, the Ministry of Environment and Forests under the Environment Protection Act of 1986 issued the Plastics Recycled, Manufacture and Usage Rules. However, there was little progress in implementing these rules, and plastic waste continued to be a significant issue in India.
In 2019, India generated over 660,000 tonnes of plastic waste, with only 60% of it being recycled. This waste included plastic packaging material and carry bags, which accounted for nearly 43% of the total waste. To address this issue, the Indian government launched a campaign against single-use plastics in 2021, with the aim of making the country free of single-use plastic by 2022. The campaign, known as 'Plastic Hackathon 2021', was launched by Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar and was supported by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The Indian government has taken several measures to reduce single-use plastic waste. These include banning the import of plastic waste, directing states to stop using single-use plastic, and notifying plastic waste management rules that prohibit the use of plastic below a certain thickness. The government has also classified plastics into four categories: rigid, flexible, multi-layered, and those used for packaging and carry bags. Producers, importers, and brand owners are now required to provide details of their recycling certificates and data related to end-of-life disposal.
The anti-plastic campaign in India has been organised by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and GIZ, a German organisation working for sustainable development in India. The campaign focuses on raising awareness about the environmental impact of single-use plastics and promoting sustainable alternatives. It also aims to strengthen the circular economy of plastic packaging waste and encourage the development of new alternatives to plastics.
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#BreakFreeFromPlastic movement
The #BreakFreeFromPlastic movement is an international coalition of over 90 non-governmental organizations, including Greenpeace, The Story of Stuff Project, UPSTREAM, and Zero Waste Canada. Since its launch in 2016, the movement has gained over 13,000 organizational and individual supporters worldwide.
The movement aims to work together to stop plastic pollution and demand massive reductions in single-use plastics. It advocates for systemic change by tackling plastic pollution across the entire value chain, from extraction to disposal, with a focus on prevention rather than cure. Members of the movement recognize that individual actions can influence how plastics are made and used, but that systemic change is necessary to address the plastic pollution crisis effectively.
The #BreakFreeFromPlastic movement builds on the New Plastics Economy Global Commitment led by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation in collaboration with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This commitment has brought together nearly 500 signatories, including plastic producers, financial institutions, and governments, to develop policies and frameworks that promote a circular economy for plastics. As part of this commitment, 81% of business signatories and 100% of government signatories have pledged to phase out the worst forms of plastic packaging, such as PVC, single-use plastic bags, and straws.
The movement also includes local and grassroots initiatives, such as the Plastic Bag Diet campaign in Indonesia, which began in 2010. This campaign employs creative tactics, such as "Plastic Bag Robbery," where volunteers approach individuals using single-use plastic bags and replace them with reusable bags, taking the opportunity to engage in a conversation about the importance of reducing plastic consumption. The campaign has contributed to tangible policy changes, such as Jakarta's plastic bag ban in 2019, demonstrating the impact of grassroots efforts in driving progress.
The #BreakFreeFromPlastic movement recognizes the critical role of governments and policy-making bodies in driving systemic change. For example, in Kenya, photojournalist James Wakibia created the #BanPlasticsKE campaign in 2015, using social media to call on the Kenyan government to ban plastic bags. The campaign gained support from Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources Judi Wakhungu, leading to Kenya's ban on single-use plastic bags. Similarly, in Goa, India, the Goa Environment Federation (GEF) has been actively addressing the problem of plastic waste disposal since 1998, working with various organizations and citizens to drive change.
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The Plastic Bag Diet campaign in Indonesia
Anti-plastic campaigns have been gaining momentum worldwide, with countries taking initiatives to tackle plastic pollution. One such notable campaign is the Plastic Bag Diet campaign in Indonesia, which started in 2010 with a pilot project of plastic bag donations (paid for plastics). This campaign, initiated by Greeneration Indonesia, aims to encourage people to reduce plastic bag usage and raise awareness about plastic bag waste. The campaign employs a range of creative tactics, including "Plastic Bag Robbery," where volunteers approach individuals on the street, replacing their single-use plastic bags with reusable ones and discussing the importance of reducing plastic consumption.
The campaign has also been active in collaborating with various cities and districts across Indonesia to implement plastic bag bans. By 2016, they had initiated the "Not Free Plastic Bags" trial in partnership with the Ministry of Environment and Forestry, resulting in more than 100 regions banning single-use plastic bags. This success is attributed to their bottom-up approach, targeting local governments and municipalities rather than solely focusing on national-level legislation.
Plasticdiet Indonesia, co-founded by attorney and activist Tiza Mafira in 2013, has played a pivotal role in the Plastic Bag Diet campaign's success. The non-profit organization advocates for policies to reduce single-use plastic waste and promotes source-level organic waste management. Mafira, with her legal background and passion for the environment, has been instrumental in driving policy changes and engaging with various stakeholders, including the government, businesses, and community groups.
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#BanPlasticsKE campaign in Kenya
The #BanPlasticsKE campaign in Kenya was started by photojournalist and environmental activist James Wakibia in 2015. Wakibia, who is based in Nakuru, was compelled to act after witnessing the extent of plastic pollution in his hometown.
The campaign focused on banning plastic bags, with Wakibia taking to Twitter to call on the Kenyan government to take action. One of his tweets received a response from Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Natural Resources Judi Wakhungu, who expressed her support. This endorsement proved pivotal, as Wakibia then took a banner with the hashtag "#ISupportBanPlasticsKE" into the streets and parks of Nakuru, photographing people holding it and sharing the images on social media.
The #BanPlasticsKE campaign gained momentum and played a significant role in influencing Kenya's decision to ban single-use plastic bags in 2017. This ban represented a major stride in the country's efforts to combat plastic pollution and served as an example for other nations to follow.
The success of the #BanPlasticsKE campaign highlights the impact that individuals can have in driving change. Wakibia's initiative not only led to a nationwide policy change but also contributed to a broader shift in perceptions around plastic pollution. His campaign encouraged Kenyans to appreciate the importance of a clean environment and inspired participation in clean-up drives across the country.
The anti-plastic movement in Kenya demonstrates how individual actions, combined with systemic change, can address pressing environmental issues. While individuals can make choices to reduce plastic consumption and support sustainable alternatives, it is crucial to have policies and standards in place to effectively tackle plastic pollution. This includes commitments from governments and businesses to phase out single-use plastics and promote circular economy practices, ensuring plastics are designed to be reused and recycled rather than discarded.
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The Ellen MacArthur Foundation's Global Commitment
Anti-plastic campaigns have been around for a while, with some notable ones starting as early as 2001 and 2010. One of the most well-known and impactful campaigns is The Ellen MacArthur Foundation's Global Commitment, which was launched in 2018.
The Global Commitment has made progress in reducing plastic pollution, with an increase in the recycled content of plastic packaging and a pledge by business and government signatories to phase out the worst forms of plastic packaging. However, the foundation's recent publication, 'Global Commitment Five Years In', highlights that tougher measures are needed as the world is not on course to eliminating plastic waste and pollution. The publication reflects on the progress made and the lessons learned over the past five years, showing that it is possible to keep plastics out of the ocean and fossil resources in the ground.
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation tracks the progress of the private sector, while UNEP supports the national, sub-national, and municipal governments that have joined the Global Commitment in developing policies to limit plastic pollution. This includes creating legal frameworks to reduce and eliminate single-use plastic products, such as municipal decrees forbidding the distribution of plastic straws and utensils. The commitment has also helped cities like Copenhagen limit single-use plastics at major sporting events.
The Global Commitment provides a valuable framework for governments to develop standards for a circular plastic economy, as evident in the quote from Tania Bishara of Chile's Environment Ministry: "Since its signing, the Global Commitment has helped us work on initiatives towards a transformation of our relationship with plastics and to work with actors from the private sector, civil society, municipalities, and academia to develop a circular economy roadmap."
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Frequently asked questions
Anti-plastic campaigns started as early as 1998, with the Goa Environment Federation (GEF) highlighting the problem of plastic waste disposal in Goa.
The first anti-plastic campaign was the Goa Environment Federation (GEF) campaign in 1998, which aimed to address the proliferation of plastic waste in the urban and village environments of Goa.
Anti-plastic campaigns gained popularity in the 2010s, with campaigns such as the Plastic Bag Diet campaign in Indonesia in 2010, and the #BanPlasticsKE campaign in Kenya in 2015.
One of the first large-scale anti-plastic campaigns was the "Plastic Bag Laws" campaign, founded by lawyer and longtime anti-plastics activist Jennie Romer. The campaign resulted in the first statewide ban on plastic bags in California in 2014.
