Last week’s poll: reducing plastic waste

On January 16, 2018 frozen food retailer Iceland declared its intention to eliminate plastic packaging from all of its own brand products by the end of 2023.

The announcement came nearly a week after the government launched its 25-year environment plan, which aims to eliminate all ‘avoidable plastic waste’ by the end of 2042. To help achieve this goal, carrier bag charges will be extended to all retailers in England, and government will work with the supermarkets to encourage plastic-free aisles in supermarkets.

Other measures include new funding into plastics innovation via the government’s £7bn R&D fund.

TV series like Blue Planet II and media campaigns such as Sky Ocean Rescue have brought problems associated with plastic waste at sea into sharp focus, with the fatal impact it can have on sea creatures and degraded plastic making its way into the human food chain being two environmentally malignant issues raised by discarded plastic.