April 2019 - Environmental Highlights
The headlines throughout April have shown a great deal of action against single-use plastic across the globe.
Here's our round up of the top 10 environmental highlights for April.
1. Edible, plastic-free water pods were handed out to runners of the London Marathon
This year's London Marathon had a focus on reducing the negative impact on the environment. Plastic-free water capsules were handed out at some water stations and compostable cups handed out at others.
Organisers hoped this would cut down on the estimates 920, 000 plastic bottles used in 2018.
We are at mile 23 Of London Marathon handing out Lucozade Sport orange in Oohos! GOOD LUCK to all runners! We can’t wait to cheer you all on!! Any of our followers who are running? #londonmarathon #VMLM #madetomove pic.twitter.com/sFdTTWRjIj
— Ooho! (@OohoWater) April 28, 2019
2. Survey reveals half of UK consumers are willing to pay more to avoid plastic packaging
Research has shown that 8 in 10 consumers are trying to reduce their plastic waste and half would be willing to pay more for eco-friendly packaging.
3. Single-use plastics could soon be eliminated in Canberra
The Australian Capital Territory government released a discussion paper for public comment to cut problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic.
4. Portugal set to ban plastic packaging on fruit, vegetables & bread
Portugal has given the first green light to a bill banning plastic bags and polystyrene packaging for fruit, vegetables and bread by 2020.
5. ALDI pledges to have 100% compostable or recyclable packaging by 2025
ALDI has become the first supermarket to promise to switch to all compostable or recyclable packaging on all products.
6. H&M is making clothes out of discarded orange peels and pineapple leaves
The clothes are available from selected stores from 11th April.
7. This year saw the UK's biggest ever beach clean with 45,700 volunteers
In community clean events across the UK, volunteers removed 70,799.31kg of plastic pollution. Volunteer numbers were up by 22%, which was attributed to the "Attenborough effect" by environmentalist group Surfers against Sewage.
8. Diageo to remove plastic from Guinness multipacks
Plastic can holders and shrink-wrap are to be replaced with 100% recyclable and biodegradable cardboard packs.
9. Report finds that plastic bottles are now the biggest plastic menace for waterways
A new report found that plastic bottles are the biggest form of plastic pollution in European waterways. Plastic bags made up just 1% of plastic rubbish in freshwater, reflecting years of efforts to reduce their use.
10. Supermarkets in Thailand are replacing plastic packaging with banana leaves
Asparagus, peppers and cucumbers were wrapped in green banana leaves in the fresh produce section of the Rimping supermarket in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
