Earth Day is more relevant than ever before. Plastic pollution is at its highest-ever and it's only getting worse. But not if we act now. Making just a few small changes can have a big impact on the amount of plastic we use on a day-to-day basis.

Two million single-use plastic bags per minute are distributed at store checkout counters across the globe. Devastating environmental impacts result from their production, consumption, and disposal. Plastic bag production uses approximately 8%-10% of global oil supply, and more than 12 million barrels of petroleum in the U.S. alone. In an effort to reduce devastating and costly environmental impacts, many cities and countries worldwide are passing bans and taxing plastic bags. These policies have been successful, reducing plastic bag consumption by as much as 85%.

There are around a hundred countries that are leading the way to end plastic pollution by implementing bans on single-use plastic bags.

United Kingdom Plastic bag Policy: As of October 2015, stores in the UK began charging five pence per single-use plastic carrier bag. Consumers can avoid this charge by bringing a reusable bag to carry their goods. The plastic bag charge applies to any business that has more than 250 employees.
Impact: Since the bag tax's introduction in 2015, officials estimate that plastic bag consumption has been reduced by more than 80%. The UK government also predicts significant economic benefits from the ban, including £60 million reduction in litter clean-up costs and £13 million in carbon savings.

Activities in the UK on Earth Day 2018

'Birmingham Friends Of The earth'-Advancing the principles of sustainability and positive environmental change.

'Birmingham foe' is the only organisation in Birmingham that campaigns on Air Quality, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Energy, Transport, Planning, Waste and Recycling. It has a strong and diverse supporters and all of them together are helping to change the environment for the better and making sure that those who pollute, monopolise or despoil locally, nationally, or internationally are held accountable. I began my Earth day by donating online to this organisation, which (I am convinced) is doing the right things and programs to help protect the environment.

Zero Waste Colchester Recycling Expo 2018: The goal of this Earth Day event in Colchester, UK was to inspire and promote the repair, reuse, and recycling of all materials to a wider audience.

Earth Day – A Day on Environmental Protection for the Benefit of All: This London, UK, event on the April 22 featured speakers discussing the preservation of our planet, global/local issues like sustainability, and plastics pollution. There were panel discussion, short films, and stalls promoting local green businesses, and fun activities for all ages.

Earth Day 2018 was dedicated to providing the information and inspiration needed to fundamentally
change human attitude and behaviour about plastics.

#StirCrazy Earth Day: Live for Earth Day, the #StirCrazy campaign aimed and continues to eradicate plastic stirrers from the world by 2020. It combines chains (coffee and food stores and suppliers) and the public and government, including Romania and the UK.

How I celebrated /contributed to Earth Day 2018:

On this Earth day, I decided to make an impact by supporting the #StirCrazy Earth Day and pledging to stop using plastic straws. I wanted to have the maximum impact so I involved many more with me. For this, I organised a meeting of Electrical and Electronic engineering students. As a student representative, I was able to do it.

Advocacy/awareness: I addressed them telling them about 'Earth Day', its significance, this year Earth Day theme, my campaigns and previous efforts towards environment protection and what can they do to reduce their carbon footprint including some lesser known facts and tips to protect the environment. Obviously, I did not miss this opportunity introducing my/our Tunza Eco Gen to all of them. I told them about this amazing forum, what we all do and how this platform has helped me so much. Hopefully, we will get some new members and/or ambassadors.

Testing your GQ (Green Quotient):  In this session, we all did short exercise and quiz to check how eco-friendly we are and how much we do to care for the environment. To make it interesting, I had named it GQ. So, in my words, we checked our GQ (Green Quotient).

Cut down 'Personal Plastic Footprints':  We all discussed why we all need to join the fight to save Britain's (rather global) beaches from plastic pollution. We talked to find out how many plastic items we all consume every day and hence every year. We, then, discussed where all does the scope lie to reduce the amount of plastic usage.

Few areas where we can definitely reduce the plastic use are:

Say no to bottled water: Avoid using bottled water which uses plastic bottles. Use tap water where it is safe else install water filter system.

Carry a reusable bottle

Say no to plastic straws : Rather pour your drink into glass and drink straight. Or Use paper straw.

Take a reusable coffee cup

Use refill liquids/soaps/ detergents

Say no to disposable cutlery

Avoid microbeads: The good news is that the UK government have announced a ban on microbeads! However until the ban comes into force in 2018, there will still be products on the shelves, so let's keep checking those labels before you buy and avoid products containing polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and nylon.

Carry a shopping bag: Stop using plastic bags and use jute or canvas or any other type of reusable bags for shopping. Since the plastic bag charge was introduced in England, there's been a massive 85% drop in their use. Many of us are used to carrying an extra bag with us.

Plastics pledge: In the end, I took their commitment that they would improve their lifestyle by not only stopping the use of plastic straws and plastic cups but also would have an eco-friendly style in very possible way. We ended with a passionate and meaningful PLASTICS-PLEDGE to control, reduce and eliminate (wherever possible) the use of plastics to help reduce ocean plastic pollution.

Sources:

https://www.psychologies.co.uk/tests/how-green-are-you.html

https://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=how-ecofriendly-are-you_1.

https://localgiving.org/charity/birminghamfoe/

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/international-earth-day-at-meanwood-farm-tickets-44839093937?aff=es2

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/europe/united-kingdom/articles/earth-day-beach-clean-plastic-pollution/