To mark International Plastic Bag Free Day on 3 July, we distributed a sustainable cloth bag to all team members. We also made a donation to The Manx Wildlife Trust’s Living Seas programme which is all about creating healthy seas that are rich in wildlife.
This annual observance shines a spotlight on the environmental challenges posed by single-use plastic bags, from polluting our oceans to endangering wildlife and entering the food chain. Despite regulations in over 127 countries, plastic bags remain a global issue.
Research shows that:
- Over 5 trillion plastic bags are produced each year.
- Each plastic bag is used for just 25 minutes on average.
- It can take 100 – 500 years for a plastic bag to break down.
- 1 million plastic bags are used globally every minute.
- Approximately 100,000 marine animals die each year due to plastic bags.
By replacing plastic with sustainable alternatives, we all take a step towards protecting our environment.
This awareness day was established as part of the larger Break Free from Plastic movement, which aims to reduce plastic pollution worldwide. The day was first observed in 2009 and has since become an important event in the global environmental calendar. It is supported by numerous environmental organisations in the UK and worldwide.
Cains Charity and Community committee
