World Environment Day is coming up on June 5th, and what better way to celebrate than with a local plastic cleanup? Thousands of cleanups and events are happening around the world and now is your chance to host your own cleanup (or join an existing event) and help us #BeatPlasticPollution. Plastic pollution is at an all-time high, and it’s projected to get worse if we don’t take action now.
The numbers don’t lie: plastic pollution is not only bad for marine life and the environment, but it has invaded our water supply. 90% of bottled water and 83% of tap water contains plastic particles. Yes, that plastic ends up in our bodies and intestines.
It’s time for change. Plastic bag and single use plastic bans are in place in nearly 100 countries, but we need more countries on board, including the United States. We need to rethink the way we produce, use, and manage plastic, and it starts with individuals. By eliminating your use of plastic bags and other disposable plastics such as cutlery, cups, and water bottles, you make a significant impact on the plastic pollution problem. If every single one of us stops using single use plastic we can effectively eradicate the problem.
“Consumers must not only be actors but drivers for the behaviour change that must also happen upstream. Ultimately, our plastic problem is one of design. Our manufacturing, distribution, consumption and trade systems for plastic – indeed our global economy – need to change. The linear model of planned obsolescence, in which items are designed to be thrown away immediately after use, sometimes after just seconds, must end. At the heart of this is extended producer responsibility, where manufacturers must be held to account for the entire life-cycle of their consumer products. At the same time, those companies actively embracing their social responsibility should be rewarded for moving to a more circular model of design and production, further incentivizing other companies to do the same.” -UN Environment
Global Plastic Pollution by the Numbers
• 500 billion plastic bags used each year
• 13 million tonnes of plastic leak into the ocean each year
• 17 million barrels of oil used on plastic production each year
• 1 million plastic bottles bought every minute
• 100,000 marine animals killed by plastics each year
• 100 years for plastic to degrade in the environment
• 90% of bottled water found to contain plastic particles
• 83% of tap water found to contain plastic particles
• 50% of consumer plastics are single use
• 10% of all human-generated waste is plastic
Register your event today and help us #BeatPlasticPollution. Whether it’s you and a friend or your whole contact list, any amount of effort helps. Download the World Environment Day toolkits, which are packed with ideas to help you spread the word and host an event of any size.
Unable to host an event? You can still get involved. Join one of your local events by searching here. 
Just Say No To Disposable Plastic Bags
In celebration of World Environment Day, all StyleFox Collection eco-friendly shopping totes will be 20% off. Now through June 6th, 2018, use code BYEPLASTIC to get your stylish reusable tote and fire your single use plastic bags for good! Shop here.
