What are our top tips to reduce plastic pollution? | Lombard Odier

The plastics crisis isn’t new but it is still threatening the natural environment on which we depend, impacting oceans, communities, wildlife, and people at an unprecedented rate. While plastic is easy to handle, lightweight and highly durable, it has spread to every corner of our life and increased our dependence on fossil fuels - its production uses 8% of the world’s oil. Today, the plastic industry is valued at US$522.6 billion, and it is expected to double in capacity by 20401.

What’s more, plastic pollution has a terrible impact on our marine population. Our oceans contain 300 million tonnes of plastic waste and we add another 8 million every year. And 70% of all plastic produced is discarded and ends up in landfill or leaks into nature and pollutes – spreading across coastal ecosystems, entangling wildlife, and it’s even ingested by humans (an average person may well be ingesting five grams of microplastics every week).

The plastics crisis isn’t new but it is still threatening the natural environment on which we depend, impacting oceans, communities, wildlife, and people at an unprecedented rate

Yet, change is in motion. Plastic bans, for example, are growing around the world. Last year, 170 nations pledged to "significantly reduce" the use of plastic by 2030.

So how can we fight the plastic crisis? What are the solutions that will really make a difference? The global “Plastic Free July” movement raises awareness and invites us to rethink our consumption and opt for better alternatives in July and beyond.

Discover our top tips to cut back on plastic waste and build a Circular, Lean, Inclusive and Clean (CLICTM) economy.

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Taxonomy

• plastic pollution
• Single-use plastic
• Plastic waste