If we are to effectively harness the Blue Planet II effect, we need greater clarity of evidence and communication to guide our direction toward appropriate solutions. How and where should we adopt the different strategies – reduce, reuse, recycle, biodegrade, compost? Evidence about the problem is now clear and well communicated, but evidence about which specific actions to take, and in which circumstances, is far less clear. In my view, the challenge going forward lies in matching potential solutions to the specific uses of plastic. The Government’s 25-year Environment Plan sets a target of zero avoidable plastic waste by 2042. Companies from manufacturers to retailers have signed up, as well as the Scottish and Welsh governments and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. Members of WRAP’s UK Plastic Pact have committed to making 100 per cent of plastic packaging reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025. The past 18 months have also brought longer-term initiatives. It has become acceptable for items to be used in an instant, even though the resultant waste persists for decades. Over the last 60 years, we have become accustomed – some would say addicted – to convenience delivered by single-use plastic. More systemic change is required, and that will take time. This is a fantastic achievement, but on its own clean-up will not fix the problem. Levels of interest in the UK have clearly translated into positive action to remove litter from shorelines. Can transgender athletes be fairly integrated into women’s sports?.UK porn block: What is it and will it work?.The quantity of plastic used and waste generated are both increasing, and the amount of end-of-life plastics in the oceans is predicted to triple between 20. On a global scale, however, one can only speculate, but the problem has more than likely worsened. In 2018, twice as many volunteers participated in the Great British Beach Clean than the year before, and they reported on average a 16 per cent decrease in the number of items collected per 100 metres of shoreline. It’s up to the companies to design plastic products for circular use, and recognise that the solid waste management infrastructure a country has in place depends on its level of economic development.Ī step change in interest and awareness is one thing, but what has actually changed in terms of plastic pollution since the series went on air in October 2017? The picture is more variable. This is of key importance because many of the issues relating to the fate of end-of-life plastics stem from a lack of consideration at the design stage. Indeed, I would go further and say that perhaps the most important Blue Planet effect has not just been in bringing the message into the living room, but also into the company board room. I sat next to Sir David briefly at an event in Parliament a few weeks ago and said exactly that to him. In my view, a few minutes of coverage by Blue Planet II has done more to raise awareness than the decades of underlying research could ever have done alone. Images of seabirds regurgitating substantial quantities of plastic debris were particularly harrowing, especially when it became apparent that much of it was household waste. Michael Gove, the UK’s environment secretary, for example, was apparently haunted by the images of plastic bags in one episode. There has been a marked increase in the level of interest on plastic pollution indeed, some in this field of research call it the Blue Planet II effect. Scientific evidence is crucial, but science alone is of limited value unless communicated, and that’s especially important with plastic pollution where actions by all of us, in daily life, are needed to make a difference. Indeed, publication metrics tell me I have written more scientific papers on the topic than anyone else. One such environmental challenge is that of plastic pollution, something I have researched for over 20 years. Solving the plastic problem – Mark Miodownik.Smart material made from squid teeth a potential plastic alternative.There were concerns that this might be less appealing to wider audiences, but these were unfounded: YouGov rates it as the fourth most popular TV programme of all time in the UK (following Planet Earth and Blue Planet in second and third place). As well as enjoying the series and using clips in my teaching, as a scientist I have been delighted to contribute ideas and help with fact checks.īlue Planet II took a critical step by also highlighting the challenges affecting our oceans. Has Blue Planet II had an impact on plastic pollution?īlue Planet, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, is an amazing series, making the diversity of life in our seas and oceans accessible to all.
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