U.K. government announces ban on all plastic straws, cotton buds and drink stirrers
The ban will come into place in April 2020 and will be applied throughout towns and cities in England.
Plastic pollution
Morrisons to become first U.K. supermarket to offer plastic-free fruit and vegetables
The British supermarket will offer 127 loose fruit and veg varieties over the next year. The fruit and veg will either be sold in recyclable paper bags or loose.
Tanzania bans the use of plastic bags
In a historic conservation move the government of the United Republic of Tanzania has announced the ban on plastic bag use beginning June 1, 2019.
187 nations signed a UN plastics waste protocol
The protocol requires countries that want to ship their waste products to other nations to first obtain the permission of the receiving nations.
Diageo to remove plastic packaging from Guinness multipacks
The company has said it is investing £16 million into reducing the amount of plastic used in their packaging. This initiative will remove 40 million plastic bottles from the world.
Bali bans single-use plastics
Bali Governor Wayan Koster announced that the Indonesian province of Bali is officially banning single-use plastics. The country produces 3.2 million tons of plastic annually.
New York becomes second U.S. state to ban plastic bags
State lawmakers in New York have approved a ban on plastic bags at retail and grocery establishments that would take effect next year as part of the state’s budget.
UV-LED water purification partnership to save 6 billion water bottles from landfills in the Philippines
Acuva Technologies, based out of British Columbia, Canada, has announced its partnership with Quezon City-based Kooler Industries, in an effort to make a significant difference in the war against plastic waste in the Philippines.
Trader Joe’s plans to cut 1 million pounds of plastic
The move follows growing customer demand for less plastic and more sustainable packaging in Trader Joe’s stores; a change.org petition on the subject amassed over 80,000 signatures in two months.
Bali to impose ‘tourist tax’ for plastic pollution
Bali is facing a plastic pollution crisis, producing over 3,800 tonnes of waste every day and has now drafted a bylaw on tourist contributions for the environment and cultural preservation. The ‘tourist tax’ will involve a fee of $10 for overseas visitors to the island.