{"id":2216,"date":"2018-04-03T10:00:48","date_gmt":"2018-04-03T09:00:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.changex.org\/blog\/?p=2216"},"modified":"2018-04-03T15:04:31","modified_gmt":"2018-04-03T14:04:31","slug":"plastic-free-communities-lets-do-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.changex.org\/blog\/plastic-free-communities-lets-do-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Plastic-Free Communities – Let’s do it!"},"content":{"rendered":"

At ChangeX, we\u2019ve become increasingly aware of the major global issue of plastic pollution; the damage it inflicts on the environment; and the mind boggling volume of plastic we use and throw away every day. We know that many of you care deeply about it too; every social media post we\u2019ve shared about it has received more interest than any other issue we\u2019ve covered.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s something that can be very emotive; the distressing video of the turtle with a straw stuck in its nose<\/a>\u00a0reminds us of the vulnerability of all wildlife to the actions of humans. It can lead to a sense of guilt and helplessness, as\u00a0we know that we all contribute to the problem, but it can seem difficult to know what to do about it.<\/p>\n

However the full picture is not one of doom and gloom. There is so much to be hopeful about. We\u2019ve been in awe of the progress of many organisations, individuals and communities, both in Ireland and across the world, as they step up to design innovative solutions, and take action, to tackle this challenge. Because we\u2019re not helpless. And, starting with the smallest of actions in our communities, all of us can play a part in the solution.<\/p>\n

We know that at ChangeX we haven\u2019t given this issue enough attention, with no plastic related ideas on the platform. That, however, is all about to change. This week, we\u2019re taking our first step.<\/p>\n

Over the coming weeks, we\u2019ll be adding a portfolio of ideas for communities to address the craziness that plastic-waste has become and we hope you\u2019ll join us in starting to build plastic-free communities.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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Where do we start?<\/h4>\n

Today we\u2019re launching the first plastic pollution idea \u201cThe Last Plastic Straw<\/a>\u201c, a global movement to eliminate plastic drinking straws from landfills, streams, oceans, and beaches.\u00a0Plastic straws epitomise wasteful, unnecessary plastic so we\u2019ve decided to start here, to kick off a movement towards plastic-free communities everywhere.<\/p>\n

Everyone and anyone can start this idea in their community: individuals, teams and businesses, with some very small and simple actions.<\/p>\n

The Last Plastic Straw is a project of\u00a0Plastic Pollution Coalition,\u00a0<\/a>a global movement of more than 500 organisations and individuals\u00a0seeking to increase understanding of the plastic pollution problem and to find sustainable solutions.<\/p>\n

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[otw_shortcode_button href=\u201dhttps:\/\/www.changex.org\/lastplasticstraw?utm_source=Blog&utm_campaign=The-Last-Plastic-Straw\u201d size=\u201dlarge\u201d bgcolor=\u201d#35a34b\u201d icon_position=\u201dleft\u201d shape=\u201dradius\u201d border_color=\u201d#35A34B\u201d]Learn how to get started with The Last Plastic Straw[\/otw_shortcode_button]<\/span><\/p>\n

More ideas to come<\/h4>\n

At the national and local community levels in Ireland, strides are being taken by grassroots campaigns and organisations to reduce plastic pollution.<\/p>\n

Refill Ireland<\/a>\u00a0is a fantastic social enterprise\u00a0working to make free tap drinking water filling stations accessible in all communities, to reduce our dependency on single use plastic bottles. They have a handy interactive map that shows all refill locations in Ireland.<\/p>\n

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Map of Refill locations in Ireland<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Plastic<\/a> Free Kinsale<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>is a new and ambitious community initiative\u00a0supporting local people to reduce their plastic consumption & increase recycling, through the provision of clear information. We are currently working on ways to collaborate with both of these ideas, so others can discover and implement them in their communities.<\/p>\n

Other initiatives and organisations we are inspired by and provide an opportunity for individuals and communities to take action on include; the\u00a0Conscious Cup Campaign (their map<\/a> shows the retailers that give discounts for bringing your own cup);\u00a0Minimal Waste Grocery<\/a>\u00a0whose ethos is about saying\u00a0no\u00a0to unnecessary plastic packaging;\u00a0no\u00a0to paying for it and\u00a0no\u00a0to paying again to dispose of it; and the Green Party\u2019s\u00a0Waste Reduction bill<\/a>\u00a0which includes a deposit and return scheme for bottles.<\/p>\n

We\u2019re also eyeing up the Plastic Free July<\/a> challenge (with excitement and\u00a0trepidation in equal measure!), feeling supported and informed through membership of the\u00a0Zero Waste Facebook group\u00a0<\/a>and hoping Irish supermarkets take note of the world\u2019s first plastic-free aisle<\/a> which recently opened in the Netherlands.<\/p>\n

We wholeheartedly agree with a supporter of the initiative who says:<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is absolutely no logic in wrapping something as fleeting as food in something as indestructible as plastic. Plastic food and drink packaging remains useful for a matter of days yet remains a destructive presence on the Earth for centuries afterwards.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

We hope you\u2019ll join us as we start our campaign to support communities across Ireland to become plastic-free. It\u2019s an exciting time.\u00a0There is so much already happening and so many ways to get involved and take action. Over the coming months we\u2019ll be sharing more plastic pollution-related ideas, starter stories about those who have decided to start these ideas in their communities, and updates from the ChangeX team as we start some of the ideas too.<\/p>\n

[otw_shortcode_button href=\u201dhttps:\/\/www.changex.org\/lastplasticstraw?utm_source=Blog&utm_campaign=The-Last-Plastic-Straw\u201d size=\u201dlarge\u201d bgcolor=\u201d#35a34b\u201d icon_position=\u201dleft\u201d shape=\u201dradius\u201d border_color=\u201d#35A34B\u201d]Learn how to get started with The Last Plastic Straw[\/otw_shortcode_button]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

At ChangeX, we\u2019ve become increasingly aware of the major global issue of plastic pollution; the damage it inflicts on the environment; and the mind boggling volume of plastic we use Read more →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":2223,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5,121],"tags":[24,159,156,158,157],"class_list":["post-2216","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-changex-news","category-explore-ideas","tag-environment","tag-plastic-pollution","tag-plastic-free-community","tag-platic-free","tag-zero-plastic","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t