Schools urged to add single use plastics to curriculum

BRITAIN’S war on plastic should be taught in schools as pupils become ever more “passionate” about saving the planet, campaigners say.

Keep Britain Tidy and water filter company Brita UK urged teachers to make single-use plastics part of the curriculum following a pilot project in which children were asked to monitor how much they and their families used.

Campaigners said youngsters had offered creative ideas, including meters, counting the volume of single-use plastics consumed and replacing some plastics with straw. Stickers on plastic packaging in supermarkets and a points system encouraging people to choose reusable bags were among the other ideas children suggested.

Allison Ogden-newton, chief executive of Keep Britain Tidy, said of the project: “Britain’s schoolchildren are really interested in looking after our planet and passionate about doing so. Their ideas were inventive and we heard some great questions being asked in the workshops.

“With so much momentum, now is the time for the next generation to get involved and shape the debate around single-use plastics.

“It’s critical they have a say. It’s their future we’re talking about. It would be great to see teachers start a conversation about single-use plastics with pupils.”

Sarah Taylor, managing director of Brita UK, said: “It’s important we listen to the next generation. I’m delighted with their creative and forward-thinking ideas and would love to see more young people get involved.”