People should stop using plastics in ‘ functionless’ ways, says Attenborough
Environmentalist Si r David Attenborough has called on people to cut down on plastic waste by stopping “functionless” uses of the material.
The TV presenter’ s Blue Planet series has been credited with driving international action on plastics, including proposals to ban plastic straws, cotton buds and drink stirrers.
Speaking to BBC Radio4’ s To day programme ahead of there opening of Kew Gardens’ Tempe rate House, Sir David warned the planet risked being “over whelmed” by humanity using plastic with “total abandon”.
Asked whether government initiatives, such as the 5p tax on plastic bags, were an ade - quate response to the danger, Sir David said: “We can never go far enough, because we shall always be overwhelmed with plastic, but at the moment we are using plastic in a completely functionless way.”
He added: “It baffles me that people send me letters and if they think they’re important they put them in a plastic envelope.
“Why? I just can’ t understand. I suppose it makes them look precious, but it is quite functionless.
“We use plastic–or have done until now–with total abandon, without any care or concern about where it’s going to go and what it might do. If we can pull ourselves together and recognise that actually it is a major danger, particularly in the sea, we are stepping in the right direction.”
Sir David defended wildlife film-makers against charges their programmes play down the impact of pollution and waste to show a pristine environment untouched by humans.
He said it was wrong to sug- gest that depicting animals exhibiting natural behaviour in their habitats amounted to a lie if those habitats were threatened and those species were in danger of extinction.
“That’s not a lie, it’s what that particular species of monkey is like,” he said.
He suggested future generations may regard the films he has made over the past half-century in the same way that footage of dinosaurs would be viewed today.