Reasons to be cheerful

Changes already making a difference

Microbeads The UK government has banned ‘rinse-off’ cosmetics containing microbeads. Microplastics are still permitted in ‘leave-on’ products such as some sunscreens and lipsticks, although the European Chemical Agency has proposed a ban on these, too. See beatthemicrobead.org.

Plastic bottles The Scottish government has plans for a deposit return scheme for drinks containers made from glass, aluminium or PET plastic (20p is added to the price of a single-use bottle or can, which can be claimed back by returning the bottle). Similar schemes exist in Sweden, Denmark and Germany, where it has led to a 97% recycling rate. The UK government recently held a consultation on proposals to follow suit.

Plastic bags The UK’s introduction of a 5p charge for single-use plastic bags led to an 90% reduction in use. However, at least 32 countries around the world have banned plastic bags (with bans either in place or planned), including China, France, India, Bangladesh, Italy, Kenya and Morocco. New York, California and Hawaii, as well as most Australian states, have also banned them. Between 500 billion and 1 trillion plastic bags are still consumed worldwide every year. Plastic cups, plates and single-use cutlery will be outlawed in France in 2020, the first ban of its kind in the world. In 2021, the rest of the EU will ban disposable plastic straws, stirrers, plates, cotton buds and other singleuse items. Seattle has banned straws and single-use utensils; New Delhi (population 20 million) has banned single-use plastic, as has the southern Indian province of Karnataka. Plastic cotton buds, coffee stirrers and straws will be banned in the UK by 2020. Plastic cotton buds are already banned in Scotland. Most large retailers have pledged to switch to paper-stemmed alternatives.

Make-up wipes are being discontinued by The Body Shop and Holland & Barrett. Iceland, the frozen food chain, has pledged to go plastic free by 2023.