CHASE supports World Environment Day
CHASE supports World Environment Day 🌍
CHASE is supporting this year’s World Environment Day to help spread the message and to encourage action for the protection of our planet.
Led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Environment Day is celebrated annually on 5th June. It was designed as a platform to raise awareness of problems such as: pollution (air and plastic), rising sea levels, illegal wildlife trade and sustainable consumption amongst others.
Millions of people are brought together globally to engage in the effort of protecting and restoring the Earth. World Environment Day puts a global spotlight on the pressing environmental challenges we face.
This year, we are being invited to join in with the global effort to #BeatPlasticPollution
World Environment Day 2023 is a reminder that people’s actions on plastic pollution matters; what we do individually and as a business to tackle the problem matters. We have all become more aware in recent years of our need to reduce the use of plastic, but more needs to be done by the government, industry and by us as consumers.
Why do we need to reduce the use of plastic?
25 million tonnes of plastic end up in the ocean every year. This is directly linked to the deaths of 1 million seabirds each year. Plastic can take thousands of years to break down fully, and it first breaks down into microplastics which enter our food chain and our bodies. Other microplastics such as small beads and components used in cosmetic products slip through filters and into the water. It is estimated that plastic is now found in one in every three fish caught for consumption.
It is estimated that by the year 2050, if no changes are made to the way we use and produce plastic, there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.
It is not only fish and seabirds that are affected, approximately 700 types of marine species have been affected by plastic in the ocean. This can range from ingesting plastic, causing digestive blockage, poisoning from the chemicals in the plastic and getting tangled in plastic products such as nets and ropes.
In addition, plastic pollution is contributing to the deaths of our coral reefs. These ecosystems maintain life for the homes of 25% of underwater life. Plastic trapped in the reefs are preventing them from receiving the necessary light and oxygen to grow.
Furthermore, bisphenol A (also known as BPA) is an industrial chemical compound used in plastic production which is often used in containers that store food and beverages, such as water bottles, has entered into our oceans and subsequent food chain via microplastics. It can also cause a whole variety of adverse effects on our health including hormonal (infertility, cancers..), weight gain, thyroid issues, diabetes, IBS, the list goes on.
What can we do to help?
Not all plastics can be recycled and only 9% of plastic waste is recycled AND it can be recycled ONLY ONCE. Recycling does of course help pollution as it helps reduce the amount of plastic that needs to be manufactured but what else can we do?
Here’s some top suggestions from World Environment Day
- Bring your own re-usable shopping bags and avoid the use of poly bags for fruit/veg
- Stop buying bottled water – refill your reusable bottle (preferably aluminium)
- Bring your own cup/thermos to the coffee shop
- Choose cardboard over plastic when possible
- Use glass jars for kitchen storage instead of plastic tubs
- Buy soap bars and shampoo bars instead of bottled
- Don’t use disposable plastic cutlery
- Use plastic free dishwasher tablets
- Use products made with bamboo instead of plastic (hairbrushes, toothbrushes)
- Don’t use wet wipes/make up wipes
- Use natural cleaning products/beauty products
At CHASE, we are committed to improving our recycling, reusing and reducing and we currently implement the bold categories above. We ensure that our core team receive reusable bags for shopping, an aluminium bottle for water and drinks, and we supply stainless steel cutlery at our offices.
We also review our environmental footprint on an annual basis through our membership of EcoVadis for which we have a silver rated award. That said, we are always working on ways to improve and next month will host our second Plastic Free July initiative.
For further information on World Environment Day please click on the link below.