"100,000 marine mammals and turtles and 1 million sea birds are killed by marine plastic pollution annually: this shocking statistic has inspired me to pledge to #PledgeOnPlastic” once again Caroline Dinenage MP
For the second year, local MP, Caroline Dinenage, is pledging to reduce her consumption of plastic during the 40 days in the run up to Easter and is encouraging others to join her.
Caroline will be giving up single-use plastic and committing to buying weekly food shops with loose veg, meat and fish that does not use plastic wrapping and will also be on the lookout for products which she considers are “overly packaged” and will encourage supermarkets and producers to reduce packaging.
Not all alternatives to plastics are necessarily friendlier to the environment, and Caroline hopes that those who take part in the #PledgeOnPlastic challenge they will also be able to increase understanding of the environmental benefits of different consumer choices.
She is also joining Tearfund to raise awareness of plastic waste that affects the lives of millions of the world’s poorest people. Tearfund has teamed up with DFID’s UK Aid Match programme meaning that all donations up to £2 million received through this appeal will be match-funded by the UK Government until 17th May, going into waste recycling projects in Pakistan.
Caroline said:
“Last year’s #GiveUpPlasticForLent challenge was a real eye-opener, exposing some practical challenges and imaginative alternatives to the plastics that fill our lives.
Simple changes, like buying milk in glass bottles and washing powder in cardboard boxes have stayed with me all year, but other bad habits have crept back in!
I am really pleased to be taking part in this challenge, and it would be fantastic to see the local community join in.”
If you want to join Caroline in this challenge you can sign up or follow her progress and share tips at www.facebook.com/pledgeonplastic
