Conservation challenge 1

Our Place ⁄ Conservation / Tiaki - Care for New Zealand ⁄ Conservation challenge 1

Plastic is the most common item of rubbish found on beaches and in the oceans worldwide examples being plastic bottles, plastic bags, bottle lids, plastic strapping, lighters, cups and so much more.

Your challenge is to think about your plastic footprint and how you can significantly reduce the unnecessary amount of plastic you use daily, here are some suggestions in how to do so:

1. Instead of buying one time disposable water bottles buy one (or two) re-usable water bottles…
2. Buy a few re-usable bags which you can take shopping with you which will cut down hugely on the amount of plastic bags you would otherwise use throughout the year.
3. Invest in a re-usable coffee mug and ask your favourite coffee shop if they will fill it up instead of the one-time use cups! Styrofoam is a different form of plastic that is just as bad for the ocean…
4. Carry your own cutlery with you (bamboo utensils are a great alternative), not only will this reduce your carbon forkprint it will also reduce the amount of plastic knives, forks and spoons washing up on the beaches.

Quick facts:

• 1 million plastic bags are used each minute
• It takes 1000 years for a plastic bag to degrade
• Plastic in the ocean breaks down into such small segments that pieces of plastic from a one litre bottle could end up on every mile of beach throughout the world.
• Plastic bags are often mistakenly eaten by whales, dolphins, seals and penguins as these bags when floating around look like jellyfish.

Extra challenge:

Take time to clean up the local water ways in your area whether that could be in the form of a beach / river or lake clean up. Gather together some friends and make it a regular event, take a look at your local council website as they may have a clean-up happening nearby and most importantly pass this challenge on and encourage others to reduce their plastic footprint.