SA: ‘End single-use plastics’

• Published date: 04 May 2024
• Publication title: Weekend Argus

The survey polled more than 24 000 people in 32 countries and was commissioned by WWF and the Plastic Free Foundation. An average of 85% of people polled worldwide, including in South Africa, believe the global plastic pollution treaty should ban single-use plastics that now account for more than 70% of ocean plastic pollution

The survey was released in Earth Month in April, a tradition since the 1970s, that, with this year's theme, “planet vs plastic”,

Plastics remain a huge, quickly growing, problem for the climate. They account for about 3.4% of global greenhouse-gas emissions – more than the entire aviation industry.

Added to that they are choking up our oceans and if something is not done, could leave a planet where there is more plastic than fish in the ocean, warn some scientists.

It’s also important, say some experts, to examine what we are replacing plastics with.

A Greenpeace International study, also released this year, shows similarly overwhelming support for ending single-use plastics.

The South African part of the survey results in brief:

Ban or phase out chemicals and products:

Nine in 10 South African survey participants believe it’s important that global rules require global plastic production to be reduced (90%). Nearly four in 10 South African survey participants believe it’s essential (33%).

More than nine in 10 South African survey participants believe it’s important that global rules require a ban on chemicals used in plastic that are hazardous to human health, wildlife and the environment (92%). More than four in 10 South African survey participants believe it’s essential (41%).

Nearly nine in 10 South African survey participants believe it’s important that global rules require...