 Today (Mon 22 April) is Earth Day and we're supporting the EarthDay.org global initiative, Planet Vs. Plastics.
They're aiming to see a 60% reduction in plastic production by 2040 and to eliminate single-use plastics by 2030 to make a healthier planet.
Did you know that:
- Plastic accounts for 3.4% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
- Nearly 80% of all plastics humankind has ever created still exists in the environment and landfills.
- 17% of the species affected by marine plastic pollution are on the red list of threatened species of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.
- Plastic has been found in our lungs and our blood.
- In two decades, the amount of plastic we produce has doubled, from 234m tonnes in 2000, to 460m tonnes in 2019.
- Plastic can take up to 500 years to decompose, and even then it never fully disappears.
- Over 99% of plastic is made from chemicals sourced from fossil fuels.
 We get that it's hard to cut down on plastics when so much of our food comes in plastic packaging. But you can recycle more plastic than you may realise…
Plastic pots, tubs and trays can all be taken to your local mixed plastic recycling banks:
Bags, crisp packets, food and pet pouches, plastic wrappers and cling film can be recycled at lots of supermarkets:
Remember, if your plastic is bottle shaped, keep the lid on and pop it in the green bin.
We appreciate all the work you are doing to stop plastic waste going to general waste, thank you.
 Sure we can recycle, but what's more important is not creating the waste in the first place. If you can, consider the five R's of waste management before you buy: Refuse, reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle.
Each of you have the power and influence to help reduce the amount of plastic that is produced by cutting down on the amount of plastic you use.
It's not always easy to know where to start, so we've put together a list of ways you can easily cut down - thank you to everyone who contributed to this.
There are tips such as buying loose veg instead of the bagged stuff, using reusable straws, and a bar of soap instead of plastic bottles, using biodegradable glitter, and reusable tubs instead of cling film.
 The Package Free Larder(Elm Grove) is making it easier for us to shop plastic free! They're crowdfunding to reach new customers in the city.
The shop opened in 2020 and is Portsmouth's first (and only) volunteer-led plastic-free supermarket.
After three-and-a-half successful years of trading, the community business is at the point to make it a more permanent sustainable alternative, and to reach new customers to ensure long-term success.
With many refill shops around the country closing in the past 18 months, the Package Free Larder has developed a three-step plan to continue to bring the benefits of plastic-free shopping to Portsmouth.
 Brittany Ferries, who are Portsmouth International Port's biggest customer, have been making great strides in cutting plastic use. In fact, since 2018 they’ve cut the number of plastic items used on board by over 5 million items each year, replacing them with environmentally friendlier alternatives made from bamboo, cardboard, paper and wood.
They are working to improve rates of recycling on board. Currently around 90% of glass and cardboard used on board is recycled. Recycling bins in the passenger areas have been installed, and a new project is underway to allow food waste to be sorted too.
They’ve also reduced use of plastic bags in onboard shops, issuing paper bags instead. Charges are now in place for re-usable, recyclable plastic bags, which include a donation to ORCA, the whale and dolphin charity.
 Another of the Port's longstanding customers, the small ship expedition experts Noble Caledonia, have been trailblazers when it comes to slashing plastic use on board.
They have provided stainless steel water canisters for guests since 2016, which remain with the ship. There are refill stations on board and they take large refill canisters ashore in hot climates.
Their bathroom toiletries have been are refillable since 2018, and there are no things like miniature yoghurts and butter wrappers at the buffets. The cabin dustbins are not lined with the thin plastic bags, and the laundry is collected in cotton bags.
So all in all, there is almost zero unnecessary single-use plastics that could blow off the ship or end up in landfills. They also carry out beach clean-ups at remote spots around the world, like on Svalbard pictured above.
 Did you know the University of Portsmouth are on a mission to tackle the plastics crisis?
Radical action is needed to stop the damaging impacts of plastic pollution on health and the environment. Their researchers are helping to build a world that’s more sustainable — a globe-spanning plastics economy based on circular principles. There’s no time to waste.
The Revolution Plastics Institute at the university are working on exciting projects in the following areas:
- Collaborating with communities locally and in the global south to reduce plastic pollution. Engineering enzymes to break down plastic faster.
- Developing new, sustainable materials.
- Working to transform the potential of plastic recycling and reuse.
- And furthering the world’s understanding of how microplastics affect us all.
 Earth Day is also to remind us to remember the importance of environmental conservation and sustainability, and to encourage us to take action for a healthier planet and a brighter future. Portsmouth libraries have a display of green-themed books for children and adults at Central Library. Libraries are the ultimate recyclers!
Their digital app BorrowBox has a selection of green ebooks and eaudiobooks too!
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