'˜Businesses can do much more to help the environment'

That was the message from plastic campaigners in Portsmouth today, who went to Lakeside North Harbour to show businesses how to change their ways.

The Plastic Amnesty Day, organised by waste management firm Helistrat, had stalls inviting businesses to learn more about plastic waste, before making a pledge that was added to a mural by artist Emma Paxton. 

A large bin was also put in the atrium of the business park, with plastic bottles dumped there being transformed into a sculpture that stood tall in the main entrance.

Allison Jenkins from Helistrat says that businesses need to take a more proactive approach to plastic waste.

She said: 'People on their own are doing some great things to tackle plastic waste, but businesses can do more to make their offices a greener place to be.

'That's what we are trying to get across today - it's little changes like getting rid of plastic bottles or asking their suppliers to get rid of unnecessary plastic packaging.

'If every businesses did even a little bit then it would make a tremendous difference.'

According to Clare Seek from Portsmouth Repair Cafe, one of the biggest problems businesses present is additional waste.

She said: 'Far too often, businesses come across a problem like a broken paper shredder, and for convenience they throw it away and get a new one.

'At the Repair Cafe we're big advocates of the fact that this shouldn't be the case.

'You think of all that plastic that is needlessly being thrown away for the sake of convenience, when it could just be fixed in an afternoon.

'It shouldn't have to be this way, but by being able to talk to businesses they learn more about what damage that is doing.'

Bianca Carr from The Final Straw Solent, which is running a campaign in association with The News, says that little changes in an office can make a big difference. 

She said: 'It's really important that we reach out to businesses and encourage them to make the changes that can make a difference.

'For example, if an office was to give up plastic bottles and make everyone use refillable ones, that would stop literally hundreds of bottles going to landfill every year.' 

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