Small steps to save the planet from plastic pollution - Student Shout

Louisa Moth is a media student at Bournemouth University. Here she gives her view on plastic consumption
Plastic rubbish washed up on the south coastPlastic rubbish washed up on the south coast
Plastic rubbish washed up on the south coast

The hot topic at the moment is plastic. Everywhere you go you hear something about how to reduce the amount of plastic produced and how the country wants to ban single-use plastic. 

With parliament setting out a plan to ban the distribution of plastic straws and cotton buds, and taxing you 25p for a disposable coffee cup and 5p for a plastic carrier bag, it was important to me to try to minimise my own personal plastic consumption.

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National Geographic estimated in 2015 that eight million metric tonnes of plastic makes its way to the ocean each year, and 91 per cent of plastic isn’t recycled.

I wanted to ensure that I did as much as possible to try to avoid contributing to the plastic vortex.

Supermarkets like Waitrose and independent stores have all stepped in the right direction.

I felt like I was achieving something by buying wooden make-up brushes, but it made a big dent in my bank account. So I now buy brush cleaner instead of buying new brushes.

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Brands such as The Body Shop recycle your empty containers for free in store and don’t test on animals, so that's a double win.

I'm an online shopping addict and I have tried not to buy cheap clothes and wear them once, but it's been the hardest aspect to change for me.

I can happily take my metal water bottle to refill and use a paper straw, but the urge to buy new clothes for an event is strong.

For many people, it's the convenience of plastic which keeps them  coming back. Spending 80p on a bottle of water is a lot more appealing than £20 for  a reusable one.

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Everyone makes mistakes and you may from time to time forget your bag for life and have to purchase  a 5p one, but you shouldn’t be made to feel bad for that. A little goes a long way and if everyone made a few small changes to reduce plastic consumption, the world would be a better place.

Louisa Moth is a student at Bournemouth University

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