Make the Most of Plastic-Free July!

Did you know that, collectively, households across the UK throw away at least 1.7 billion pieces of plastic packaging every week? From the plastic in your online delivery package, to snack wrappers and plastic bags piling up around the house, the waste is staggering.  

Of course, not all plastic is bad, some is essential for things like medical equipment and safety gear. Yet many plastics are made from chemicals that can pollute the air and don’t biodegrade, so they end up floating on our oceans harming other habitats. It’s important, therefore, that we reduce our plastic usage wherever possible. Together, we can take action and go plastic-free.  

To celebrate Plastic Free July, the British Science Association (BSA) have pulled together a short list of ways to get involved. 

Explore ‘Life in plastic, not so fantastic’ at the British Science Festival 2024 

Join University of East London researcher Ria Devereux and her colleagues at the British Science Festival on 12 September for an eye-opening talk on microplastics in the River Thames.  

Discover the surprising sources of plastic pollutants in our waters, including fireworks and car tyres and learn how these items travel through our capital and end up in the sea.  

Make wooden jewellery with CREST  

You can get involved in CREST activities during the school holidays or outside of the classroom. Whether you’re an educator, parent or just someone interested in taking part, our Secondary CREST projects explore alternative, more sustainable materials for jewellery.  

In the Bronze Award library, you’ll find ‘Make a wooden pendant’, a project for students aged around 11 – 14, that will have them designing and making a necklace pendant using wood and colouring. They’ll also think about the material for the necklace chain. 

Older students aged 14 and over could try ‘Make and test ceramic jewellery’, a Silver-level project. They work with clay, creating beads and pendants for jewellery, then colouring and protecting it.  

Join the Unplastify Challenge 

We’re thrilled to be a local partner of The Unplastify Challenge for Schools, a 3-month programme where Year 10 and Year 11 students develop innovative ideas to eradicate single-use plastic from their communities.  

If you’re an educator. make sure to register by 4 September 2024 to join this edition of the Unplastify Challenge. Once you have registered your school, Unplastify's education team will be in touch to tell you about the next steps. 

Although schools are encouraged to make an optional contribution, members of the BSA's Engage Teacher Network can participate for free. Participating students can also submit their Unplastify projects for a free Bronze CREST Award.  

Switch from Single-Use Plastic to Reusable Cups 

Do you enjoy getting your caffeine fix each morning from the local coffee shop? Why not switch to a reusable cup instead. It’s a small change that can prevent single-use plastic cups piling up in the sea.   

The GRAB Trust, a social enterprise focused on waste reduction in Argyll and Bute, took action to encourage cafes to do just that. With funding from our Highlands and Islands Climate Change Community Grant scheme, they launched a three-month trial in Oban to promote reusable cups in local cafes. 

Ecoffee Cup donated 2,500 reusable cups to cafes, who sold them for £4 each, with the proceeds reinvested into sustainable improvements. Staff tracked sales of single use versus reusable cups to measure their impact. 

Just like the GRAB Trust’s community work, we can encourage the people around us to switch from single-use plastic to reusable cups. Such a small change in our everyday lives can significantly reduce waste for a more sustainable future. 

Read about the community project

Take Part in The Big Plastic Count 

You could also take part in The Big Plastic Count activity from this year’s British Science Week primary activity pack. Our activity packs tend to be popular during British Science Week, but they can be used all year round. 

Join The Big Plastic Count (11-17 March), the UK's biggest household plastic waste investigation. Schools and households across the UK count their plastic waste for a week, to show the government the true scale of the problem. 

Perhaps ask everyone at home to count and record their plastic packaging items on a tally sheet. Record plastic waste on-the-go and at home – whether at the park, a friend's house, or at home. Keep the waste with you in a bag or make a note of it while you’re out.  

Think about the plastic packaging you encounter daily – there are plenty of plastic-free alternatives you can use at home, school or at work. Consider how much of our plastic waste is actually recycled and what happens to the rest of it. By being mindful of your plastic use and exploring eco-friendly options, you’re taking meaningful steps towards reducing plastic waste and helping the environment! 

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