International Plastic Bag Free Day

International Plastic Bag-Free Day, on July 3rd, is a great opportunity to reflect on how many plastic bags we use daily. Global pollution from plastic waste is a significant problem that continues to grow. About 500 billion plastic bags are still used in the world every day, most of which are not properly disposed of.

History

For a long time, people did not use disposable items. After the industrial revolution, plastic became a reliable and affordable resource. Plastic bags were created in large quantities during World War II, but this was done secretly for the British army. In 1965, Celloplast of Sweden introduced the polyethylene shopping bag to the world, and over time, it quickly replaced bags made from other materials. In 1979, plastic bags appeared in the United States.

Sailor and scientist Charles Moore discovered the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in 1997, one of the largest accumulations of plastic waste in the world’s oceans, posing a real threat to marine life. Plastic bags floating in the water kill turtles that eat them, mistaking them for jellyfish. Bangladesh was the first country in the world to ban plastic bags in 2002. Here, bags played a key role in blocking drainage systems, leading to catastrophic flooding. Soon bans on plastic bags appeared in Italy, South Africa, China, Australia, Rwanda, and several other countries.

International Plastic Bag-Free Day was created to encourage people to seek safer alternatives to plastic. This day is part of the Plastic-Free Movement, which began in 2016 and has over 1,500 organizations as members.

Interesting Facts

• According to the EPA, human-made plastic will take at least 1,000 years to decompose;
• In 2017, India banned the sale of not only plastic bags but also plastic cutlery, cups, and plates;
• Today, plastic makes up 75% of all marine litter.

How to Take Part

Plastic bags and other plastic items have become so firmly established in our lives that we often do not notice how we buy them. On International Plastic Bag-Free Day, you should try to reduce the use of plastic bags, or at least reuse them, or take them to a recycling center. Draw the attention of other people to the problem of plastic pollution. Watch the films “A Plastic Ocean” and “Bag It” with friends and family.

When is International Plastic Bag-Free Day in 2024?

International Plastic Bag-Free Day is observed on July 3 each year.

Observations