Sarah Ferguson came to chat to the school a few weeks ago and her talk was an inspiration to all of us. The Earth Children were so inspired by her passion for creating plastic awareness that we decided to come together to brainstorm what small things we can do in our own households that will help the greater fight against plastic pollution.
Here are some small things that you as a consumer can start doing. Use reusable coffee mugs when buying coffee, purchase products with less packaging e.g. don’t buy small plastic packets of tissues – rather buy one box and store in a purse, use reusable straws and bags, don’t use single-use plastic, instead find effective alternatives.
As a consumer we have the opportunity to change our mindset- “Do you have a bag?” not “Do you need a bag?”. It’s your chance to shift your attitude and push yourself to think about the planet first. We also thought bigger, such as beach clean-ups, awareness campaigns on microplastics, creating a platform where people can educate themselves on what plastics can be recycled, implementing stricter laws on illegal dumping, setting up recycling bins in rural communities or partnering with Rotaract. This will not only raise awareness but also educate rural areas on plastic pollution.
At Rustenburg, we are working towards creating a school that minimises their use of plastic however it all starts with our individual households. As the Earth Children Society, we hope this will get you thinking about what positive things you can do for the planet.