July 3 is International Plastic Bag-Free Day
Can you imagine a Zero Waste world in which we continue to use single-use plastic bags? It is just not possible, right? There are several reasons why we should phase out single-use plastic bags in Europe.
Europeans overwhelmingly support a ban on single-use plastic bags, and the European Commission tried to push such a measure during 2012. But it was stopped by the interests of some member states and part of the industry, which is yet another reason to continue asking for such a ban at national and international level.
On July 3rd will be the third International Plastic Bag-Free Day organised by GAIA, Zero Waste Europe and the Fundació Prevenció de Residus i Consum.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
Be creative with the way you want to put forward your demands. If you need some inspiration, here are some ideas:
If you are an association/organisation:
* Organise a “Your bag or your life” action and let us know here.
We will be compiling the actions taking place all over the world and
collecting pictures, stories, etc. to share with all, and we will coordinate a
global press release.
* Spread the 3 July Statement, International Plastic Bag Free Day.
* Refuse to take disposable bags and promote the use of reusable bags. Do this everyday, but especially on July the 3rd!
* Upload the logo of the campaign to your website/blog. See Section Artwork.
* Joint press release of July 3 (soon to be published in the Press section).
* Promote the action on your facebook page.
* Organise a workshop for your associates promoting cloth bags.
* Organise a workshop with children on the topic. Promote it in schools.
If you are a local/regional/national authority:
* Make public statement about the 3 July Statement.
* Approve an ordinance to ban/reduce the use disposable bags.
* Upload the logo of the campaign to your website/blog. See Section Artwork.
* Tell media to cover related events. Promote the action in your facebook page/blog.
* Take a picture of someone important in the institution taking the
plastic bag off of his/her head and use it as a promotion tool.
* Distribute reusable bags to shops and a flyer proposing alternatives to the use of single-use plastic bags.
* Joint press release of July 3.
* Organise a workshop with children on the topic. Promote it in schools.
If you are an individual:
*Give your support to the action by signing this statement. We will be gathering global support in favour of phasing-out plastic bags.
* Get together with your organisation, friends, family, neighbours, etc. and organise a “Take the bag out of your head” action. If you do so please let us know here. We will be compiling the actions taking place all over the world and collect pictures, stories, etc to share with all and we will coordinate a global press release.
You can find graphic resources and ideas for your actions here.
You can join the facebook campaign here.
WHEN?
The actions will take place on Friday, July 3rd. Please let us know beforehand if you are planning to organise an action.
WHY?
There are many reasons! Here you have some:
http://www.zerowasteeurope.eu/2012/01/overwhelming-support-in-the-eu-for-plastic-bag-ban/
http://www.zerowasteeurope.eu/phasing-out-single-use-plastic-bags/
http://noplasticbags.blogspot.com/
http://culturechange.org/e-letter-plastics.html
http://www.envirosax.com/plastic_bag_facts
