This day is commemorated with the intention of reducing the consumption of plastic bags, which have a significant environmental impact due to the extended period of time they take to decompose, in addition to the negative effect they have on wildlife and the environment.
The UN’s annual call joins dozens of awareness and plastic waste reduction initiatives that have been launched worldwide in recent years. The focus is specifically on the fight against ocean pollution, with the UN-led Clean Seas campaign.
Some countries have banned the production of plastic bags and have significantly reduced their consumption. Other countries such as the United Kingdom, Portugal, and Sweden have chosen to apply taxes on the use of bags, and in other countries such as Finland or Germany, retailers have established voluntary agreements.
Plastic bags take more than 500 years to decompose. It is estimated that each person uses an average of approximately 230 plastic bags per year, representing more than 500 trillion plastic bags worldwide. As they are not recyclable, the bags remain on the planet harming all of us who live here, all living beings on the planet.
Making the planet free of plastic bags requires the involvement of all sectors of society, from governments to the end consumer. It is truly worth the effort because the entire planet will benefit; pollution of seas and oceans will be prevented, the loss of natural resources will be avoided, and the disappearance of very valuable ecosystems will be prevented.
July 3: International Plastic Bag Free Day
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