We’re just beginning to realise the scale of the problem, but fortunately the answer is simple: make and use less plastic. People around the world have come together to end plastic pollution, and it’s working. But we need the UK Government,  Supermarkets and all retailers to take action.   

The problem with plastic is that most of it isn't biodegradable. It doesn't rot, like paper or food, so instead it can hang around in the environment for hundreds of years. Each year, 400 million tonnes of plastic is produced and 40% of that is single-use plastic that we'll only use once before it's binned.

Although plastic bottles are recyclable, it's estimated that 80 percent of plastic water bottles end up in landfills and take up to 1,000 years to break down. When littered they often end up in the sea where they break up into small pieces, killing marine life that mistake them for food.

Each bottle leaks harmful chemicals into our environment along the way as it decomposes. Studies show that the toxins decomposing bottles of water leach into our environment cause a variety of health issues, including reproductive problems and cancer.

Drinking bottled water can expose us to harmful toxins from the plastic. BPA and other plastic toxins can then make their way into the bloodstream, which can cause a host of problems including various cancers as well as liver and kidney damage.

Health advocates advise against reusing bottles made from plastic #1 (polyethylene terephthalate, also known as PET or PETE), including most disposable water, soda, and juice bottles. 

Single-use plastic bottles should be banned from all UK retailers so as to remove the problem from shelves. It's as simple as that.