Plastic is one of the most dangerous substance for our environment. It destroys the habitat and the livelihoods of so many marine life and animals. In fact research shows that these plastics are making it back to our food tables in the form of micro-plastics. Charging consumer 20c for single use plastics is not the solution and not a deterrent to curb plastic pollution.

If we are serious about our environment and want to achieve sustainability we need to stop using single use plastics altogether. Instead of targeting consumers businesses should be the focus of this ban. Manufacturing companies need to stop using plastic packaging including PET bottles.

While there may be recycling initiatives in place by some manufacturers most of the plastic waste still end up in stream and rivers as well as landfills. Furthermore rural areas don’t have proper rubbish disposal so they bury most of these in the ground where it stays for 100’s of years.

We call on the Fijian Government to put in places laws and policies for manufacturers to STOP using plastic packaging and explore alternative, sustainable and environmentally friendly packaging solutions.

In order to ensure the future generation has food security we have to stop using plastics and the government plays an important role to ensure this.

It’s time to set examples for the region and the world by caring for our environment.