It's Umi-no-Hi Ocean Day in Japan- a great day to head to your nearest river or coastline and enjoy our amazing ocean that provides most of our oxygen, food and is so refreshing and fun to be near. But we have to get over this idea that the ocean is too big to fail- we need to stop using it as a dumping ground for chemicals and our plastic waste. 

But what can we do? 

Beach CleanUps are great, or taking a bag with you to pick up what you can whenever you are out on a walk or day at the beach or river.

What you buy also makes a difference in sending a message to the companies to promote positive change. For example, I made a pledge to always carry my own water bottle and never buy another PET bottle for a drink. PET bottles often end up in the ocean and are recycled at a rate of 18% in Japan, most of them are incinerated which uses more fossil fuels to burn as well as it is made of fossil fuels. BTW incineration is NOT recycling although that is how it is classified sometimes. 

YES it is sometimes really hard to find a drink (99% are now in PET bottles), but also an opportunity to try unusual lesser-brand drinks (in recyclable glass or aluminum bottles) like cream-melon soda (so sweet!) or teas or my fave the lemon genki drink in convenience stores.

YES It's hard to find places to refill, but MyMizu app helps by showing clean drinking water refill stations. Even if you buy one PET bottle drink, refill it a few times during the day before you throw it away also helps.

Japan's Ocean Health index is a miserable 68 out of 100 

We can do better in Japan- consumer choices, going above and beyond government regulation (ban on plastic bags) even if we don't have to, and supporting businesses doing better. Ask questions and share on social media whenever you find #plasticfree #zerowaste or #refill and #reuse opportunities! 

How are you tackling plastic pollution in your life, home, work or travel? I'd love to hear about it!