Combating Plastic Pollution: Sustainable Schools Take Action

Plastic pollution is a pressing issue that affects wildlife, the climate, and human health. Schools are significant contributors to this problem, but they can also be part of the solution. Educating students about the impact of plastic pollution is a crucial first step, and this can be done through film screenings, talks, or litter collection days. Schools can also implement practical measures to reduce plastic waste, such as banning single-use plastic bottles and encouraging students to use reusable water bottles and plastic-free lunch boxes. Students can also be encouraged to choose plastic-free school supplies and to wrap their lunches and snacks in paper instead of plastic. Additionally, schools can work with suppliers to reduce plastic packaging in deliveries and rethink catering options to eliminate single-use plastic. By taking these steps, schools can make a significant difference in the fight against plastic pollution.

Hold educational film screenings or talks to raise awareness

Holding educational film screenings or talks is a great way to raise awareness about plastic pollution in schools. It is the first step to explaining why your school is taking action to reduce plastic waste. It is important to choose films that are suitable for the age group of the students. Here are some films and documentaries that can be used for educational purposes:

• Plastic Planet by Werner Boote: This film showcases how plastic has become a real problem in all parts of our planet, posing risks to the environment, humans, and animals. It is available on the website of the Federal Agency for Civic Education.
• Recycling Myths and Illegal Plastic Exports, What's the Truth? by y-collective: This documentary explores how plastic waste is exported from Germany to other countries, embellishing recycling quotas. It is available on YouTube.
• The Plastic Curse: How We Litter Our Planet by planet e.: This film sheds light on the developments of plastic consumption in our society and the problem of microplastics in the sea. It is available in the ZDF Mediathek.
• Plastic Waste from Nestlé and Co. - Search in the Sea by CTRL_F: This documentary shows stark and impressive images of plastic waste in the environment and oceans, and confronts those responsible for the masses of waste. It is available on YouTube.
• Plastic Everywhere: How Do We Stop the Waste Problem? by WDR: This film highlights plastic consumption and plastic recycling in Germany, including ways to avoid waste.
• Plastics: Success Story or Time Bomb? by Fascination Knowledge: A 30-minute documentary that tackles the problem of plastic waste in a scientific way, highlighting the advantages and disadvantages of plastics. It is available on YouTube.
• Plastic in Every Wave - Surfing in the Garbage Dump Sea by NDR: Kitesurfing pro Mario Rodwald showcases the amount of plastic waste he encounters in the sea every day, making it a great educational film for children at school. It is available on the NDR website.
• The Story of Plastic: This film exposes the ugly truth behind the global plastic pollution crisis, showcasing striking footage of garbage fields, trash-filled rivers and seas, and the poisonous runoff from plastic production. It is suitable for high school students and up.
• Microplastic Madness: This documentary is suitable for all ages and tells the story of 5th graders from P.S. 15 in Red Hook, Brooklyn, whose actions on plastic pollution turn into extraordinary leadership. It is a great choice for families and those interested in environmental education.
• Frontline's Plastic Wars: Suitable for high school students and up, this film examines the mounting crisis of plastic waste in the environment and the plastic industry's promotion of recycling, despite doubts about its economic viability. It is available to stream on PBS.org.
• Straws by Linda Booker: A short documentary about the half billion non-recyclable plastic straws used every day in the US and the sea change happening to reduce their use. It is available for rent or purchase.

Additionally, you can invite parents to participate in the film screenings or talks to ensure they are supportive of the project. Offering multiple screening times or dates can also provide more opportunities for people to get involved. Having passionate individuals, ideally students, available to answer questions after the screening can make the event more interactive.

Stop selling plastic bottles and encourage reusable alternatives

Schools can play a pivotal role in reducing plastic pollution by discontinuing the sale of plastic bottles and promoting reusable alternatives. Here are some detailed suggestions to implement this initiative effectively:

Stop Selling Plastic Bottles

Schools can take a firm stand against plastic pollution by ceasing the sale of single-use plastic bottles on campus. This sends a powerful message to the school community and beyond about the importance of reducing plastic waste. It is a bold step that demonstrates the school's commitment to environmental sustainability and can inspire others to follow suit.

Provide Alternative Drinking Options

To ensure students and staff remain hydrated, schools can offer various alternative drinking options. Drinking water can be made readily available through the installation of water bottle refill stations and the provision of jugs and taps. These options encourage the use of refillable water bottles and reduce the demand for single-use plastic bottles.

Encourage the Use of Reusable Bottles

Schools can actively encourage students and staff to bring their own reusable drinks bottles. This can be achieved by running fundraisers to provide each student with a school-branded reusable bottle or offering discounts on sustainable bottles. Making these bottles colourful and aesthetically pleasing can also incentivise their use. Additionally, the school can suggest refill stations at a local level to normalise the choice of reusable bottles.

Offer Alternative Drink Choices

If offering a variety of drinks is necessary, schools can opt for juices and milk drinks in refillable jugs. Drinks in cans and glass bottles (where permitted by health and safety regulations) are also viable alternatives. These options reduce plastic waste while still providing hydration options for the school community.

Educate and Raise Awareness

Education is key to the success of this initiative. Schools can organise educational film screenings, talks, or workshops to raise awareness about the issues of plastic pollution and the importance of reusable alternatives. Inviting students, parents, and staff to participate in these events can foster a sense of collective responsibility and encourage a shift towards reusable bottles.

By implementing these suggestions, schools can significantly reduce the sale and consumption of plastic bottles, fostering a culture that encourages and embraces reusable alternatives. This will not only reduce plastic pollution but also promote a more sustainable and environmentally conscious mindset among the school community.

Encourage less plastic in packed lunches

Reducing plastic in packed lunches is a great way to cut down on plastic pollution in schools. Here are some tips to encourage less plastic in packed lunches:

Use Reusable Containers

Instead of packing lunches in plastic bags, opt for reusable containers, cloth sacks, or beeswax wrappers. Reusable containers are a more sustainable option as they can be washed and used multiple times, reducing the amount of waste generated.

Buy in Bulk and Store in Glass Jars

Encourage students and their parents to buy snacks like nuts, cereal, and dried fruit in bulk. These items can be stored in glass jars, avoiding the plastic packaging that comes with individually packaged snacks. Buying in bulk not only reduces plastic waste but can also be more cost-effective.

Pack Whole Fruits

Whole fruits such as apples, bananas, and oranges make great plastic-free snacks. They come with their own natural packaging and provide a healthy alternative to processed snacks.

Carry Drinks in Reusable Bottles

Instead of buying bottled water or juice, students can carry their water or squash in reusable flasks or bottles. This reduces the number of plastic bottles being discarded, many of which often end up in landfills or the ocean, causing harm to wildlife.

Homemade Treats

When bringing birthday treats to class, consider homemade options such as fudge or biscuits instead of plastic-wrapped sweets and chocolates. Homemade treats not only taste delicious but also reduce the amount of plastic packaging used.

Educate and Raise Awareness

Education is key to encouraging less plastic use. Organise fun family workshops to share ideas and recipes for reducing plastic in packed lunches. Provide tips and alternatives, such as using stainless steel lunch boxes and snack pots, reusable beeswax wraps instead of cling film, and filling up on unpackaged fruits and vegetables.

By implementing these simple changes, students and their families can significantly reduce the amount of plastic in their packed lunches, contributing to a greener and more sustainable school environment.

Choose reusable tableware for the canteen and school events

Schools are increasingly focusing on sustainability, and using reusable tableware is a great way to demonstrate their commitment to the environment. Reusable tableware can be chosen for the canteen and school events to reduce plastic pollution.

The first step is to assess what tableware the school already has. If there is a sustainability committee or environmental club, they can be a great resource for introducing the idea of reusable tableware and helping to implement it. The school can then decide if they want to invest in new reusable tableware or if they want to use donated or purchased second-hand tableware.

There are several options for acquiring reusable tableware. Schools can purchase it new from companies like ReCube, which offers a custom reusable tableware rental system for cafeterias. This option can help schools save money on disposable tableware costs and provide a convenient and eco-friendly solution. Alternatively, schools can collect reusable tableware by asking families to donate items or finding them in charity shops. These items can be stored at the school or a volunteer's house and reused for school events. Some communities even have a collection of event reusables that can be borrowed, used, cleaned, and returned, further reducing waste.

Using reusable tableware can help students better understand environmental protection and improve their awareness of the impact of plastic pollution. It also enhances the school's image and reputation by demonstrating its commitment to sustainability. Additionally, it can save schools money in the long run by eliminating the need to purchase and maintain traditional tableware and reducing waste disposal costs.

By choosing reusable tableware for the canteen and school events, schools can play a vital role in reducing plastic pollution and educating the next generation about the importance of environmental protection.

Request that supplier deliveries are plastic-free

One of the largest sources of plastic waste in schools comes from supplier deliveries. To reduce plastic pollution in schools, it is important to request that these deliveries be plastic-free. Here are some ways to achieve this:

Raise the issue with suppliers

First, contact your suppliers and ask them to deliver items without plastic packaging. They may have already received similar requests from other schools, and your request will add to the growing pressure for change. It is important to be persistent and not take 'no' for an answer.

Share success stories

Share success stories of schools that have successfully convinced suppliers to go plastic-free. For example, the pupils and teachers of Damer's First School in Dorset persuaded their fruit and vegetable supplier to trial plastic-free deliveries, which resulted in less food waste and less plastic waste. This can inspire other schools to take similar action.

Set goals

Setting SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals can help track progress. For example, a goal could be set for every student in a specific class to use a reusable water bottle by the end of the year. This can help create a sense of collective action and encourage suppliers to reduce plastic packaging.

Educate the school community

Educating the school community about the impact of plastic pollution can help gain support for the initiative. Holding film screenings or talks that highlight the issues of ocean plastic pollution can be an effective way to engage students, parents, and staff. Organising regular clean-up events, such as litter collection days or beach cleans, can also help people see the scale of the problem and the need for plastic-free supplier deliveries.

Review the school's procurement policy

Reviewing the school's procurement policy and adding plastic-free requirements can be a formal way to ensure that suppliers are held accountable for reducing plastic packaging. This can be done in collaboration with the school's sustainability committee or environmental club, ensuring that the school's purchasing power is used to drive positive change.

Frequently asked questions