European supermarkets under fire in new research
Large European supermarkets can and should do much more to reduce their plastic usage.
Surfrider Foundation Europe picks up at least 20,000 plastic bottles during its beach cleanups and its other Ocean Initiatives every year. To reduce this number, Surfrider launched its new Reset Your Habits campaign.
Surfrider Foundation Europe, a French non-profit organisation that works for clean and safe oceans, believes that behaviour change is dependent on the availability and promotion of good, viable alternatives. Its Reset Your Habits campaign will help Surfrider encourage people to use refillable bottles instead of plastic bottles and to refill these at public water fountains. Apart from this, Surfrider challenges local authorities in Europe and European organisation to both do the same and to make sure that there are enough water fountains for the public.
You too can help by drinking tap water from refillable bottles. And if you want to do more, you can sign up for one of the Surfrider Caravans in France, Spain or Germany. These boats sail along four large European rivers – the Seine, Garonne, and rivers in Valencia and Hamburg – towards the sea. Along the way, they hold events such as conferences, exhibitions and clean-ups. Several activities were held on World Oceans Day on 8 June.
Large European supermarkets can and should do much more to reduce their plastic usage.
With our Beat the Microbead- app, you can scan all your personal care products yourself to see if they contain plastic. Our research shows that 9 out of 10 cosmetics products contain microplastics.
In a letter submitted to Science, scientists argue for a cap on plastic production. It is the only way to stop plastic pollution.
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