Save our seas (part 1)

At Zennor Glass we're committed to doing our bit to help protect the oceans that we love so much. Over the next few weeks we've put together a series of posts on marine pollution in the hope of inspiring our community to lend their hands to saving our seas together.

(Elizabeth Streeter Photography, elizabethstreeter.com)

For those of you following the news recently you may have heard that a plastic bottle deposit scheme is on it's way to the UK. This is a fantastic break through and step in the right direction for improving marine health.

As you will know by now, plastic pollution is the biggest issue facing our marine ecosystems right now, it is deadly for marine animals who can become entangled in it if they mistake it for food. According to Surfer's Against Sewage, approximately 8 million pieces of plastic are entering the oceans every day.

That's a scary statistic, right? And all of this plastic is harming our ocean wildlife, littering our gorgeous coastlines and damaging the marine plants that produce 70% of our oxygen!

But how can we help?

It's easy to look at such a big problem like marine pollution and feel like there isn't much you can do to help, but there is! Cutting down on (or even cutting out) single use plastics is something that you can do everyday to help reduce the amount of plastic ending up in the sea.

We've put together a list of some of the things we've been doing to cut down on plastic (and you can join us too!):

1. Bring your own bag

Single use plastic bags are only used for a few minutes but can take hundreds of years to break down. Most of us will own reusable bags but we're all guilty of forgetting to bring them when we go

(Elizabeth Streeter Photography)

shopping. To avoid yet another food shop ending in balancing stacks of food back to the car (we've all done it) South Devon based organisation Less Plastic suggests to 'always keep a reusable bag (or bags) by your front door, in your handbag, laptop bag, coat pocket, glove compartment… wherever works for you'. To find out more visit their website at: lessplastic.co.uk

2. Get a reusable water bottle

Bringing your own water bottle means you can cut down on buying single use bottled drinks when you're out and about. At Zennor Glass we all love using our Chilly's water bottles - they keep your drinks cool for 24 hours (and come in the most gorgeous colours)!

www.chillysbottles.com/bottles

3. Say no to plastic straws

Plastic straws are among the top 10 items found on beach clean ups. Next time you are having a drink in a bar or cafe, ask for your drink without a straw, or bring your own reusable one from home.

4. Pack your own lunch

Bringing your own food in a reusable lunchbox will save you both money and the use of single use plastic packaging in food such as sandwiches and packaged snacks. If you make your lunch the night before it will also save you time in the morning on your way to work or school!

5. Invest in a Mooncup

A menstrual cup is a reusable, long lasting cup, designed to replace single use sanitary products. The majority of sanitary pads contain up to 90% plastic, and 1.5 billion items of sanitary products get flushed every year in the UK alone! However, with more women switching to using menstrual cups, 1.7 billion fewer tampons and pads have ended up in the sea and on our beaches! To find out more visit:

www.mooncup.co.uk/blog/how-is-the-mooncup-environmentally-friendly

(Elizabeth Streeter Photography, elizabethstreeter.com)

To find out more about how to help our oceans, check out:

https://www.sas.org.uk

Photos by the talented Elizabeth Streeter:

www.elizabethstreeter.com

@elizabethstreeterphoto