The fight against single-use plastics has been ongoing for over a decade. From the enormous impact of Blue Planet, to current worrying research on the health impacts of microplastics; the topic is almost as ubiquitous as plastic itself. Yet discussions and media interest have not yet yielded significant progress. In fact, plastic production is set to triple by 2060.
For consumers, this creates a huge challenge. How can one reduce plastic, when almost everything available in shops is packaged in it? The answer lies not only with the end user but with those creating and selling the products themselves.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Carbon Copy Podcast, titled “Use Less Plastic,” Victoria Coe, founder of plastic-free beauty brand KinKind said:
“Businesses can do a lot more and should do a lot more to not put the onus on consumers. We just need to make [products] available and communicate it to consumers that these options are there and that they really do deliver... It's just it's an absolute no brainer and it's a win-win for everybody. But it needs a lot of support from retailers to get there.”
The episode is co-hosted by Carbon Copy’s Head of Communications, Isabelle Sparrow, and guest presenter Daniel Webb, CEO and Founder of charity Everyday Plastic. Everyday Plastic is the organisation behind the Big Plastic Count, the biennial UK-wide investigation into domestic plastic waste. In 2024, the count revealed that 1.7 billion pieces of plastic were being thrown away by households every week. Daniel said:
“There are some really important things happening on a global policy level to try to tackle the plastics crisis. The fifth and final session on the UN Global Plastics Treaty is set for early August, which will create binding targets for countries to tackle plastic waste. However, as with many international treaties, implementation can be slow – and there are huge opportunities for business leaders here in the UK to get ahead of the curve.
“When you go to the supermarket currently, it’s incredibly difficult to buy food, especially fruit and veg, without plastic packaging. If you can buy things loose, it’s sometimes not clear how they will be priced, and this makes customers nervous and less likely to change their purchasing habits. Retailers, including the ‘big six’ supermarkets, need to recognise that change is coming, whether mandated by policy or driven by consumer demand, and being a frontrunner in embracing that shift can only be a positive thing for their businesses.”
Natalie Fée, Founder of charity City to Sea also spoke on the pod. The organisation has led some of the UK’s most high-profile plastic campaigns, including Plastic-free Periods, the Refill campaign and in 2016, a campaign called Switch the Stick, which saw plastic-based cotton buds being banned from all major retailers. Natalie explained more:
“Switch the Stick stopped around 4 billion items of single-use plastic, that couldn’t be recycled, from being produced each year. The campaign really gave us a taste for how we can influence change if we can get retailers to change their product lines. It's all very well asking consumers to buy the plastic-free option, but if the option isn’t there, or if it is prohibitively expensive or more difficult to use, it’s never going to happen. We know there is a great appetite for change, we uncovered some excellent stories at the Global Reuse Summit earlier this year for example; we just need the big players even more involved to keep momentum going.”
The podcast episode is the latest in Carbon Copy’s series, Do Something Bigger; the companion piece to the charity’s 25 Big Local Actions in 2025 campaign. Every fortnight throughout the year, the organisation is focusing on one of 25 different ways that people can come together where they live or work and make a positive impact. Carbon Copy’s co-founder Ric Casale said:
“Like many of the actions we’re showcasing this year, tackling plastic waste is a collective endeavor where real change precedes policy change, and in fact goes further than what’s required by law. We need action from all levels – from consumers and communities using their purchasing power on alternative options, to businesses and retailers actively reducing packaging and removing supply chain waste, to governments writing changes into law. There are brilliant plastic-reduction initiatives making a difference around the UK, so if this is an issue that you feel passionately about, there’s action you can take in your workplace or your community. Take a look at our campaign resources on Carbon Copy to find a project to copy or get involved with where you live.”
To listen to the podcast episode, and to explore the Use Less Plastic action page, visit Carbon Copy’s website.
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