Bans on plastic consumption have been increasing globally for the last two years. Single-use plastics will be officially banned in the Bahamas by 2020, including plastic bags collected at the point of sale, straws, Styrofoam food containers and plastic utensils. Also, the release of balloons in the air will be illegal. Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Antigua and Barbuda have already banned single-use plastic products. In Kenya it’s illegal to produce, sell or use plastic bags. Haiti has banned plastic bags and Styrofoam products. Belize moved to ban single-use plastics by April 2019. The UK has outlined a plan to eradicate plastic use completely by 2042.

The Clean Seas Campaign, launched in 2017 by the United Nations Environment Programme, aims to increase global public and corporate awareness of the critical need to reduce marine litter.

This article appears in the November 2018 issue of Natural Awakenings.