Businesses across the UK who have stopped using plastic straws, cups and bags are standing out on the high street by displaying new vibrant stickers in their shopfront windows created by No Plastic Project. The window stickers allow businesses to benefit from their decision to step away from single-use plastics by converting more passing trade. The campaign was launched this week during Plastic Free July, a global movement to reduce plastic pollution.
1,000 high street consumers were asked the question, ‘If you saw one of these stickers in a business’s window would you be more likely to purchase from them?’ and 891 (89%) of them answered ‘Yes’. It’s clear that the anti-plastic movement has moved beyond environmentalists and has entered the minds of general consumers.
On average single-use plastic alternatives cost 350% more than their plastic counterparts. However, consumers are increasingly opting for businesses that prioritise morals over margin and for the first time No Plastic Project’s window stickers make it possible for passing trade to identify these businesses.
The World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) has reported that, on current trends, the amount of plastic the UK is throwing away is set to increase by over a million tonnes by 2030, equivalent to 87,000 more double decker buses worth of waste each year. The forecast report also saw that by 2030, the UK will use 41% more plastic straws, 33% more cups and lids. More positively, though, it predicts that plastic bag use will decline by 85% over the same period.
Whilst there are government plans to ban the sale of single-use plastics such as straws, coffee stirrers and cotton buds to the public via shops and supermarkets in the UK, there is no planned regulation to ban the use of plastic straws, cups and bags by bars, restaurants and shops.
The stickers and their packaging are made from a custom elemental chlorine-free non-coated paper and are classified 100% biodegradable by EN 13432 standards. Stickers are available to purchase from the No Plastic Project’s website for £8.00 with 10% of profits being donated to The Ocean Cleanup, the largest ocean cleanup in history.
