An average of three-quarters of people across 28 countries agree that single-use plastic should be banned as soon as possible, the ‘Attitudes towards single-use plastic’ survey by Ipsos has revealed.
People in Latin American countries, as well as Brazil, Russia, India, and China show the highest levels of agreement with banning single-use plastic, with 80-88% agreement—while 61% of North American recipients agreed.
The people who most wanted to ban single-use plastics were in Colombia (89% of Colombians surveyed), in Chile and Mexico (tied at 88%), and Argentina and China (84%).
The least interest in banning plastic was measured in Japan—with just 37% agreement. Sixty-six percent of Canadians and fifty-five percent of Americans want such changes.
The study was conducted among 20,513 adults under the age of 75 across 28 countries.
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On average, 88% of people surveyed across 28 countries believe it is essential, very important, or fairly important to have an international treaty to combat plastic pollution—including 90% of those in Middle East and Africa.
Clear majorities of consumers in every country and a global average of 82% also agree they prefer products that use as little plastic packaging as possible.
Vast majorities of people in all 28 countries agree that manufacturers and retailers should take responsibility for reducing, reusing, and recycling plastic packaging, with a global average of 85%. Even 72% of Japanese surveyed agreed with that statement.
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The survey was commissioned by the Plastic Free Foundation ahead of the upcoming UN Environment Assembly 5.2, where members will decide whether to start negotiations on a new global agreement to reduce plastic waste and unsustainable production of single use plastics, and address marine plastic pollution.
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“These results make it very clear that there is a strong consensus globally that single-use plastics should be taken out of circulation as quickly as possible,” said Ipsos Australia Director, Stuart Clark.
“The fact that there is such strong support for an international treaty to address the single-use plastics shows that people see this as a challenge that all countries have to solve together.”
“People want to do the right thing.”
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There should be recycling fees charged for every plastic bottle and bag, so that plastics can be removed from the environment. Recycling works to clean up our world.
“Plastic takes up to 1,000 years to degrade in a landfill. Recycling plastic takes 88% less energy than making plastic from raw materials. Enough plastic is thrown away each year to circle the Earth four times. Americans throw away 35 billion plastic bottles every year. Only about 25% of the plastic produced in the U.S. is recycled.” – Utah.edu