In the time it takes to make a cup of coffee…

By Lerato Tsotetsi,

Every three minutes – the average time it takes to make a cup of coffee – the equivalent of three truckloads of plastic enters the ocean. Unbelievable right?

But thankfully, thousands of South Africans are calling for an end to the destruction single-use plastic is leaving in its wake: from the moment it is produced to the moment it ends up in our rivers, national parks and on our streets.

Will you quickly sign this petition and call for an end to the era of plastics through a strong Global Plastics Treaty and demand real leadership from the people who are supposed to represent you?

A strong Global Plastics Treaty must match the scale of the plastic pollution crisis. Plastic pollution is one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time, with the impacts growing more severe every day.

Here’s what people are demanding of African and global leaders when they meet to discuss the Global Plastics Treaty at the end of May:

• Legally binding agreements to ensure compliance from governments and industry to end plastic production.
• Strong policies and laws on the use of single-use plastics, with commitments to a complete phase-out.
• Keep oil and gas used to produce plastic in the ground and stop big polluters with their relentless plastic production.
• Big brands increasing investment in refill and reuse systems and reducing single-use plastic packaging.
• Holding countries accountable for managing their own waste and ending waste colonialism.
• Governments working to ensure a just transition for frontline workers, waste pickers and the health of the most affected communities.
• A strong plastics treaty that will deliver a cleaner, safer planet for us and for future generations.

We need to pile on the pressure before they meet in Paris later this month and demand a strong Global Plastics Treaty.

Will you call on the Minister for Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, Barbara Creecy, to back a strong Global Plastics Treaty, and end the plastic pollution crisis in South Africa?

South Africa generates 2.4 million tons of plastic waste every year, equivalent to 41kg of plastic waste per citizen. The materials you throw away persist in nature long after they have been thrown away.

And it’s not just about pollution. From the moment it is produced plastics have a huge impact on our climate. Did you know that a whopping 99% of plastics are made from fossil fuels and corporations keep making more? Cutting production and ending single-use plastic is crucial if we want to keep global warming below 1.5 degrees.

Last year, the South African government announced its commitment to support the binding treaty on plastic pollution. Will you sign the petition to help apply pressure to make sure that the government champions a strong Global Plastics Treaty?

Let’s remember that people power, on and offline can make a huge difference. Let’s push to demand the change we want to see, the time for business as usual has come and gone.

The time for action is now.

Thanks for all you do,