International Plastic Bag Free Day 2024: Know The Date, History, and Significance

International Plastic Bag Free Day is observed annually to raise awareness about plastic pollution. Keep reading to learn more about the history, significance, and ways to participate in this important day.

 
international plastic bag free day history date

According to a study by the UN Environment Programme, around 2,000 garbage trucks filled with plastic are dumped into the world's oceans, rivers, and lakes every day. The excessive use of plastic over the years has caused environmental pollution, negatively impacting the livelihoods of millions of people and animals, as well as food production and climate change. International Plastic Bag Free Day is observed annually to raise awareness about plastic pollution. Keep reading to learn more about the history, significance, and ways to participate in this important day.

International Plastic Bag Free Day 2024: Date

Every year on July 3rd, International Plastic Bag Free Day is celebrated. The day aims to raise awareness about plastic pollution and the significance of adopting a sustainable lifestyle that involves recycling and composting waste from plastic use.

Say No to Plastic Environmental Awareness

International Plastic Bag Free Day 2024: History

As per the American Chemical Society, Plastic was first created in a chemical plant in Northwich, England. It was an accident that led to the creation of polyethene, which has since become the most widely used form of plastic. During World War II, plastic was used to produce secret military gloves. In the 1960s, one-piece plastic shopping bags replaced cloth and paper bags in Europe after the Swedish Company Celloplast first created them.

Discarded plastic bottles floating in polluted water

Following the invention of single-use plastic bags, they became the norm for daily use, replacing paper and reusable bags. This led to the creation of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in 1997. The massive amounts of plastic waste in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch pose a serious threat to marine life, including sea turtles, whales, dolphins, and other marine creatures. (SOURCE: BBC)

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International Plastic Bag Free Day 2024: Significance And How To Celebrate

The International Plastic Bag Free Day is incredibly important for reducing plastic pollution. By engaging in sustainable activities and adopting a lifestyle that embraces the principles of reduce, reuse, and recycle, we can work together to eliminate plastic waste, which poses a significant threat to our lives, the environment, and wildlife.

People doing community service by collecting trash

International Plastic Bag Free Day can be celebrated in various ways:

  • 1. Organise a cleaning drive where a community of people cleans up plastic waste from dirty beaches, parks, and public spaces in the area.
  • 2. Watch documentaries about plastic pollution to understand its impact on the world.
  • 3. Research sustainable alternatives and methods to lead a more environmentally friendly lifestyle that is free from plastic.

Image Credits: Freepik

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