Frequently Asked Questions
Chit-Chat Time!
Here’s some answers to a few commonly asked questions about plastic consumption and this petition. Bon appetit.
How many signature will a petition need?
In Scotland, a petition must be submitted to the Citizens Participation and Public Petitions Committee, who will determine whether action needs to be taken. Whilst there is no minimum number of signatures, it must be deemed enough of a significant issue.
Is it really going to work?
In the past, petitions have made a lot of difference to our world! They’ve recently defined Canada’s new climate law, for example. The Suffragettes are a famous one, but hopefully I won’t have to throw myself under any horses. Either way, awareness and advocacy for a good cause can never be a bad thing.
Why was the initial petition rejected?
As stated by the Citizen Participation
and Public Petitions Committee, there already exists a Circular Economy Act, suggested in 2016. This means the Scottish Government is currently
developing a strategy that would consider potential similar action, so it cannot be considered twice. However, even they stated that they were frustrated with the lack of progress- the only genuine action taken so far is to produce
another strategy in 2024 with more vague desires.
Why bother? What do you gain from promotion of this campaign?
I spend a lot of time on buses, so I’ve got a bit of time to kill. I also don’t like constantly finding dead birds on my beach.
And the big one-
How else can I help?
Whilst our overall aim is a total ban, in the mean time there are lots of things you can do as an individual to decrease your plastic trail. Firstly, figure out what you’re throwing away- I would recommend keeping a chart of some sort above or around your bin to record what’s going into it. The answers might surprise you. For me, it was cat food pouches, which is something I’d not ever considered beforehand. Once you’ve identified your culprits, you can either cut these non-essentials out of your shopping, or switch to other alternatives. I wouldn’t assume things don’t have alternatives, either; nowadays there are a whole range of interesting replacements on the market, from period pads to clingfilm to chewing gum.
Another piece of advice I would give you is one often mentioned but very rarely heeded, especially in my own generation: buy less. less clothes, less make-up, less items from amazon that you don’t really need. Consumerism has undeniably rocketed the impact we have on our planet to these enormous, unattainable levels. So look in your wardrobe before you go clothes shopping; save up for that one nice item you wanted, not a dozen cheap outfits that you’ll love for a week. Remember that fast fashion is never, ever ethical. Remember that everything must come from somewhere, be made by somebody, out of something, and a parcel never just spawns at your doorstep.
And finally…
If it’s an available option to you, cut out fish from your diet. A huge percentage of plastic that causes major harm to wildlife is fishing gear. Bycatch and overfishing have nearly wiped out dozens of populations of marine life. It’s one of the most damaging, detrimental, and yet unmonitored industries out there; it’s so incredibly lucrative that it often wiggles under the radar of environmental issues. If you’re in a coastal area, eat local, small-scale caught seafood. If you’re not, one option is to cut it out entirely (which is sad, because it’s tasty, but good, because it gives you a more sustainable existence as a 21st century human being).
