Eco News Round Up January 2022
The UK government is banning plastic Sauce sachets
2022 looks like a Greener New Year! The UK government announced that single-serve sachets of ketchup, mayonnaise and other condiments will be banned under new measures designed to cut down on the use of plastic packaging. Therefore, restaurants, cafes and takeaways will not be able to offer sachets to their customers, under plans by the Department for Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs. In addition to this, plastic plates, mini milk pots and popular extras such as salad dressing could also be affected by the ban. These new measures are an attempt to cut down on plastic waste that cannot easily be recycled and ends up in landfills or the sea. Plastic sachets are particularly problematic because of their small size and heavy contamination of food. This makes them difficult to clean and recycle.
Source: The Times
Elephants die in Sri Lankan landfills
Sri Lanka is facing major issues with plastic waste in open landfills leading to the death of elephants who are endangered species. Concerns have been raised in the past few weeks after two more were found dead last weekend. Over the last eight years, around 20 elephants have died from plastic trash in the landfills. Examinations of the dead animals releveled that they had swallowed large amounts of nondegradable plastic that is found in the landfills. Elephants are increasingly vulnerable because of the loss of their natural habitat. Therefore, many venture closer to human settlements in search of food, and some are killed by poachers or farmers angry over damage to their crops.
Source: The Guardian
Indonesia’s capital is moving due to flooding
On January 18, Indonesia’s parliament approved a bill to relocate the country’s capital from Jakarta to a new city to be built on the island of Borneo, named Nusantara due to the continuous flooding’s. Studies have forecast that the entire city could sink by 2050, while flooding is a recurring problem. The decision followed growing concerns about the long-term sustainability of Jakarta. Moreover, Jakarta is located in Java, Indonesia’s fourth-biggest island and home to more than half of the nation’s population. East Kalimantan in Borneo – an island the country shares with Malaysia and Brunei and has less than 6 per cent of the population. Nusantara is going to be built to be flood-resistant, making the lives of its residents less dangerous and also improving the country’s economy. Despite those social benefits, environmentalists have criticised the plans, saying it could harm endangered species including orangutans, sun bears and long-nosed monkeys.
Source: The Guardian
The UK city taking a stand on palm oil in the fight against deforestation
Chester Zoo has announced that four areas across the UK have pledged to become ‘sustainable palm oil communities’, part of a project to prevent habitat destruction and protect biodiversity. The county of Dorset, Plymouth, the town of Saltash in Cornwall, and the village of Mochdre in North Wales have all committed to Chester Zoo‘s new sustainable movement. Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil that comes from the fruit of the African oil palm and is very affordable. The unsustainable production of palm oil is eradicating vast areas of rainforest. Hence, with this new movement, the country of Chester alongside Chester Zoo are demanding more sustainable palm oil that does not contribute to deforestation. The initiative requires restaurants, schools, workplaces and attractions within sustainable palm oil communities to use and support sustainable palm oil to prevent habitat destruction and protect biodiversity.
Source: The Guardian