Groups demand urgent action on plastic pollution in open letter to Swinney

First Minister John Swinney has been urged to take urgent action to stop the increasing levels of plastic pollution facing Scotland.

In an open letter signed by 18 environmental and civil groups, the SNP leader has been urged to do more to protect Scots from the effects of plastic.

The call, signed by groups including Friends of the Earth Scotland and Stop Climate Chaos Scotland, comes as the final stages of international talks on the Global Plastics Treaty begin in Geneva.

The agreement calls on countries around the world to work together to end plastic pollution.

In the letter, which was also sent to Climate Action and Energy Secretary Gillian Martin, the Scottish Government is urged to support the principles of the treaty and do more at home to tackle the root causes of plastic pollution.

It reads: “The science is clear: the plastics crisis is damaging the planet and our health, and these impacts will worsen if production continues to increase.

“99% of plastics are made from fossil fuels, and plastic production is fuelling the climate crisis.

“If left uncontrolled, it will consume up to one-third of the remaining Paris Agreement carbon budget by 2050, surpassing the energy and transportation sectors.”

The letter says much of the plastic use in Scotland is “unnecessary”, designed for single use and often not recyclable.

It adds: “People see the impact of plastic litter and thrown away products in their daily lives and support for change is high.

“Measures in place today, such as recycling and selective product bans, have proven insufficient in addressing the plastic crisis.

“Solutions must address the root cause of the crisis – how plastics are produced and sold.

“Only governments can hold producers and retailers to account for the harm created by their plastic products.

“Many of the actions required to achieve this can and must be taken at a devolved level.”

The letter calls on the Scottish Government to take a range of actions such as setting clear targets to reduce plastic production and waste, including the exporting of waste.

Mr Swinney is also urged to ban the burning of plastic in incinerators, fund research into the impact of plastics on people’s health and develop a reuse programme to make reusing as easy as buying new in Scotland.

“The Scottish Government must step up action to reduce the impacts of plastic and protect the people of Scotland from its harms,” the letter said.

Kim Pratt, a campaigner at Friends of the Earth Scotland, said ministers were “failing” to take the action needed to prevent the harms caused by the plastics.

She said: “Promises at an international level will only be meaningful if they are backed up with action at a local level.

“Industry-backed solutions, such as recycling, do not address the underlying cause of the plastics crisis – that there is too much plastic to begin with and more is being made every day.

“It doesn’t have to be this way.

“The Global Plastics Treaty is an incredible opportunity internationally, and a chance for the Scottish Government to reset the way plastics are used in Scotland too.

“There are practical steps the Scottish Government should be taking today to halt the plastics crisis.

“These include immediately banning the burning of plastic waste, forcing companies to be responsible for cleaning the products they sell, and investing in reuse services.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said: “Scotland was the first part of the UK to implement a ban on some of the most problematic single-use plastic products and we continue to work with our partners to reduce as many sources of plastic pollution as possible and also to support the removal of rubbish from our seas and coastline.

“In addition, the Circular Economy (Scotland) Act 2024 increases the powers available to the Government to take action on waste in Scotland, and we are also progressing with international efforts to address major pollution sources such as plastic pellets, as well as supporting the removal of rubbish from our seas and beaches.”

The full list of signatories is:

Friends of the Earth Scotland

UK Without Incineration Network (UKWIN)

Stop Climate Chaos Scotland

Circular Communities Scotland

Nourish Scotland

Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland

Surfers Against Sewage

Common Weal

Plastic-Free Scotland Communities

Wellbeing Economy Alliance Scotland

Reloop Platform

Environmental Investigation Agency

Marine Conservation Society

Action to Protect Rural Scotland

Circular Design Synergy Limited

Scottish Environment LINK

Fidra

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