Thinking of solutions to plastic pollution is challenging — but there are many different ways to solve this problem! One person’s individual impact may be small, but if we work together we can make massive change.
Follow the steps below to take action on plastic consumption.
Remember the plastic items you collected data for? It’s time to find a solution to replace one of them!
After deciding which item you’ll focus on, next you’ll figure out how you will reduce the amount of plastic you consume. When lots of people do this, it sends a message to manufacturers that they need to produce less plastics!
Take a look at this diagram for some plastic reduction inspiration:
Next, it’s time to think of a solution or alternative that replaces that plastic item. As you saw in the data earlier, not all plastics are recycled, or can be recycled.
It’s up to you to think how to reduce plastic consumption or reimagine the product to become plastic-free. This could be a brand new invention, or even re-inventing how you use an existing product — and the idea can be as big or as small as you’d like!
Grab some paper and draw out your idea. Use the example below as inspiration to get you started.
Focusing on the plastic item you chose to replace, take a look at the weight estimates that you collected earlier. Estimate how much plastic you would consume per year after implementing your solution — how much plastic have you saved?
Click the button below to randomly select an SDG. How does this SDG connect to plastic pollution, data science, and your action plan?
LET’S REFLECT…
Thinking of solutions to plastic pollution is challenging — but there are many different ways to solve this problem!
- Why did you choose this item to focus on?
- Why is innovation important for solving problems? Do solutions always have to be completely new, or can they also be existing solutions used in a new way?
- How does working together create a bigger impact when solving a problem?