Plastics industry and Marine Conservation Society collaborate on anti-litter project for schools

The British Plastics Federation (BPF) and PlasticsEurope are collaborating with the Marine Conservation Society (MCS) on a new project for schools aiming to highlight the importance of responsible litter disposal.

The ‘Cool Sea Investigators (CSI): Litter Challenge’ is being undertaken by schools across the country and involves pupils carrying out a litter survey in their local area and watching webinars on the importance of responsible disposal before devising their own litter campaigns.

The campaigns from each school will be judged, with the winning entries from both Key Stage 2 and 3 receiving £250 each to put towards their ‘green’ projects.

Helen Jordan, the BPF’s Sustainability Issues Executive, said that the project is an engaging way of helping children understand the issue of marine litter.

“We are proud to be involved in this project, which is an engaging way to bring pupils face to face with the issue of litter and understand how irresponsible behaviour can have a negative impact on the marine environment further down the line,” Jordan explained.

The overall winner of the CSI: Litter Challenge will have their idea upscaled into a UK litter campaign, which the MCS and the plastics industry will promote.

PlasticsEurope Regional Director North Kim Christiansen said: “As well as being a great way to educate students about the many problems litter causes, it also helps them understand the value of the materials in items like packaging and how they can — and should — be recycled.”

Concluding, Jenny Griffiths from the MCS said: “It’s a fantastic opportunity for schools to cover curriculum requirements and empower young people to really make a difference to the environment around them while improving the situation for marine wildlife.”