Communities are fed up picking up plastic litter, ready to name and shame producers.
Issued in news on September 11, 2019 at 18:27:00.
Over the next two weeks, and to mark World Clean Up Day on September 21st, environmental organisations are inviting communities across the world to take part in a brand audit – it’s like a clean-up, but better.
It’s time producers take responsibility for the plastic waste they are dumping onto the planet.
Through this Brand Audit, data collected by ‘Break Free From Plastic’, a global network of organisations, will be used to name and shame producers who are creating the most waste.
Pressure will be put on governments to legislate for producer fees to be increased globally and to adopt more effective legislation to incentivise companies to adopt more sustainable packaging practices and to encourage consumers to reduce their use of single-use plastics and packaging.
Our Green Messenger Days are Over
Issued in news on August 20, 2019 at 11:15:00.
Friends of the Earth will not be joining Electric Picnic as Green Messengers this year. After much thought and discussion, it was decided that because of our limited resources and capacity we feel our energy should be placed in supporting the grassroots climate movement rather than sustainability at festivals.
It was great fun to be part of the Electric Picnic team over the years, and we met so many great people, but we feel that we did everything we could have done and wish the best of luck to those who step in to take over.
Thanks so much to everyone who volunteered with us over the past three years helping gather support and create awareness on our campaigns.
On the Road to Plastic Free!
Issued in the blog on July 23, 2019 at 12:08:00.
Breaking free from plastic is not just a personal journey, it's a global movement of millions of people pushing for bigger action on plastic production, consumption and waste.
And we have some good news to share!
In May 2019 the EU formally approved a pioneer legislation to curb single-use plastics and earlier this month the EU Single Use Plastic (SUP) Directive was adopted and made law. Member states, including Ireland, now have two years to adopt it into Irish law and ensure we are on track to reach its targets.
This milestone is all thanks to plastic free campaigners who demanded change from industry and government all across Europe.
Stand Up and Act for Plastic Free July!
Issued in the blog on July 08, 2019 at 17:22:00.
It’s Plastic Free July! And we have two actions for you to help Ireland #BreakFreeFromPlastic!
Can you believe loose produce is actually more expensive than the same product wrapped in plastic? Supermarkets need to create incentives for people to do the right thing, not punish those who want to help the environment!
Shop and Drop is driving the agenda!
Issued in the blog on April 18, 2019 at 17:30:00.
Shop And Drop Supermarket Spree has officially been launched!
This community-led wave of on-going supermarket action kicked off on Saturday April 13th. Instead of having a single centrally-organised day of action - we’re asking communities, groups and individuals to continue the action until supermarkets implement further changes to eliminate unnecessary plastic packaging. And it's starting to have an impact already!
Oisín, Friends of the Earth Director, was invited to join the Claire Byrne Live panel on Monday night along with Repak, to discuss plastic packaging.
You can catch up here at this link.
Shop and Drop Supermarket Spree launches this weekend!
Issued in the blog on April 12, 2019 at 17:04:00.
Tomorrow, Saturday April 13th, is the big day - we’re launching the next wave of action on supermarket plastic packaging!
57 local actions with over 330 individuals have registered on the Sick of Plastic online platform, ready to Shop and Drop from this weekend.
The action is easy – anyone can take part!
Just do your grocery shop as normal but remove the excess plastic from your purchases after payment and place unwanted plastic in the bins provided in-store.
We now have 17,000 names on our plastic petition but want to hit 20,000 after this weekend. Groups all across the country will be collecting signatures outside supermarkets - and you can help gather signatures too!
Sick of Plastic concerned about Lidl recycling bins
Issued in news on April 11, 2019 at 16:52:00.
Supermarket chain Lidl has unveiled new in-store bins for unwanted packaging just days before the second ‘Shop and Drop’ day of action on supermarket packaging.
The Sick of Plastic Campaign, which runs the Shop and Drop initiative, has welcomed Lidl’s engagement but has raised concerns that their new bins conflict with the Government’s advice on what to put in our recycling bins.
The three stream recycling station which Lidl are planning to install in supermarkets across Ireland conflicts with My Waste Ireland’s new recycling list, which Minister Bruton advocated for as part of a campaign to reduce contamination in recycling bins.
Claudia from the Sick of Plastic campaign commented:
Sick of Plastic Campaign launches ‘Shop and Drop Spree’ demanding that supermarkets act on plague of plastic packaging
Issued in news on April 04, 2019 at 13:55:00.
One year on from the nationwide day of action which saw thousands of shoppers leave their unwanted plastic packaging behind in supermarkets, the Sick of Plastic Campaign is launching a new wave of action, kicking off on April 13th.
This year Sick of Plastic is encouraging people to mobilise their local communities and organise ongoing shop and drops at their local supermarket. Saturday April 13th is the nationwide kick-off event, marking the beginning of community-led supermarket actions.
Claudia Tormey, from the Sick of Plastic Campaign, commented:
“Last year’s action really grabbed supermarkets’ attention, but they haven’t made enough lasting changes, and people are frustrated.
Cross-party negotiations deliver 'Good Friday Agreement' for climate action.
Issued in news on March 28, 2019 at 20:45:00.
Friends of the Earth has welcomed the landmark report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Climate Action, published on Thursday evening.Commenting, Friends of the Earth Director, Oisín Coghlan said
"The Oireachtas has given the Government an historic mandate for serious climate action.
"This is the Good Friday Agreement for Irish climate action. It is a cross-party deal to drive policy and measures to cut pollution across all sectors of the economy and society.
Sick of Plastic Supermarket Audit
Issued in the blog on January 29, 2019 at 17:45:00.
Sick of Plasitc are ramping up the pressure on Supermarkets, it’s time they took our demands seriously. The Sick of Plastic petition now has over 16,000 names, and we want to present it to every major Supermarket in as many towns across the country as we can.
But before we approach Supermarkets again, we want to gather some data on what progress, if any, has been made. We're going to name and shame supermarkets who are refusing to act on plastic, and praise those who are taking the lead.
Can you help us find out what supermarkets are doing to tackle plastic by completing this really quick survey?
