Plastic pollution is doing terrible damage to marine life and our wider environment.
Many of us feel shocked enough to want to fix the problem. But with so much plastic everywhere, where do you start?
Our homes tend to be bursting with plastic, and huge amounts of it ends up in the sea. So let’s look at everyday plastics that contribute most to the problem – and what we can do about them.
Spoiler alert: while there are plenty of things we can do as individuals or families, the bigger wins will come when manufacturers and retailers get on board. For that to happen we need the government to crack the whip. So before you go any further, please sign our petition.
Now read on to find out about the everyday plastics that should be first on the hit list – from wet wipes to plastic bottles and throwaway utensils.

Wet wipes: fatbergs in a sewer near you


Crisp packets: plastic-free snacking


Clothes and microfibres


Tyre microplastics: from road to sea


Menstrual products: plastic-free periods

Plastic takeaway cutlery

Cosmetics: skincare without plastic


Plastic water bottles: bring your own instead

More information
For a deeper dive into research on everyday plastics, see Reducing Household Contributions to Marine Plastic Pollution – a report by the Eunomia research group, commissioned by Friends of the Earth. Or follow the links above to in-depth articles.