Going plastic free in Lincoln

Lincoln residents are encouraged to back a national campaign to cut out single-use plastics this July as Lincoln aims to achieve Plastic Free Community status.

Plastic Free July is a UK-wide campaign established by Surfers Against Sewage (SAS), an environmental charity championing for the ocean. By participating in this month-long initiative, individuals and businesses can support SAS’s Plastic Free Communities campaign by eliminating avoidable single-use from all aspects of life.

To work towards this, businesses must reduce at least 3 single-use plastic items from day-to-day activities, commit to include the stance on single-use plastics in communications, and support plastic free initiatives in the community. One such business at the forefront of reducing single-use waste in the city is Lincoln Eco Pantry.

Lincoln Eco Pantry has been awarded Plastic Free Champion status to celebrate its commitment to zero waste living

“We can’t deal with the amount of plastic that there is. There is no good recycling plan in place that can deal with the amount of plastic we produce,” said Johann Bridges, Owner of the zero-waste refill shop located in the Bailgate. 

“There are alternatives, like shopping here, to get rid of the huge amount of plastic waste that we accumulate, not just in Lincoln but across the world.”

Johann has been posting simple changes everyday on Lincoln Eco Pantry’s social media pages this month to inspire people to make positive actions to reduce waste. 

“I think Plastic Free July is a good idea because it gives people something to aim towards, it’s like a goal for the month to cut out as much as you possibly can.”

Johann Bridges, the owner of Lincoln Eco Pantry in the city's Bailgate

Easy steps individuals can take this July to reduce their own environmental impact include refusing single-use packaging which can be made easier by supporting local refill shops, and remembering to carry a refillable water bottle when out and about. Downloading the Refill app on your phone will show you the nearest water refill stations while on-the-go and a new water fountain has been installed as part of the Lincoln Cornhill Market refurb.

If you are interested in attaining Plastic Free Champion status for your business in Lincoln, contact Plastic Free Lincoln at www.facebook.com/plasticfreelincoln or by emailing plasticfreelincoln@gmail.com 

 *This article was written for Lincoln Independent in 2024.

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