Philip Dunne pledges to #PassOnPlastic

South Shropshire MP Philip Dunne this week signed a pledge to #PassOnPlastic with Sky Ocean Rescue – a commitment to reduce single-use plastic consumption. Mr Dunne in particular will focus on reducing use of single use plastic cups and water bottles.

Launched in January 2017, Sky Ocean Rescue aims to shine a spotlight on the issues of ocean health, particularly single-use plastic, and inspire people to make small changes. The #PassOnPlastic pledge was also signed by 113 MPs, all making a public commitment to reduce their consumption of single-use plastics.

Sky Ocean Rescue’s whale, Plasticus, which is made up of a quarter of a ton of plastic – the amount that enters our oceans every second - arrived outside Parliament to bring to life the scale of the problem.

Mr Dunne, a member of the Environmental Audit Select Committee, said: “This campaign helps raise awareness of the challenges posed by single use plastic. I am happy to commit, not least as a newly elected member of the Select Committee, to look at ways to reduce my own plastic consumption and plastic consumption across South Shropshire.

It is deeply worrying that there are 5 trillion pieces of plastic in the world’s oceans, with 8 million tonnes more ending up there every year. We all have a role to play in protecting our oceans – that’s why I have signed my pledge to #PassOnPlastic and encourage others to do the same.”

Residents can find out more about reducing plastic consumption via the Sky Ocean Rescue website: skyoceanrescue.com.