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July 3rd • Environmental Ethics

Int'l Plastic Bag Free Day

An annual global awareness day, held on 3 July, dedicated to highlighting the environmental damage caused by single-use plastic bags. It serves as an important call to action for individuals and businesses to move toward more sustainable alternatives, such as reusable bags made of cloth or paper. Beyond simply reducing waste, the day encourages a broader discussion about how our daily habits affect the planet's ecosystems and wildlife. It is an opportunity to learn about practical solutions to plastic pollution and to promote a cleaner, more sustainable future for everyone.

Plastic bags floating in water

Speaking Discussion

  • How many plastic bags do you think you use in a typical week?
  • Do you think charging a small fee for plastic bags actually changes people's behavior, or is it just another tax?
  • Should governments completely ban the production of single-use plastics, or is that too extreme?
  • Why is it so difficult for humans to give up "convenience" even when we know it's harming the planet?
  • Who is more responsible for plastic pollution: the corporations who make it, or the consumers who buy it?
  • Can you imagine a world where plastic doesn't exist? What would be the biggest challenge?

Activity 1: The Sustainability Pitch

The Task: You are an inventor who has created a new, 100% biodegradable material that can replace plastic bags, but it costs 5 times as much to produce.

Pitch your product to a giant supermarket chain. How will you convince them to switch? in your pitch.

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Sentences

Complete the sentence and justify it in 20 seconds.

  • "The most unnecessary plastic item I see every day is..."
  • "If I were the leader of my country, the first environmental law I'd pass is..."
  • "Recycling is a good habit, but the real solution is..."