Campaign Win for Plastic Free Scotland

There’s strength in numbers, and our Scottish Communities are showing just what is possible when we unite for one purpose. Yes, they are individual Plastic Free Communities working at a local level. And they now also form a large network across Scotland, which is getting listened to.

In February this year they participated in a Circular Economy fashion show outside the Scottish Parliament, ahead of the first reading on the Circular Economy Bill. And again, at the Edinburgh Climate Festival in the Summer. Their ‘fashion’ pieces told the story of different issues connected to plastic pollution and e-waste.

Their protest was then mentioned in the Stage 1 debate on the Circular Economy Bill in the Scottish Parliament. A sign they were starting to get noticed.

Then when a consultation was launched by the Scottish Parliament on the introduction of single-use beverage cup charge, the communities were ready and able to respond as an united front, as individual communities and a group.

Not only that, they found that the wording in the consultation directly reflected their recommendations to the Scottish Government. A MASSIVE win!

From two communities joining forces to work across the Fife area in 2019, to five communities pushing for change with Fife Council in 2021, the group has gone from strength to strength. Now 12 communities cover the Clyde to the Northwest Coast, the Outer Hebrides, the Moray Firth and the Firth of Forth.

This year we have seen how united local action can lead to national policy change. One step closer to tackling single-use plastic pollution and changing the system that produces it. Changes that will be felt right across Scotland and back to their communities on the ground.