Chevening Alumni unite for #BetterthanPlastic
The British Embassy’s #BetterthanPlastic challenge continues to gather support, raising awareness of how to tackle plastic pollution.
Chevening Alumni held a learning session on practical ways to reduce, reuse and recycle single-use plastic. Environmental specialists and consultants joined academics and professors to look at solutions to the global problem of plastic pollution.
Earlier this month, British Embassy launched the #BetterthanPlastic campaign to support international efforts to tackle plastic waste, and to raise awareness of plastic pollution across the globe. The challenge asked individuals and organisations to cut plastic use for one week.
Social media users are encouraged to post pictures of themselves on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram showing how they plan to cut their plastic use. Anyone can take part, and social media users who accept the challenge will have a chance to win eco-friendly prizes manufactured by Egyptian upcycling company UpFuse.
Egyptian MP Heba Hagrass, Adventurer Omar Samra, former football player Ahmed Hossam (Mido), Egyptian actress Yousra El-Louzy, Egyptian actor Ahmed Hatem, Egyptian actor Hazem Ehab, Egyptian actor Tony Maher, TV presenter Jory Bakr, were also amongst those who have already promised to cut their plastic use for at least one week.
International celebrities such as former football player Robbie Keane and model and social entrepreneur Elisa Sednaoui, and TV presenter Dana Hamdan joined the campaign as well.
British Ambassador to Egypt Sir Geoffrey Adams said:
Plastic pollution is a global issue that deeply affects our societies. The British Embassy has started with itself, cutting down on our own plastic use and creating an awareness campaign on how to reduce single use plastic. I’m delighted to see inspiring Egyptians join us from across Egypt to make a real difference.
The Embassy has also started a dialogue through its social media channels on the harms of single-use plastic and on using materials that can serve as environmentally friendly alternatives. The challenge received widespread engagement in several Egyptian governorates, which led the British Embassy to extend the challenge for an additional week.
This comes the week that the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office announced that they have cut plastic use in their department by 97% this year. Making the announcement at the Sustainable Blue Economy Conference in Kenya, Foreign Office Minister Lord (Tariq) Ahmad of Wimbledon, who visited Egypt last week, said:
Plastic waste is a global problem that threatens ocean life and endangers whole ecosystems. Every one of us has the power to make choices which can reduce our own plastic use. As we take our message around the world and call on other countries to take action, it is only right we strive to eliminate all avoidable single-use plastic here in the UK and it is fantastic to see the Foreign Office leading the way.