No more butts
BMJ 2019; 367 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.l5890 (Published 23 October 2019) Cite this as: BMJ 2019;367:l5890
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I have read with great interest last week’s BMJ article written by van Schalkwyk May CI, et al. [1]
There is indeed increasing world-wide awareness of all waste products, including the terror of plastic waste. It is one of the hideous deadly poisons for our planet. Cigarette butts is one of them besides nicotine having been branded ages ago as one of the deadly enemies of human beings.
I am afraid to say that you cannot battle against the tobacco industry like you cannot against the weapons industry. There are lots of ongoing talks and protests against it world-wide but the result is more or less the same: no eradication of weapons neither a win against plastic waste.
250 organisations including major food and beverage companies, governments and packaging manufacturers have signed the “The New Plastics Economy Global Commitment” led by the UN and Ellen MacArthur Foundation in October 2018. [2]
Will that be enough? Obviously not, as we need to eradicate the root causes and battle with the swamp not the mosquitoes’ approach.
We need a different, up to date, open-minded, responsible mindset and culture harbouring no ifs, ands, or but(t)s when it comes to battling plastic waste worldwide.
References:
1. Van Schalkwyk May CI, Novotny Thomas E, McKee Martin. No more butts. BMJ 2019; 367:I5890.
2. Martin White. 250 organisations join forces to tackle plastic waste levels. https://foodbev.com/news/250 (accessed 26.10.2019).
Competing interests: No competing interests
PUTTING BUTTS TOGETHER !
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Our little planet accumulates plastics by the second. Nay , by every ' nano - second '.
It is a horrendous, immeasurable , environmental calamity. We need to search solutions.
Responsibility rests on all of us. No Individuals , families, communities, nations are exempt.
Let's put our butts together.
Competing interests: No competing interests
Re: No more butts
Dear BMJ,
I read with interest your article on the 'non-biodegradable' features of cigarette butts.
I would like to highlight the plastic wrapping in which the BMJ was delivered to me was 'LDPE 4 poly'. This, from my limited knowledge of material sciences, is not easily bio-degradable.
I don't know if minimizing the environmental impact by packaging using bio-digreadable materials is something that is being (or has been) considered by the BMJ. But given the journal contains articles on environmental issues perhaps it is something you could consider reviewing.
Best
Stefan
Competing interests: No competing interests