Just like me, you may be in a similar predicament trying to make some lifestyle changes to avoid or reduce single-use plastic in your everyday life. While our individual daily efforts in reducing plastic pollution is critical and is a clear indication of a growing trend, it isn’t enough to solve the seemingly unending flow of plastic pollution into our world. The real culprits are the big polluters. It’s time to put pressure and hold the real polluters accountable for the mess they have created.<\/p>\n\n This plastic free July, we went beyond lifestyle changes and demanded that the world\u2019s worst plastic polluters – Coca-Cola, Pepsi, Nestl\u00e9, and Unilever – switch to systems of reuse & refill. We are calling on the world’s top four plastic polluters to commit to 50% reuse & refill by 2030. <\/p>\n\n The world\u2019s top polluters continue to use greenwashing tactics to keep selling their single-use plastic products, while claiming to be working hard to solve the pollution crisis. Their statements and their actions are inconsistent, and instead of providing solutions they are well within their means to provide, they continue churning out plastic waste at an unprecedented rate, promoting recycling as the solution to this crisis. In reality, this means that the burden of cleaning up the mess of these multinationals continues to fall on us as individuals. <\/p>\n\n It is estimated that only 9% of all the plastic waste ever produced has been recycled<\/a>. With production projected to increase in the years to come, we will never be able to solve this crisis with waste management and cleanups. Reduction and reuse are crucial in tackling this global crisis.<\/p>\n\n Africa for instance has been grappling with the impacts of single-use plastics. In many of the urban areas in Africa, plastic waste is clogging the waterways leading to floods and destruction. Single-use plastic pollution is overflowing in Africa\u2019s landfills. Oceans and rivers are filled with plastics. Waste pickers have been exposed to toxic substances harmful to their health from the burning of single-use plastic waste in garbage piles. If indeed recycling was enough to solve this crisis, after the many years we have been recycling, we would be seeing clean streets across Africa\u2019s cities. <\/p>\n\n Scientists have found microplastics in the food we eat, the water we drink<\/a> and even in human blood<\/a>. While the overall effects are not yet known, microplastics are known to damage human cells; there are concerns they could affect immune function. To truly tackle this global crisis, we need to call on the biggest polluters and world leaders to step up and drive change.<\/p>\n\n In marking this year\u2019s plastic free July, Greenpeace volunteers across different African regions went around their neighbourhoods sensitising retailers and wholesalers on the merits of using refill and reuse models while showcasing those who are already adapting to the new normal. From milk ATMs, cooking oil ATMs to water and grains refill stations, the refill and reuse system is slowly taking shape across Africa.<\/p>\n\n Greenpeace supporters across Africa acknowledge that while individual recycling efforts are part of the solution, they also understand the need for accountability where responsibility is lacking and have been echoing our calls for action from these top polluters.<\/p>\n\n Here are some comments from supporters on our social media platforms:<\/p>\n\n \u201cLet these companies be warned, stop that plastic recycling myth and invest in reuse and refill<\/em><\/p>\n\n We are tired of these plastics being a threat to aquatic life\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n \u201cThey need to bring back the deposit for the glass bottles make it compulsory to sell all beverages in refundable glass bottles plastic problem solved\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n\n As we come to the end of plastic free July, we will continue to call on polluters to change their ways and invest in refill and reuse models. Won\u2019t you add your voice by signing this petition<\/a> to join the refill and reuse revolution.<\/p>\n\n![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/zxT-Srsqt2Uk2rEorntibFuKA3ZQjrZ8Uvf8Wr-qBwtnTX_IkrWl69ZaxXRNj-aRMqWM_cHcSGbOBKPKBjWnjPRyUKyj8AWD5oUSPj9_uI9YqkSYC3ZVoyHawr5X2m8NBeDRxUFLjgECY7BQhofKOgc\")
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/lh3.googleusercontent.com\/8YlS3YHq1A7EcoWW12wdpx7F36yysprp9znZpJITCwzswKxEwtP9u1znLysMyqsoPWC6Yb6GpNSwuBl83J9mVb4PAlo3xYhGdXB2tlIIacXVx-PD8jkP2CiO0G60ZVXR0QVF_gEAuMyIw7aqvk0Vt08\")
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/lh5.googleusercontent.com\/gQkDtNCjm_rksBe2VlDbmi8YEIqRs46mA-Iqp-96z_tTZXbkJQaeI8SAWiMgy2L6mXLAksT70PTzjJnt53Lx6n2cPFgabJMN2s3lKMvFQYnXfGOpP2EOiQkVDBc-zD014vCL7oSrhO_gma_eOlHnEzU\")
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/tBYJKl6nY5JahvGlaSmNH01jY07SVxsjr6PIPkEZF8agI5BqKaYjUQbw45bJQurQCjy7zIrsdhiyCPgxYCNFlAZlvIexaDEgLLkJNAVQXuCG9cs3r9kEdOfc4SClDx7xv6eN86DR-wOi8CHzKywdr6A\")
![\"\"\/](\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/VAX3fb2bQSMQy3Dku6PjMy2IHxkdFTv-0QhjhPhmXoVS9yhgLoIQEuW0WP1j1AmTLjCvQWW89uVSsvs6l9hUdRH1p-RzraJiP2f-iuIE9l1-ejelAKp_wdvJrwXbCOMc1eUT_T9aLi7xFQ03Lil43eE\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lh6.googleusercontent.com\/BsnWkroXgK0UJudCePZ5I5Bl-MC0eUnWvvw4xQBTFKGHZ4YZ9ZveMaL0zYdDLpyNFGnJfFfONj3Ef-nGI8bxppur4oqZ51Uckaz6QoTwylEuL-i4oC53E86Hrhs8O6Sc7S79q8uRJClt8IP_E3SMUSA\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/lh4.googleusercontent.com\/zzVbdM_fxbcVxthsPKy70CnmwmwP-pna8KMqZ4Ihzjk9gGNRjB-w-9I45N5psAlNVaydzzbLbqBo5i_dmXqPnm1rEJ4aC8e3icy7EFEJM_cr2wMLdoKBbzuJmLvLDdgcT2ku83vw08rvKX6UhO9mp6I\")