When this pandemic subdues and we start chasing our travel dreams once again, don’t forget to be an eco-friendly traveller. On International Plastic Bag Free Day 2021, bookmark this refresher on countries that have banned the usage of plastic bags. By Meenakshi Maidas
We’re all familiar with the innumerable problems plastic bags invite. Started by Zero Waste Europe and other NGOs, International Plastic Bag Free Day is a global initiative piloted to stop the use of single-use plastic in the world. Referring to a United Nations paper, Statista reports that 69 countries in the world have passed a complete or partial ban on plastic bags.
Asia
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From 2002 to 2019, Asian countries like Bangladesh, China, India, Hong Kong, Israel, the Philippines, Taiwan and Cambodia have been making regulations to ban plastics by introducing fines; a complete ban on use and production of single-use plastic; and forbidding retailers from giving free plastic bags, among other things. Bangladesh was the world’s first country to ban lightweight plastic bags.
Africa
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If you wish to visit Mount Kilimanjaro, we advise you to not take any kind of plastic bags. In Tanzania, the government has banned tourists from bringing plastic bags into the nation. Plastic bags are seized at the country’s entry points, reports Global Citizen.
According to United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Kenya—known for its beautiful landscapes and vast wildlife—has banned all single-use plastic in protected natural areas since June 5, 2020.
Europe
You can visit the Eiffel Tower, but do not carry any single-use plastic into France! Plastic cups, plates and utensils were banned in 2016, reports Business Today.
Also, Germany will ban all single-use plastic, including shopping bags, from July 2021, reports Earth.org.
Others
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Jacinda Ardern—PM of New Zealand—also banned plastic bags in 2018. In Montreal, Canada, there is a strict ban on plastic items, too.
Become a Plastic-Free Traveller
As a traveller, you can take small steps to make your journey an eco-friendly one. Carry your own steel or glass water bottle; carry bamboo toothbrushes; use reusable cloth bags to keep your essentials. Each small step counts.
Next time you plan a trip, keep a no-plastic checklist, too!
Editor’s Note: Keeping the current situation of the pandemic in mind, T+L India recommends every reader to stay safe, and take all government-regulated precautions in case travel at this time is absolutely necessary. Please follow our stories on COVID-19 for all the latest travel guidelines.
Related: This Plastic-Free July, Dia Mirza Urges You To Travel Consciously In The Post-Corona World