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During a press tour via satellite, Sir David Attenborough, narrator of the BBC documentary 'Planet Earth II,' shared how the series influenced Queen Elizabeth II's decision to eliminate various plastics from several royal properties. Jesse Grant/Getty ImagesExperts forecast that by 2050, the plastic in our oceans will surpass the weight of all the fish. In response, Queen Elizabeth II has taken action by banning plastic straws and bottles from all Royal estates in the UK.
According to reports, after collaborating with Sir David Attenborough on the BBC series 'Blue Planet II,' the Queen grew increasingly concerned about the damage plastics are causing to the oceans. This led Buckingham Palace to implement a new solid-waste strategy that bans plastic straws and bottles from all cafes and Royal residences.
Food service personnel at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, Scotland will now be required to use glass cups, recyclable paper cups, and china. Takeout meals will be packaged in biodegradable or compostable materials.
A royal spokesperson told British reporters, 'The Royal Household is dedicated to reducing its environmental impact. As part of that, we've taken several practical steps to decrease plastic use. There's a strong commitment at every level to address this issue.'
Attenborough's documentary series highlights the devastating effects plastic is having on marine ecosystems. The ocean is rapidly becoming a dumping ground for plastic, mainly in the form of tiny beads and fibers. Since plastic takes over 400 years to degrade, it doesn't break down into a state that can be reabsorbed by the environment like organic matter.
According to the World Economic Forum, plastic production has surged from 15 million tons (13.6 million metric tons) in the 1960s to 311 million tons (282 million metric tons) in 2014. This number is projected to triple by 2050. Consequently, a significant amount of plastic ends up in the ocean. Scientists predict that by 2025, the ocean will contain one ton (0.9 metric tons) of plastic for every three tons (2.7 metric tons) of fish. By 2050, plastic in the sea is expected to outweigh fish altogether.
The Queen's initiative to ban plastic is part of a broader strategy to minimize pollution and waste across the royal households. Companies wishing to supply goods and services to the Royals must now demonstrate their commitment to environmental responsibility. Additionally, Buckingham Palace is undergoing a £369 million ($512 million) renovation to improve energy efficiency, with the goal of reducing the Palace's annual energy consumption by 40%.
According to one report, 1 million plastic bottles are purchased every minute worldwide, and this figure is expected to rise by 20 percent in 2021. Another study indicates that 91 percent of all plastic ends up in the trash rather than being recycled.
