Many of us have been watching the Olympics in Paris and cheering on team GB. Aside from the sporting excellence on show, the UK should look to replicate some of the amazing policies the French are adopting when it comes to the environment. All could and should be implemented here.
Investment In Rivers
The Triathlon was part-hosted in the river Seine following huge investment to clean it up. In 1923, swimming in the Seine was outlawed as the river was so filthy. Over a century later, it is clean enough for the Olympics. If Paris can, so can London and other UK cities.
Reusable Packaging
If you walk into any eatery in France, even in fast-food restaurants such as McDonald’s, your meal will be served in ‘reusable packaging’ – usually just a plate and cutlery. Since it was introduced in January 2023, it has been estimated they are saving 180,000 tonnes of packaging every year. We should look to copy the ban on all single-use packaging for eat-in sales to help tackle the climate crisis. Plastic pollution is one of the biggest environmental issues we face. Yet in hundreds of thousands of cafes, bars and restaurants across the UK, we’re still being served food and drink in single-use packaging – even when we are eating in.
Tackle Fast Fashion
France plans to introduce a law which will force fast fashion producers to inform customers about the environmental impact of their clothing. A surcharge linked to fast fashion’s ecological footprint starting at around £4 and rising to £10 per item will then be introduced.
Prioritise Circular Economy
France has introduced grants to support covering the cost of repair for shoes and clothing as well as for electronic gadgets and appliances. We do not need to buy new all of the time. For many goods it should become the exception not the rule.
Fruit & Veg Packaging
Stop using plastic in packaging on fruit and vegetables. France started banning the use of plastic wrapping on fruit and vegetables in supermarkets two years ago and will have a complete ban by 2026.
Domestic Flights
Stop short-haul domestic flights where train journeys are as quick, if not quicker, door to door. France successfully introduced this last year, and we should look to do the same.
Kind regards,
Daniel Wilson,
Parliamentary Candidate for Cheltenham Green Party.