Is There a Country Without Plastic? Meet Vanuatu
◆ Environmental Concepts and Background
Vanuatu, hailed as "the happiest country in the world" and also "the poorest country in the world," has a remarkable unique environmental philosophy. Here, people have abandoned the use of plastic and returned to a more natural lifestyle.
This small island nation in the western South Pacific, Vanuatu, may seem like a distant travel destination to you. However, this seemingly underdeveloped country became the country with the strictest plastic ban in the world in 2018 at an astonishing pace. Its sparse population density, with only one person living per 43,000 square meters, has fostered a pioneering environmental philosophy in this vast and sparsely populated environment.
◆ The Driving Force of the Plastic Ban
It all started with a post on Facebook by a French couple who had lived in Vanuatu for over 20 years. Witnessing the escalating plastic pollution problem along their coastline, the couple lamented, "As more and more trash washes ashore, we are witnessing the deterioration of the coastal environment—the rampant spread of plastic waste." They realized that the clean and harmonious coastline they once knew was gradually being eroded by garbage.
Following this, the couple launched a public petition on Facebook, urging the government to address the marine debris problem. Unexpectedly, within a short period, over 2,000 netizens joined the petition.
Finally, in July 2017, the President of Vanuatu announced a "plastic ban" during the Independence Day celebrations! He clearly stated that the country would completely eliminate the production of plastic products within the next year. The law officially came into effect in July 2018. The Vanuatu Minister of Foreign Affairs emphasized in an interview, "To curb the further pollution of the oceans by plastic waste, it is necessary to take immediate action and completely ban the use of single-use plastic products. This covers a wide range of items, including plastic bottles, plastic bags, and plastic food containers."
Vanuatu's legal authorities have clearly stipulated corresponding penalties. Any individual or organization using plastic products will face fines ranging from $175 to $900, equivalent to approximately 1173 to 6030 yuan, demonstrating the country's serious attitude towards this issue and making it one of the strictest plastic bans in the world.
◆ Changes Brought About by the Plastic Ban
This significant change has received enthusiastic support from many people. During the trial period, plastic bags in the market were replaced by mesh bags, a change that did not cause any inconvenience to the lives of local residents.
Fruit vendor Ellen Jimmy stated that the newly introduced plastic ban has not caused any problems for his business. He still sets up his fruit stall at the market as usual every Saturday, and now every customer uses a shopping basket, which is not only convenient for everyone but also contributes to environmental protection.
In Vanuatu, a unique palm leaf basket has attracted much attention. As its name suggests, this basket is made from palm leaves using exquisite weaving techniques, making it both environmentally friendly and durable. With the evolution of the times, the styles of the baskets have become increasingly diverse, providing consumers with more choices. Artisan Serena happily stated, "With the implementation of the plastic ban, our business has gradually improved. More and more customers are choosing to buy these handmade baskets, which has boosted our sales and increased our income."
Lola, a garbage collector also from Vanuatu, remarked with deep feeling, "In the past, plastic products were almost everywhere here, and the environmental situation was worrying. However, since the plastic ban was implemented, single-use plastic waste on the island has been reduced by half overnight."
At the end, some might mistakenly believe that Vanuatu's success in implementing the plastic ban is simply due to its small land area and sparse population. However, this is not the case. Every citizen of Vanuatu actively participates in this movement, deeply integrating it into every detail of their daily lives. If a populous country like China could consciously reduce plastic waste like the citizens of Vanuatu, then China would soon follow in Vanuatu's footsteps and become a global model for plastic bans!
◆ The Global Plastic Ban Movement
Vanuatu's plastic ban has not only impacted the country but also other countries around the world.
Eliminating plastic has become a global environmental movement! Globally, many countries, including Australia, as well as China, Taiwan, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, India, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, are actively responding to the call to reduce plastic use and working together to do so.
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