Olympic Organisers Refuse Plastic Bag Ban

The London Olympic organisers (LOCOG) refuse an outright plastic bag ban at the Olympics, called for by Greener Upon Thames, despite support from 90% of Londoners and recent Government figures showing UK use is on the increase. LOCOG Chair Lord Coe promised London 2012 would be the ‘first sustainable games, setting new standards for major events’ but to date LOCOG has rejected calls from Greener Upon Thames, a London based grass roots not-for-profit environmental organisation, to introduce a plastic-bag-free London 2012. A ban would act as a powerful symbol to the world that the Games are tackling our unsustainable use of disposable plastics and leave a lasting legacy. The plastic bag epitomises our throwaway society.

To date, despite pressure from Greener Upon Thames, LOCOG have pledged only to ban single use plastic bags in their own shops, and will not enforce a wider ban on their suppliers and partners. Greener Upon Thames has been in consultation with LOCOG’s Head of Sustainability, David Stubbs, Shaun McCarthy, Chair of the Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 and the Greater London Authority. With 8 million ticket sales, the Games will add millions of plastic bags to our waste stream unless immediate action is taken.

Greener Upon Thames’ vision is for a zero-waste UK, where the ubiquitous plastic bag and other disposable throwaway plastics become a thing of the past. Our campaign to ban plastic bags at London 2012 was launched in November 2010 by our two Patrons, Zac Goldsmith MP and ocean rower/environmentalist Roz Savage. The campaign is backed by celebrities including Sir Richard Branson, Dame Vivienne Westwood, Jeff Bridges and Sting, organisations including the Marine Conservation Society, thousands of London residents and has worldwide support via our petition.

“If the 2012 Olympics are to be the greenest ever, then banning plastic bags is a prerequisite. They cause immense damage throughout the world, and absolutely symbolise the mindlessness of our throwaway society. I sincerely hope the Olympic organisers will show the rest of the UK what can be done by banning them altogether from the games.” said Zac Goldsmith.

Roz Savage, speaking from her row across the Indian Ocean, said "Plastic bags are being banned by forward-thinking cities, states and countries across the world. Allowing them to be used at the "sustainable games" makes an absolute nonsense of LOCOG's policy. There is no way they can justify this lame decision, and I hope that the Great British Public will let them know what they think of it by signing Greener Upon Thames's petition to ban the bag."

http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/2012-plastic-bag-free-olympics/sign.html