Plastic waste worries Swiss people – especially in the sea Plastic waste worries Swiss people – especially in the sea

According to a survey, three quarters of Swiss are concerned about plastic waste in the sea and on beaches. More than half of the population wants tough measures and legal interventions against this pollution.

This is apparent from a survey published Monday by the NGO Oceancare. The Swiss-based international organization campaigned for a global plastic deal to contain plastic. According to research by research institute gfs.bern, the Swiss see the biggest problem with plastic packaging. In particular, double packaging is considered unnecessary (34 percent), and in general there is “too much packaging” (30 percent).

Interestingly, the plastic problem has been shown to be of particular concern to the older generation. This is in contrast to most public climate debates, which are strongly driven by younger actors.

The Swiss are especially concerned about the plastic waste in the seas. Normally, in surveys, “the closer the problem is, the greater the concern,” the study authors write. Surprisingly, however, the exact opposite is true for the plastic matter. 73 percent of Swiss consider plastic in the sea and on the beach to be more problematic than plastic in the Swiss countryside.

Plastic pollution in the Swiss countryside affects only half of those surveyed (54 percent), plastic in local drinking water even fewer people (43 percent).

air up

According to the NGO, most respondents underestimate how much plastic they actually use per year. It’s actually 125 pounds instead of the estimated 100 pounds.

According to Oceancare, the population still has room for improvement when it comes to applying environmental protection measures. Although the Swiss are clearly aware of the plastic problem, waste separation at 93 percent is the only measure that is firmly entrenched in the majority of the population.

Only a good half of residents avoid waste when shopping (59 percent), buy less (56 percent) and do without single-use plastic (54 percent).

laws deemed necessary

More than half of Swiss want tough action and legal action to ban microplastics from consumer goods, curb plastic production in general, and sensibly reduce single-use plastic consumption.

When it comes to the issue of legally binding measures, generations differ: the older generation favors consistent implementation of existing laws to prevent plastic pollution. Young people, on the other hand, want more far-reaching laws.

The further left of the party spectrum a person’s sympathies are, the more likely they are to vote for stricter measures against plastic pollution. Nearly 50 percent of those surveyed would like to see Switzerland at the forefront of the international plastics agreement.

40 times bigger than Switzerland

According to Oceancare, about 9 million tons of plastic ends up in the world’s seas every year. About 17,600 tons of plastic ends up in the Mediterranean Sea alone every year.

Millions of tons of plastic waste are mainly visible in five huge garbage dumps. The Pacific whirlpool is almost forty times larger than Switzerland. (sda)