{"id":1800,"date":"2020-01-23T13:30:16","date_gmt":"2020-01-23T13:30:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/en\/?p=1800"},"modified":"2020-01-23T13:43:54","modified_gmt":"2020-01-23T13:43:54","slug":"through-awareness-education-and-cleanups-an-israeli-initiative-is-taking-a-stand-on-plastic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/en\/ocean_beach\/through-awareness-education-and-cleanups-an-israeli-initiative-is-taking-a-stand-on-plastic\/","title":{"rendered":"Israeli Organization is Taking a Stand on Plastics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Plastic Free Israel\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sJX80onmSUA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>After Stav Friedman, a graduate student and researcher of microplastics, moved to Israel in January of 2018, she noticed the copious amounts of litter, particularly plastic, that were left on the beaches. She tried to find a beach cleanup or environmental group that she could be a part of. She searched on social media and looked into different environmental organizations, but she could not find anything in Israel. So, she decided to take things into her own hands. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt took me about two months to organize my\nown cleanup, which was in March of 2018. I advertised it on Facebook and\nInstagram,\u201d she recalls. \u201cIn the end, 12 people showed up.\u201d While this seems\nlike a small group, this was the jumping-off point for Plastic Free Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>At her self-organized beach cleanup, Friedman was able to meet like-minded people from environmental organizations who helped her establish Plastic Free Israel. Plastic Free Israel has evolved into a grassroots movement with monthly beach cleanups at different locations around Tel Aviv, campaigns focusing on how to reduce plastic, and seminars, and movie panels regarding environmental issues, including plastic waste. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20190412_101349-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1801\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20190412_101349-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20190412_101349-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20190412_101349-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20190412_101349-1536x1153.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20190412_101349-2048x1537.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><em>About <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.openedition.org\/factsreports\/5319\">10 million metric tons<\/a> of plastic enter the oceans each year. An estimated 5.25 trillion plastic particles weighing 268,940 tons are currently floating in the oceans. Photo by Stav Friedman<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>The Problem is Plastic<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.plasticfreeisrael.com\/plastics\">Plastic Free Israel<\/a>, plastic\nproduction is at an all-time high, with more plastic produced in the last ten\nyears than in the previous century. Between <a href=\"http:\/\/www.plastic-resource-center.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/11\/Global-Plastic-Production-RisesRecycling-Lags.pdf\">22\nand 43%<\/a> of plastic worldwide is disposed of in landfills instead of being\nrecycled properly, and about <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.openedition.org\/factsreports\/5319\">10 million metric\ntons<\/a> of plastic enter the oceans each year. An estimated 5.25 trillion\nplastic particles weighing 268,940 tons are currently floating in the oceans. This\naffects over 700 marine species. Even the plastic packaging we use has the\npotential to leach into the food and water we consume if exposed to severe heat\nor if the plastic is deformed, worn out, or from a low-grade quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wet wipes, single-use plastics, and cigarette butts are a major problem in Israel. \u201cWe had a clean-up at Gordon beach and picked up over 15,000 cigarette butts in less than an hour,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Each year, more than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/B978012805052100019X\">320 million tons<\/a> of plastic are produced worldwide. Plastic production has is expected to keep increasing by <a href=\"https:\/\/journals.openedition.org\/factsreports\/5319\">4%<\/a> each year for the coming years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Microplastics are Everywhere<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Microplastics become pollutants in a few\npossible ways. They are either added to cosmetics (shower gels, toothpaste,\netc.) or other products and eventually make their way into the sewerage systems,\nfrom where they flow into the ocean. They are also formed when plastics are\nbroken down into small pieces due to prolonged exposure to the sun\u2019s UV\nradiation through photodegradation, waves energy, salt, and wind. These\nfragments (usually between 5 mm to a few micrometers) are ubiquitous; they are\nfound in the ice sheets of the Arctic Ocean and even on distant <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41561-019-0335-5\">mountaintops of the\nFrench Pyrenees<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Microplastics have found their way into our daily lives as well. The water we drink, dust, and even in products we eat, including sea salt, beer, and honey contain microplastics.\u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_3219-1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1804\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_3219-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_3219-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_3219-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_3219-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/IMG_3219-1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><em>\u201cPeople need to get more comfortable with reusing materials instead of disposing of them.&#8221; Photo by Stav Friedman<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Coffee Cup Campaign<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As a consumer, Plastic Free Israel believes\nthat you have the power to speak up and change the way that the government\nviews plastics, how schools consume plastic, and how businesses and industries,\nsuch as the fashion and food industries, produce plastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The coffee campaign was started by Plastic\nFree Israel with the goal of reducing the number of disposable coffee cups used\nin Israel. Single-use coffee cups are made of paper but are also lined with\npolyethylene. This combination of paper and plastic makes it very hard to recycle,\nand thus it&#8217;s not done in Israel. Therefore, Plastic Free Israel has partnered\nwith a number of local <a href=\"https:\/\/www.plasticfreeisrael.com\/coffee-cup-campaign\">coffee shops<\/a>\nthat will offer discounts to people who bring their own reusable cups. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cPeople need to get more comfortable with\nreusing materials instead of disposing of them. It is hard in Israel because\npeople love their to-go cups,\u201d says Friedman. She put a research team together\nthat talked to different coffee shops, in order to discuss incentivizing those\nwho bring their own cups. \u201cThis kind of campaign is effective in western\ncountries, and now, there has been momentum here,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Through social media, this campaign has\ngrown, and more people and companies have gotten involved. Plastic Free Israel\nhopes to have this campaign reach the big coffee shop networks in Israel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>Slow it Down \u2013 Tips for Living a\nPlastic-Free Life<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cI like the idea of slowing down. Sit down\nand have a cup of coffee. Don\u2019t ask for it to go. Have it in a real mug and\nenjoy that over a paper cup,\u201d exclaims Friedman. \u201cSuch simple little changes\ncan develop into a nice lifestyle. Make food at home and bring it in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.treehugger.com\/green-home\/7-plastic-free-lunch-boxes-bags.html\">non-plastic\nlunchbox<\/a>. Bring cutlery and a water bottle. Remember those things and to\nslow down a little bit. It\u2019s a really great and satisfying way of life,\u201d she\nadds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Another way to reduce plastic pollution and\npollution in general, is probably the most simple thing a person can do. If you\nsee trash outside, pick it up! According to the Plastic Free Israel <a href=\"https:\/\/www.plasticfreeisrael.com\/\">website<\/a>, \u201cpicking up a few\npieces here or there is one step towards making a difference. We are all role\nmodels for the people around us!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The <a href=\"http:\/\/www.sustainablebabysteps.com\/alternatives-to-plastic.html\">Sustainable Baby Steps<\/a> blog gives a list of plastic products that can be replaced by reusable ones. Some examples include using a keyboard made out of bamboo, stainless steel cooking utensils, and wooden toothbrushes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20180914_110654-1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1805\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20180914_110654-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20180914_110654-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20180914_110654-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20180914_110654-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/20180914_110654-1-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption><em>Plastic Free Israel has had 19 beach cleanups with over 900 volunteers, removing 5,500 kilograms of trash from Israel\u2019s coastline. Photo by Stav Friedman<\/em>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size\"><strong>How To Get Involved<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Plastic Free Israel has since grown from 12\nparticipants. \u201cSometimes, we have over 100 people during our collaborative\nbeach-cleanups, where we partner with different school groups and\norganizations. We\u2019ve even partnered with the European Union.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So far, Plastic Free Israel has had 19\nbeach cleanups with over 900 volunteers, removing 5,500 kilograms of trash from\nIsrael\u2019s coastline. They also have over 11,000 followers on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/plasticfreeisrael\/\">Facebook<\/a> and post about their\nmonthly beach cleanups as well as other events on their website, Facebook, and\nInstagram (@plasticfree.israel).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe are not funded; we are grassroots. Everyone is a volunteer. We have really passionate and great volunteers,\u201d says Friedman. However, since a lot of the events and campaigns are based on volunteer availability, Plastic Free Israel is always looking for more people to join its cause. Friedman emphasizes that they are in need of regular volunteers, not just for beach cleanups, who will keep up with campaigns, create social media content, and write content. In order to get involved, Friedman says to contact her via email on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.plasticfreeisrael.com\/contact\">contact page<\/a> or send a message on Facebook or Instagram.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt is an amazing movement, and I am so happy to see it grow,\u201d Friedman concludes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>This ZAVIT article was also published in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/nocamels.com\/2020\/01\/awareness-education-cleanups-plastic-free-israel\/\">NoCamels<\/a><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/nocamels.com\/2019\/11\/israeli-startup-shakes-up-fashion-industry-digital-thread-dyeing\/\" target=\"_blank\">&nbsp;<\/a>on 01\/15\/2020.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After Stav Friedman, a graduate student and researcher of microplastics, moved to Israel in January of 2018, she noticed the &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":182,"featured_media":1806,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":true,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[14,12],"tags":[],"acf":[],"post-meta-fields":{"_edit_lock":["1579787104:11"],"_oembed_443aa470d44063910f6be2159e09b802":["<iframe title=\"Plastic Free Israel\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sJX80onmSUA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>"],"_oembed_time_443aa470d44063910f6be2159e09b802":["1579786690"],"_edit_last":["11"],"subtitle":["Plastic Free Israel, an Israeli grassroots organization, is promoting environmentally conscious alternatives and raising awareness of how to live a plastic-free life by educating, motivating, and inspiring individuals to be role models for the planet"],"_subtitle":["field_59d3d36ea7fe1"],"_thumbnail_id":["1806"]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1800"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/182"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1800"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1800\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1811,"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1800\/revisions\/1811"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1806"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1800"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1800"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.zavit.org.il\/intl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1800"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}