HOW TO GET A BAN ON CHEAP POLYSTYRENE BODYBOARDS IN YOUR COMMUNITY
Here is a step by step guide to help you and your community get cheap polystyrene boards banned in your area. This is a voluntary ban that works by building a narrative about the impact these boards have on the local environment. Once support is in place from individuals and councils, businesses should see the value in eliminating their stock.
Step 1: Define your core message. Stick to this regardless of questions asked or conversation direction
Here is ours:
Cheap polystyrene bodyboards have blighted coastlines across the world for decades. Annually, hundreds of thousands of low-cost bodyboards are discarded on beaches across the world. Keep Britain Tidy report that 16,000 cheap polystyrene bodyboards ended up discarded on UK beaches every year. These “sub £10” brightly coloured boards, known to break easily often after only one or two uses, are invariably discarded on UK beaches. These 16,000 single use boards create a large amount of waste in the UK and create a huge carbon footprint. These boards, made from a block of standard polystyrene wrapped in brightly printed nylon cloth, are sourced from China, transported thousands of miles only to snap within minutes of use. Polystyrene is fragile and crumbles easily posing danger to sea and shore life alike as animals mistake these small white polystyrene balls for food. Once in the ocean, algae and small organisms grow on each ball adding weight causing the nuggets to sink and present itself as food to fish. The human health threat from polystyrene comes from one of its building blocks Styrene. In 2018, the World Health Organisation reclassified Styrene from a “possible carcinogen” to a “probable carcinogen” – a probable cause of cancer.
Step 2: Define your call to action. Work out the simple message that you want to use as the stimulus to achieve your aim.
Here is ours: ‘Remove from sale cheap polystyrene bodyboards.’
Step 3: Write to your local MP. Invite them to support the campaign by sending the above text and a personalised message. Ask them if they will provide a written letter of support.
Step 4: Gain the support of the district council Contact your local district councillor or a councillor who is in your Plastic Free/Sustainability group to sponsor a motion at their next full council meeting.
The motion should read:
“Recognising the adverse effect on the natural environment of cheap discarded polystyrene bodyboards it is proposed that XXXXXXXX District Council fully supports a local campaign to persuade retailers to remove the boards from sale.”
Step 5: Gain the support of individual councillors. Send an email similar to the email sent to the MP asking for their support. Asking individual councillors for support gives them time to ask you questions.
Step 6: Gain the support of town and parish councils. Ask these councils to support the campaign by agreeing to support the motion. You may wish to include a copy of the MP letter and confirmation from the district council of their support. *You may find councils wanting to do more than just pass a motion of support. If they wish to write to the local MP or local retail stores, please encourage this.
Step 7: Set up a vote or referendum on Facebook Ask the public the question : “Should cheap polystyrene bodyboards be removed from sale?” with a simple yes or no answer.
- Run the referendum for a six week period and contact the local press to help with publicity.
- Post a link to your referendum in local community sites or agree with the admin of your local community site to pin the referendum question and answers at the top of their newsfeed.
This action will help evidence public support which helps with pressure on local businesses.
Step 8: Create a literacy project for local schools Get school pupils to write a letter of support for the campaign to where they write a letter of support for the campaign to the Prime Minister, local MP, local district council or local businesses. Or all four!
Step 9: Contact all local surf sales & hire businesses local gift, souvenir and beachside businesses. Ask if they are stocking the boards if yes, be ready to talk about why you would like to see a ban, stressing the impact on the environment and the awareness their customers may have of environmental issues. Your local Business Association may be able to help with this.
Step 10: Encourage anyone interested to sign the national parliamentary petition Alongside the voluntary ban we have a national petition to get legislation through parliament. This petition can run parallel to your plan and show long term thinking and commitment to the cause. Here is the petition: www.bancheapbodyboards.co.uk
Links to useful documents:
Press release for ban in Westward ho!
Press release on parliamentary petition
Link to facebook referendum page
We can send the schools activity on request - email plasticfreenorthdevon@gmail.com