Cornwall boasts some of the most spectacular coastline in the country, and Padstow Christmas Festival is committed to protecting and maintaining it for generations to come.
More than eight million tons of plastic is dumped in our oceans every year, according to the Marine Conservation Society – and it’s leading to an unprecedented environmental disaster.
Big pieces of plastic are choking and entangling turtles and seabirds, says Greenpeace, and tiny pieces are clogging the stomachs of creatures who mistake it for food.
Plastics are some of the most durable materials in existence – hence their popularity – but can take a minimum of 500 years to degrade, causing pervasive damage to our marine environment.
Small lifestyle changes can bring significant benefits – so the festival is taking steps to reduce the use of single use plastics. But we can’t do it without the support and cooperation of stallholders, traders, and festival goers:
- No single use plastic bags will be given out or sold at the festival. If possible, please bring a bag from home. Special Padstow Christmas Festival canvas bags will be on sale in the Christmas market and Padstow’s Tourist Information Centre.
- Rather than buying bottled water, use a refillable water bottle instead.
- Bring a reusable coffee cup from home.
- We’re phasing out the use of single use plastic-packaged foods, as well as plastic cutlery, cups, coffee stirrers, straws, food trays, containers, and other serve ware. By 2023, all serve ware used/distributed by stallholders at the festival will need to be made from paper, card, or wooden compostables.
- No expanded polystyrene.
- We’re phasing out the use of single serving sachets (eg sugar, spreads, milk, sauces, salt and pepper). From 2023, only refillable containers will be permitted.
Together we can make a difference.