The scourge of plastic in the world’s oceans has moved further into the spotlight of late and firmly settled in the public consciousness with governments and businesses also starting to take action.
As well as increasing coverage in the press, the impact of the second series of the BBC’s Blue Planet has been pivotal in communicating the extent of the problem to the masses.
Public figures have added their voices and time to the cause, such as Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, who spent a day last year collecting rubbish from the seabed in the emirate.
This move to become more enÂviÂronmentally friendly has not happened overnight, with young people tending to lead the way.
A 2015 Nielsen study showed that almost 72 per cent of millennials are willing to pay extra for sustainable products. They are not completely at odds with other generations: 51 per cent of those aged between 50 and 64 years old were also willing to pay extra, an increase of 7 per cent on the previous year.
Businesses are reacting. Many are introducing initiatives to encourage consumers to cut down on single - use plastics.
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