Hidden Plastic was founded in 2020 by two siblings, Zara (14) & Ashton (12). Their goal is to educate others about the dangers of plastics that go unseen - including microplastics - in the food we eat, air we breathe, our blood and especially in our oceans.
They use their superpower of making videos to highlight the global plastic problem...and solutions too!
We're excited to be going to overheated in london this wedensday!
the actual event is sold out, but you can watch it on youtube livestream... excellent speakers all day!
Global Plastics Treaty (INC-2) in Paris
May 30th - June 1st, 2023
Day 1: We actually got into the UNESCO building!
Day 2: We met & interviewed
David Katz, founder of The Plastic Bank
Watch here --->
Day 3 (morning): We spoke at the launch of the Plastic Health Council. So happy to meet co-founders Sian Sutherland
(A Plastic Planet AND Maria Westerbos (Plastic Soup Foundation)
Day 3 (afternoon): Zara gave a fantastic opening speech on behalf of youth to the UNEP / Global Seaweed Coalition's event 'Seaweed Packaging' in Paris. Watch it here ---->
Day 3 (nearly midnight!): Zara & Ashton helped the Global Youth Coalition for Plastic Pollution to draft an intervention (speech) to the INC-2 plenary. Ashton read it after all UN member countries were finished...and woke up the room with thunderous applause!
Watch it here ---->
Watch 'Recap'... our FINAL video to PepsiCo highlighting the core messages of all our 15+ videos over the past one year of campaigning! View more HERE
Vox 'Now This' channel made a 3-minute feature about our campaign in Summer 2022
(it reached 150,00 views!)
Microplastic pollution is in our food, water and bodies
We are guessing that you know all about the mountains of plastic piling up on land and floating in the seas. However, did you know we also have a serious problem with small pieces of plastic that break up and are EVERYWHERE? They get eaten by animals, float in our air and are being found in our food supply. Humans, animals, plants and the air all have tiny fragments of plastic...and no one knows how harmful this is to our Planet. Watch our 'edu-taining' videos to explore this question of 'How we deal with Hidden Plastic?'.
The Problem with
Washing Machines
Learn about how washing machine filters work to stop microfibres from escaping form our clothes. You can use our link below to get 10% off the PlanetCare filter we've been trying out.
"Did you know?"
3 fascinating facts about plastic
Our favourite online resource to learn all about plastics! (and it's free)
dinosaurs vs. plastic
Help end UK fossil fuels subsidies totalling £16bn since the Paris Agreement!
Plastic Breakdown
(our first video)
#plasticbreakdown #oceanheroes
We started 2 years ago with Ocean Heroes bootcamp, which has become the newly formed Planeteer Alliance. They can help with expert guidance, networking & tools to start your own campaign for change through monthly bootcamps.
'Did You Know?' Dangers of micro & nanoplastics:
FOODCHAIN
from farm to fork
If you thought that taking a bite of salad was harmless, think again. There are hidden micrograms of plastic in fruits and vegetables, according to a recent study.
Micro-plastics even leech out of plastic packaging and containers into your food. No wonder we consume at least 5 grams of plastic every week…equivalent to one whole credit card!
Watch the video below to learn more (with the sea bird that really is a chicken in disguise):
ANIMALS
Eaten by sea, air & land creatures
Most people have seen the dead animals that have consumed microplastics after mistaking it for food. The extent of the global problem is still not completely understood.
And it’s not just a problem with the unlucky few that die, but most animals still have plastic in their diet…including us!
There are a few good sites that look into this problem in greater depth, which you can find here.
WATER
In salt & fresh water
Water…a clear liquid that all life on Earth depends on. Yet, many sources of water now contains many particles of micro- plastics.
Some come from municipal water sheds that drain off from roads, taking particles of plastic from tires and other debris with them. We also put particles of plastic into our water supplies each time we use our washing machines and certain cleaning products.
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AIR
Even in the air we breathe
Take a breath. Then imagine that breath you took contains many microfibres that come off clothing and plastic products that break down. Even if you can’t see them, research has shown that they are there and cause negative effects to humans by getting into our lungs.
We can’t stop it any more than a filter feeder can, like the manta ray when it breathes in microplastics underwater.
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"Those who have the privilege to know have the duty to act"
-Albert Einstein
Tips for Plastic-free Living:
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Wash & reuse anything you can / stop thinking ‘disposable’
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Buy products without plastic if possible (support local fruit & veg vendors)
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Carry your own reusable shopping bags
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Buy locally and ask for unwrapped or waxed paper / beeswax wrap is great for sandwiches
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Collect soft plastic bags to recycle at grocery stores (Tesco, Sainsbury, etc).
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If soft plastic recycling is not available in your country, then throw ALL plastic bags away. Otherwise, as they recycle could end up in the ocean being mistaken for food like a jellyfish.
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If buying plastic packaging is the only option, go LARGE (bulk buy to last longer)
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Refill jars & containers from bulk sellers of food & cleaning products
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Take cutlery & reusable straws with you everywhere
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Buy products in glass bottle if possible (ie. milk, ketchup)
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Try shampoo & soap bars to reduce plastic in the bathroom