The Two Oceans Aquarium has begun the countdown to Plastic Free July. Did you know that 80% of the pollution in the ocean, originates from land? Or that South Africa is the 11th largest global contributor to that pollution?

Throughout the month of July, the Two Oceans Aquarium will be sharing stories and activities pertaining to Plastic Free July. These stories will focus on raising awareness around the problems, the solutions, as well as people who are making a difference through their actions. The Aquarium is also putting in place some on-site activations for this time.

The Aquarium has also challenged all schools to get rid of plastic bags- for good!  Being a plastic bag-free school, or zone, simply means that everyone agrees to no longer bring single-use plastic bags onto the school premises. Instead, food and other items can be placed in reusable containers and bags. This small and simple change has a huge impact, helping young and old to rethink their ways around single-use plastic and to engage with the crisis of plastic pollution in the ocean.

Several schools have already accepted the challenge and have declared themselves plastic bag-free zones – these include Wynberg Girls’ High, Prestwich Street Primary, the Grove Primary, La Rochelle Girls’ High School, Deutsche Internationale Schule Kapstadt, Timour Hall Primary and DF Malherbe High School (Port Elizabeth).

Everyone can help to #RethinkTheBag