Progress report for
#OneLess plastic bottle in the ocean: Starting the refill revolution
Achievement at a glance
Achievements since launch in 2016:<br>
<br> Over 90 organisations have joined our #OneLess pioneer network, collectively eliminating 4.4 million plastic water bottles since 2015. We have published 15 organisational case studies to share examples of best practice and key learnings.
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<br> We provided extensive evidence to the Mayor of London on single-use plastic waste and the need for a reduction of plastic bottled water in London, to reduce ocean-bound plastic. Subsequently, the Mayor of London committed to reducing Londons use of plastic bottled water and increasing public drinking water fountains. This was outlined in the 2018 London Environment Strategy, which name checked #OneLess.
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<br> In partnership with the Mayor of London and MIW Water Cooler Experts, we installed a pilot network of 28 drinking fountains across London. To date, these fountains have collectively dispensed over 730,000 bottle refills (500 ml) since 2018. We published our experience and learnings in a Guide to installing drinking fountains. Following this success, the Mayor of London and Thames Water pledged 5 million to install at least 100 further fountains across London.
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<br> During summer 2019, #OneLess teamed up with Londons leading tourist attractions to deliver a major public-facing campaign across Londons outdoor spaces. Londoners who saw the two-month advertising campaign were 34% more aware of biodiversity issues, 30% more likely to use public drinking fountains, and 34% more likely to stop using single-use plastic water bottles.
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<br> We have coordinated the removal of over 114,000 plastic water bottles from the River Thames by over 300 citizen scientist volunteers. Analysis suggests that the number of single-use plastic water bottles collected is 38% lower in 2019 than in 2018 but shows monthly variation. Our first public facing report of the programme The River Thames: Plastic bottle pollution was published in June 2019.
Challenges faced in implementation
At the start of the project in 2016, we undertook a diagnosis of system conditions to better understand the challenge and support strategic decision making. Through this research a number of barriers stopping London from becoming a refill city were identified including a paucity of pre-existing drinking water infrastructure, negative perceptions about the drinkability and healthiness of tap water, and a lack of refill/reuse revenue-generating opportunities for businesses.Next Steps
Embed the shift from single-use plastic water bottles to refilling in London, ensuring the continuation and sustainability of the #OneLess legacy for the long-term and beyond the active life of the project.<br>• Between January and June 2020, we undertook a second diagnosis of system conditions to understand what has changed and what the remaining barriers and leverage points are. This research will enable us to develop recommendations for further interventions to entrench a culture of refilling in London.
<br>• The London Mayoral elections are now due to take place in 2021, and we hope to engage with the candidates about their policies and commitments around single-use plastics and inform policy changes.
<br>• As part of our River Thames bottle monitoring programme, we are developing a particle tracking model in partnership with, and co-funded by, HR Wallingford. The model will enable us to better understand the distribution, movement, and fate of plastic bottles in the River Thames and in doing so will help us make the case for continued change.
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<br>Lay the foundations for the scale of the #OneLess movement beyond London in 2021 by documenting and showcasing our approach and learnings internationally and developing an enabling environment for scaling the #OneLess model.
<br>• Develop a suite of publications and toolkits that document our approach and learnings from progressing a city-wide systemic campaign to eliminate single-use plastic water bottles in London. This will include a toolkit, for organisations and cities looking to take a #OneLess approach to tackling ocean plastic pollution, and a peer reviewed paper outlining the collaborative, systemic, and values-based approach of the #OneLess project.
<br>• Build relationships with cities, NGOs and strategic alliances around the world and scope city scaling approaches and partnerships.
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Beneficiaries
90 organisations, businesses, venues, areas in the #OneLess pioneer network.
<br> 314 citizen scientists trained through the Thames Bottle Monitoring Programme, implemented in collaboration with our partner, Thames21.
<br> 17 early to mid-career designers, who participated in the #OneLess design fellowship.
<br> The Greater London Authority, as well as Londons local authorities and private landowners.
<br> London residents and visitors to London, who have improved access to drinking water infrastructure and increased awareness about the available alternatives.
<br> 7 students, 5 partner universities, and the wider scientific community focusing on plastic pollution of aquatic systems.
Actions
We have hosted five events for our #OneLess pioneer network, enabling them to share solutions, learn, and build new contacts and partnerships. We have produced 15 case studies to date, publicly available online.<br>
<br> Through our River Thames bottle monitoring programme, implemented with Thames21, 314 citizen scientist volunteers have been trained in data collection methods.
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<br> In 2018 we led a two-month design fellowship, working with a group of 17 designers to develop new ideas and concepts that could help overcome key barriers to eliminating single-use plastic water bottles. The designers participated in a week-long summer school, with five expert mentors. Their ideas were exhibited at London Design Festival 2018. The designers acquired the skills to tackle complex sustainability issues through design and gained direct experience in approaching design from a place of value.
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<br> Seven local authorities and 11 private landowners received a free drinking fountain as part of our pilot project with the Mayor of London. Usage data from the pilot fountains was shared with the Greater London Authority to inform future policy. Our how-to fountain installation guide is publicly available. The host page for this document online has been visited 4,455 times since its release.
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<br> Our work with the Mayor of London has provided access to clean, safe drinking water on-the-go in London via 28 new drinking fountains. Subsequent commitments made by the Mayor and Thames Water will further expand the number of fountains across the city. Our 2019 summer campaign Hello London, Goodbye Ocean Plastic reached 5 million people, informing them about the alternatives to single-use plastic water bottles.
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<br> #OneLess has provided projects to 7 Masters students, with 5 institutions. A report from our Thames bottle monitoring programme is open access, available to the wider scientific community; the host page for which has been accessed 881 times since release.