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PLASTICS,
PACKAGING +
SUSTAINABILITY
Child-led learning resource
ABOUT
This workshop helps you to think about We’ll practise some critical-
thinking and communication
plastics, packaging and sustainability. skills which are important for
engaging with the news.
You will be able to explore interesting questions like:
• What impact do plastics and packaging have on the
environment?
• Are all plastics bad?
• Whose responsibility is it to make a change?

You can give this a go on your own, but if there’s someone

at home who can join you, why not work together? You
could also connect with a group by telephone or video.

Ready? Let’s go!

PERSPECTIVES
Read through the Character Practise by answering these questions:
sheet on the next page. • Which characters’ opinions are the most
similar? Which are the most different?
If you are working in a group, choose a
character each or share them between you. • Who do you agree / disagree with?
Throughout the workshop, you will be asked • Can we assume that similar people have
to reflect on... the same opinion? For example, that all
doctors would think the same thing, or
that all dads would feel the same way.
What your character/s • Why is it important to have an
open mind about this issue?
might think
and
CHALLENGE add some drama by
pretending to be your character when
What you think you see the character icon.
How might they respond? What reasons
might they give for their opinions?
CHARACTER SHEET
These characters are based on
real people and their experiences.
When prompted, put yourself in
the characters’ shoes. Can
anything make them think
differently about plastics,
packaging and sustainability?
KIT
For the past 2 years I have aimed to
create as little waste as possible. In fact,
last year, my rubbish fit into a jam jar!
I only buy products that don’t have
packaging and I refill containers at a
special shop. In my opinion plastic
should be banned.
DOCTOR
SANDS
I could not do my job without plastic - it
saves lives. It’s a cheap solution for lots of
medical equipment and it means we can
use things like sterile (clean) surgical
equipment for each patient, which helps
reduce infection. These things are only
used once before they go in the bin but
I think saving lives has to take priority.
BERYL
I live next to a beach. Every day I am
shocked at the amount of plastic that
washes up - bottles, lids, crisp packets…
I worry about the wildlife but I also feel
helpless. I’m just one person. What can
I do to help fix this massive problem?
NIKO
I’m a dad of three. When I go to the
supermarket, my priority is to feed
everyone and keep them happy within
my budget. I don’t look at what packaging
is made of, I just look at the price.
Recycling is hard too… I just don’t have
the time!
DOCTOR
ABBAS
For as long as I can remember, I’ve
wanted to solve the planet’s problems -
that’s why I became a scientist. My
specialism is plastic and how we can
make it better. Imagine a type of plastic
that dissolves so it doesn’t pollute the
oceans, or packaging made of fruit skins!
We can solve this through science.
ACTIVITY 1: PLASTICS IN THE NEWS
Look at the following examples of plastic and packaging in the news.

So why can’t we
How does each example make you feel?
just ban plastics?
How might your character react? Look here: bit.ly/
WhyCantWeBanPlastic
ACTIVITY 2: OPINION v FACT

Look at the following statements.

Which are facts? Which are opinions? Is it easy to tell?

“There’s no
“Packaging is better material
pointless.” than plastic.”
“Only 9% of plastic waste
A
has ever been recycled. D

C If more people reused

Why would it be a problem
things or recycled,
“Plastic if nobody could tell the
waste could be reduced
packaging helps difference between fact
by millions of tonnes
to reduce food and opinion?
each year.”
waste.” B
Opinions = A, D Facts = B, C
ANSWERS
OPINION
If you only hear opinions from a few people then you might not see the
bigger picture.
Look at these characters’ opinions. How would someone feel about plastic if they only heard one of
these opinions? How would they feel if they heard both?

“Plastic is a “Plastic is
wonderful horrible!”
thing!”

What would someone think about plastic

if they only heard your opinion about it?
FACT
Using facts to support your 2. Now look at FACT 2
Plastic is
these facts: durable,
opinions helps you to justify and can
keep pro eap
ch
hygienic ducts
WHY you think what you think. extend t
ally seal
ed. It can
he shelf
toiletrie life of fo
FACT 1.25
Facts that don’t support your opinion can s and me od,
help you to understand the bigger picture. Without dicines.
5 it, lots o
f things
There are such as c
ars, mob -
1. Look at the opinions again: n pie c es of phones a il
trillio
as te in nd comp e
pla s tic w – would uters
ns . not exist
“Plastic is a our ocea .
wonderful
thing!”
• Which of the facts support each
character’s opinion?
“Plastic is • Which of the facts help show each
horrible!” character the bigger picture?
The answers are on the next page!
ANSWERS OPINION v FACT: REFLECTION
FACT 1 What are the other characters’ opinions
po r t s K it and
Sup about plastic and packaging? Which facts
o w s D r Sands
s h
the bigge
r support their opinions? Which would show
picture them the bigger picture?

What facts support your opinion?

What research could you do to see the
FACT 2 bigger picture?
Support
s Dr
and show Sands
sK
bigger p it the
icture
How can you spot the difference between facts and
opinions in the news?
For help, download our Trustworthy news key indicators:
economistfoundation.org/download/10312
ACTIVITY 3: SUSTAINABILITY
If something is SUSTAINABLE, it means you can keep doing or
producing something without it running out - or causing
irreversible damage.
ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY is when you treat the
environment in a sustainable way so that it will not be damaged
in the future. For example, by thinking carefully about what
natural resources can be taken.

1. How important is environmental sustainability to you?

Why?
2. What about to your character? Why?
3. List three things that people do that are sustainable for the
environment.
4. List three things that people do that are not.
ACTIVITY 4: IN YOUR CUPBOARDS
Ask an adult to help you choose five products
from your cupboards that come with packaging.
Answer the following questions for each one.
1. Why do you think the manufacturer (maker) chose
this packaging?
2. Is all of the packaging necessary? Why / why not?
3. What is the packaging made of? If there is plastic, Look at the item with
is it necessary? Why / why not? the least sustainable
4. Does the packaging use recycled material? packaging. Design a more
5. Can the packaging be recycled? sustainable packaging for
For help with this, look here: bit.ly/WhatDoIDoWithThis the product. Can you find
a balance between eye-
6. Is any of the packaging a refill pack or a reusable container?
catching, practical and
Use your answers to order your items’ packaging from environmentally friendly?
“most sustainable” to “least sustainable”. Go back to questions
1-5 to test your ideas.
ACTIVITY 5: RESPONSIBILITY
The UK produces around 26 million tonnes of waste each year,
including plastic and other materials. Of this, 12 million tonnes
are recycled and 14 million tonnes are not.
• Why don’t people recycle? CHALLENGE
What could be done about this?
What are manufacturers
• Whose responsibility is plastic waste: already doing about this
manufacturers', the public’s or both? Why? problem?
• Who else is responsible for protecting Choose one of your products
the environment from plastic waste? from Activity 4 and research
• What could be done about this, the company that makes it.
but isn’t guaranteed to succeed? How is it trying to make its
product more sustainable?
How would your character answer
Does it have any targets about
these questions?
plastic or packaging?
1000 Words / Shutterstock.com

ACTIVITY 6: MAKE A CHANGE

“No one is too 1. Put Greta’s statement

small to make a into your own words.
difference. Everyone How could it link to
can do something. plastic, packaging and
If everyone does sustainability?
something then huge 2. What could you say to
differences can someone who disagrees?
happen.”
3. Why is it important to
speak out about this
topic?
4. What could you do to
make a difference?
MAKE A CHANGE: YOUR TURN

STEP 1: YOUR ROLE

• What is your role in this issue?
• How is your household helping?
• How could you do more?

Why is it important for

everyone to do their bit?
STEP 2: RESEARCH
Look at what the UK government is
doing to help solve this problem: STEP 3: CHOOSE
bit.ly/WhatIsTheGovernmentDoing AN AUDIENCE
Pick one of the following audiences.
CAN YOU FIND OUT…
What could they do to make a difference?
• What your local council has committed
to do?
• What your local supermarket has YOUR YOUR LOCAL
committed to do? FAMILY SCHOOL MP
• What the manufacturer of your favourite
food/drink has committed to do? LOCAL A
BUSINESS FA CT U RER
Which solutions will help the most? MA NU
Which will help the least?
What would your character
think of these solutions?
STEP 4: SPEAK OUT
Create an action plan for whichever audience you chose.
It should contain at least five things they could do to help
solve the plastic waste problem. You could think about:
• What they are doing well and could continue to do
• How they could learn more
• What they could do to reduce their waste
• How they could reuse packaging
• How they could spread the word about sustainability

CHALLENGE: Write a letter to your audience to explain

why plastic waste is a problem and share your action plan for
them. Can you convince them to make a change?
When you’ve finished your action plan, ask an adult to share
it with us on Twitter @Econ_Foundation
REFLECTION

What key vocabulary should we use when

talking about this issue?

How has someone else’s perspective made

you change your mind about plastics,
packaging and sustainability? Why is
considering other perspectives important?

What research do you need to do to have

the whole picture?

Can you connect any of your ideas about

this topic to someone else’s?
SUPER-REFLECTION
• How might the pandemic have affected the amount of
plastic people have been using?
• Would the world be better or worse if plastic didn’t
exist? Why?
• Can you spot this topic in the news? What’s the story?
NOW…
Do some research
Find out what other countries are doing about their plastic problem

Have a discussion
Talk to someone else about the issues covered in these activities

Become the teacher!

See if you can go through these activities again, as the teacher, with
somebody else in your household