New Delhi: National Geographic and the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Control have joined forces to support each other’s initiatives aimed at addressing the perils of single-use plastic. National Geographic has partnered with the Ministry for its campaign around the World Environment Day Programme, while the Ministry is supporting National Geographic’s ‘Planet or Plastic’ initiative.
Worldwide, more than 40% of the plastic produced is used only once, and then discarded. To address this complex issue National Geographic has launched a multiyear global campaign – ‘Planet or Plastic’; which seeks to not only spread awareness, but also educate and inspire action against single-use plastic.
From the month of June onwards, the plastic wrapping of National Geographic Magazine in India, UK & US editions has been eliminated. This move will enable the brand to save more than 2.5 million single-use plastic bags every month. Additionally, the organization has pledged to reduce its usage of single-use plastic for all its production shoots in India, as well as across its offices in the country.
Endorsing National Geographic’s commitment, the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, unveiled the first everplastic free issue of the magazine during the State Environment Ministers’ Conference at the World Environment Day Programme on 4th June, 2018.
Lauding National Geographic’s initiative, Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, said, “How to reduce the use of Plastic and its by-products is one area which needs to be addressed and is a serious challenge facing entire humanity today. I am happy to see National Geographic’s commitment towards our ecosystem by setting an example for the industry to follow. I believe that there is a role for each citizen in this via appropriate use and disposal, particularly recycling; as well as for the industry by adopting green chemistry, and for us in the government by setting standards and targets so that we can actually manage to drive a social change.”
Commenting on the initiative, Sanjay Dhar, President National Geographic Publishing India says, “For 130 years, National Geographic has documented the stories of our planet, providing audiences around the world with a window into the earth’s breathtaking beauty as well as to the threats it faces.
Today’s launch is tied to the release of the June issue of National Geographic magazine, which takes an in-depth look at the role single-use plastic plays in our society and the impact they are having on our environment.
Starting with this issue, we will begin wrapping the India subscriber editions of the magazine in paper instead of plastic. The June issue is now available on print newsstands.
“That’s just a first step. Because we’re committed to having an impact on this crisis, we’re launching a global campaign. Under the campaign banner of Planet or Plastic? We’ll deploy content across all our platforms to raise awareness and encourage consumers to act. To build support for the Planet or Plastic? campaign, National Geographic is asking people around the world to pledge to reduce their reliance on single-use plastic. Those who take the pledge will become part of a new global community working to stem the tide of plastics polluting the ocean.” Added Ritika Basu – Business Head, National Geographic Publishing India
