---
title: "Blue Planet II Has Inspired the BBC to Ban All Plastic Containers and Utensils by 2020"
description: "In Blue Planet II, the BBC asked viewers to take plastic pollution more seriously. Now the media company is taking its own advice with a plastic ban."
date: "2018-02-15"
modified: "2018-02-15"
authors:
  - name: "Kyree Leary"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/kyree"
url: "https://futurism.com/plastic-ban-bbc-blue-planet-ii"
categories:
  - "Environment"
  - "Pollution"
  - "Science & Energy"
tags:
  - "bbc"
  - "blue planet ii"
  - "plastic ban"
  - "plastic pollution"
---

# Blue Planet II Has Inspired the BBC to Ban All Plastic Containers and Utensils by 2020

![bbc plastic pollution blue planet ii plastic ban](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Total_internal_reflection_of_Chelonia_mydas.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: \<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_sea_turtle" target="\_blank"\>Wikimedia Commons\</a\>\</em\>*

When the BBC nature documentary series "Blue Planet II" aired in October 2017, series narrator and naturalist Sir David Attenborough asked that people around the world [begin taking plastic pollution more seriously](<https://futurism.com/sir-david-attenborough-calls-for-action-against-plastic-pollution>). Plastic is not only affecting animal life, but [may even be contaminating our tap water](<https://futurism.com/tap-water-could-be-swimming-with-tiny-plastic-particles>) in the form of tiny particles. If nothing is done, plastic pollution will become even more of an issue than it already is — and it's huge right now.

It seems the BBC itself has been listening to Attenborough's pleas: the media company has announced it intends [to ban the use of all single-use plastics](<http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-43051153>) by 2020. It's starting the plastic ban with cups and utensils this year, before moving on to plastic containers in 2019. According to the UK news outlet, nearly 2 million plastic cups are used by BBC visitors and staff each year.

"Like millions of people watching Blue Planet II, I was shocked to see the avoidable waste and harm created by single-use plastic," said Tony Hall, director general of the *BBC,* in the news article about the plastic ban. "We all need to do our bit to tackle this problem, and I want the *BBC* to lead the way. Scrapping throwaway plastic cups and cutlery is the first step, and with our plan I hope we can have a *BBC* free of single-use plastic altogether."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4QNolP7Khc

As of Tuesday, February 13, the *BBC* reports that some of its kitchens have already transitioned to using glasses in place of plastic cups. Later in the month, a coffee cup recycling scheme will be implemented and tested out.

It's refreshing to see a company as large as the *BBC* step up and publicly address the plastic issue, but it's going to take a lot more to reduce the effects of plastic pollution. Fortunately, UK Prime Minister Theresa May [has pledged to end plastic waste](<https://futurism.com/uk-prime-minister-working-end-plastic-litter-2042>) in the UK by 2042, and the EU has launched an initiative to ensure all plastic packaging in the country[ is reusable or recyclable by 2030](<https://futurism.com/end-plastic-officially-arrived>).

We may be able to achieve even greater success if we're able to implement other ideas put forward in recent years, such as engineer Toby McCartney's desire [to use recycled plastic to repair roads](<https://futurism.com/an-engineer-has-found-a-way-to-create-plastic-roads>), or [the plastic-eating caterpillars](<https://futurism.com/plastic-eating-caterpillars-could-help-bring-an-end-to-pollution>) discovered by Federica Bertocchini.

We're certainly not desperate for solutions to plastic pollution. It's simply a matter of utilizing them effectively, and making sure those efforts are maintained.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/KyreeLeary>)