VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — As the pandemic continues, schools are trying to find ways to teach students about conservation with a new initiative.
Return-It has teamed up with Ocean Wise to offer a program called Closing the Loop on Plastics, and is taught to grade 11 and 12 students and lasts for six weeks in three schools around the Lower Mainland.
“This new program is acknowledging that there’s a larger issue at play and so it’s really important to provide an opportunity for dialogue, especially for young people because the impacts of plastics and the challenges for our marine environment are things we’ll have to live with,” says Allen Langdon, presidents and CEO of Return-It.
The pandemic means educators need to find other ways to talk about conservation & plastic waste in our oceans. @Return_It & @OceanWise says 3 Lower Mainland schools w/students in grades 11 & 12 are taking part in “Closing the Loop on Plastics.” The program goes 6 weeks. #bced
— Ria ‘Hall-y Jolly’ Renouf (@riarenouf) December 2, 2020
He says it offers education on the effects of plastic in oceans.
“Everyone’s more conscious of the pandemic and the potential impact of these materials,” he said. “For us, it was a natural fit. We’ve been working on beverage container management for over 25 years and are really focused at the forefront of innovative solutions. Part of that is educating and empowering our leaders of tomorrow.”
But post-pandemic, Langdon says the program will evolve as governments and businesses navigate their way.
“I think there’s a lot of interest in finding more reusable solutions in terms of moving away from single-use items and finding ways to reuse the material more times than you know just one or two times.”
Some initiatives already underway aim to protect the environment at several levels.
-with files from Kathryn Tindale
