Exhibition News October 2022 | Page 37

ASSOCIATION COLUMN

No place for plastic

As Scotland outlaws single use plastics , AEV projects manager Alden Arnold says the wider UK industry should not wait for a blanket ban , but lead the way with innovative alternatives

There ’ s no evidence that it was exploited , but the final loophole in the Scottish ban on single-use plastics was finally closed with an amendment to the UK Internal Market Act in August , and now it is unlawful to manufacture , sell or distribute singleuse plastic items in Scotland . Although there is a diminishing amount of plastic being used at events compared to 20 years ago , it is by no means a solved problem . Plastic pollution and plastic consumption were key points at COP26 in Glasgow last year , so it ’ s fitting that Scotland should lead on legislation that will

reduce plastic pollution in the UK . Promising noises from the UK government last year , about phasing out single-use plastic items across the whole UK , seem to have gone silent .
Urgent problem It is an urgent problem that needs urgent solutions at every level of society , government , and business . Reducing and , ultimately , banning all single-use plastics will have a positive effect both on pollution and climate change – it may be a small effect globally but its significance will be greater close to home . UK conferences , exhibitions and
Alden Arnold
live events will continue to cut single-use plastics from their waste streams .
Blanket ban Waiting for a blanket ban is not an option , and the AEV / AEO / ESSA Sustainability Working Group has showcased the efforts of UK event venues to lead the way on sustainability in
events , bringing together the combined experience of members of all three associations .
The Scottish Parliament clearly telegraphed its intentions , so Scottish member venues were well aware of the change in the law ahead of time , and consulted extensively with stakeholders and experts to judge the impact that the ban would have .
Sustainable future P & J Live in Aberdeen has long been committed to a sustainable future , boasting its own energy centre which takes food and garden waste from around Aberdeen and
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