Plastic Free Day 2024
13 Jul 2024 - 13 Jul 2024
Inspired by our Planet Ocean exhibition, come and join us for a bumper day of events marking Plastic Free July! We'll be looking at the problems our planet faces due to plastic as well as what you can do to help reduce plastic waste. Hear from a leading expert in microplastics research or have a go at creating turning rubbish into something new. There'll be opportunities for you to chat to local organisations about what they're doing to tackle plastic pollution and sign up to help out!
More info
See our full programme of events below. Professor Richard Thompson's talk is a ticketed event, but all other activities are free entry.
Programme of events
10.30am-11.30am: Talk and Q&A with Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS (South Gallery)
Hear from Professor Richard Thompson OBE FRS of the University of Plymouth talking about the world-leading microplastics research taking place right in our city. This will be a 45 minute talk with 15 minutes for questions. (£10/£8 members). Find out more and book your ticket.
10.30am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3.30pm (last entries 12.15pm and 3.15pm): Family Fun: Let’s Make ‘Rubbish’ Art! (Simmons Learning Room)
Help us to create an amazing collaborative artwork which highlights the incredible creatures that live in the sea that are in danger from plastic pollution. Let’s make impactful art! Please bring along plastic bottle tops that you’d like to use or plastic that you have found on beaches. Free drop-in.
11am–3pm: Precious Plastic Plymouth and Tavistock
Bring in one piece of plastic of any kind and cycle to recycle! This fun and low-tech recycling project takes pieces of waste plastic and turns them into useful items. Age 12 years+.
11.30am: Gary Joliffe from 'Till the Coast is Clear' and the Plastic Free Whale (Tavistock Place)
Find out more about coastal litter picking and see a 10m whale made from plastic collected during the organisation's coastal clearance work. There will be opportunities to sign up and help this work!
1.30pm-3.30pm: The impact of plastic pollution on wildlife (South Gallery)
Drop in between these times and chat to Sarah Marden, natural history curator at The Box. She will be on hand to talk about plastic and the environment (and ways in which you can help).
1.30pm-3.30pm (last entries 3.15pm): Family Fun: Lets' Make 'Rubbish' Art!
See above.
3pm: El Clarke from Clean our Patch
Hear about the impact of plastic waste in the city – come and see a 5ft vape sculpture and sign up to become part of Plymouth’s growing litter army!