Bonnie Wright Encourages Fans to Reduce Plastic Waste

Harry Potter’s Bonnie Wright has become as well known for her environmental activism as for her portrayal of the bold and powerful Ginny Weasley. Now a Greenpeace oceans ambassador, Bonnie is working to bring awareness to the plastic pollution crisis and reduce single-use plastics that clog landfills and destroy our world’s waterways.

According to Greenpeace UK, an estimated 12.7 million tons of plastic, ranging from bottles and bags to straws and microbeads, makes its way to our oceans every year. Ocean Conservancy says that by 2050, scientists predict that our oceans will be populated by more plastic than fish. Plastic ocean pollution is detrimental to the environment, causing biome imbalances and affecting the food chain at every level. Birds and fish ingest plastic with life-threatening effects. And humans who eat fish are at risk of indirectly consuming plastic fragments.

The world is beginning to understand more about the importance of reducing plastic waste. Bonnie Wright grew up learning about nature and the ocean on family trips to England’s coast. A surfer and an ocean lover, she’s witnessed firsthand the growing pollution plaguing our oceans, and she’s become passionate about treating the problem at its cause.

Guest-starring on The mindbodygreen Podcast, Bonnie offered five simple suggestions for reducing plastic use.

Firstly, Bonnie advised podcast listeners to reject single-use plastics whenever possible. Practical plastics like to-go boxes and drink cups, she says, can easily be replaced by reusable options. Bonnie recommends bamboo eating utensils, metal straws, reusable cups (even an empty peanut butter jar), and other sustainable food and drink products that can be washed, not disposed of.

Secondly, Bonnie emphasized the importance of choosing packageless cosmetics. The beauty industry is a large source of plastic waste, but there are a number of personal care products that don’t rely on plastic packaging. Bonnie opts for packageless bar soaps, shaving soaps, and cleansing bars. She added that it was a good idea to choose refillable bottles for shampoo, conditioner, and makeup. There are companies that offer refilling services as part of the war on waste. Bonnie also suggested replacing plastic razors with metal alternatives.

Often, newcomers to the anti-waste revolution are mistaken into believing that they should get rid of all their existing plastic products. Bonnie advised against this. Throwing away the plastic items you already own only adds to plastic landfill and ocean waste. Reusing and recycling existing plastics is a much more conscientious approach.

Recognizing how overwhelming the plastic pollution crisis can sometimes feel, Bonnie Wright explained that everyone is capable of beginning to make more sustainable choices. She said that significant lifestyle changes take time but that people can start by choosing one area of waste to commit to reducing.

Even if your choice seems so small and insignificant, it does all connect.

Bonnie’s advocacy for change remains active and passionate. Most recently, she worked with Prada to help promote its new Re-Nylon project, which repurposes used carpet waste – which can stay in landfills for centuries – to make Econyl (sustainably regenerated nylon) bags. Bonnie reflected on our collective role in supporting efforts for environmental improvement and waste reduction.

It’s a responsibility we carry […] as consumers.