Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic objects and particles (such as plastic bottles, bags, and microbeads) in the Earth's environment, which has negative consequences for wildlife, wildlife habitat, and humans. Plastic pollution has the potential to devastate land, waterways, and oceans.

Plastic debris is ingested or entangled by marine species, resulting in severe injuries and deaths. Food safety and quality, human health, coastal tourism, and climate change are threatened by plastic pollution.

The accumulation of plastic waste in the environment causes plastic pollution. Primary plastics, such as cigarette butts and bottle caps, are classified as primary, while secondary plastics resulting from the degradation of primary plastics are classified as secondary.

Plastic is a problem in construction. The sector is thought to be the UK's second-largest producer of plastic waste, after the packaging industry; it generates an estimated 50,000 tonnes of plastic packaging waste each year through a combination of litter generated by employees and discarded wrappings of building components. This is a significant portion of the estimated 3.7 million tonnes of plastic discarded in the UK each year, dumped in landfills, abandoned in the oceans, and exported to countries like China.

The need to address plastic pollution has become a hot topic, and construction companies are increasingly aware that they are under pressure to clean up their act. The building industry is heavily reliant on plastic: durable and long-lasting, it is still the go-to option for packaging and protection for a wide range of building products.

Modus Architects have pledged to support the reduction of plastic pollution by doing our best to eliminate single-use plastics and practise the 10 R’s of Sustainability (REfuse, REduce, REuse, REpair, REfurbish, REmanufacture, REpurpose, REcycle, REcover, and RE-mine). We have joined a group of over 350 individuals, businesses and organisations that have already taken the pledge on the Isle of Man and are proud to be an official Ambassador.