Recently, some parents reported to CBCGDF that every time their kids start a new semester, they will encounter the issue of wrapping their textbooks with plastic book covers, and they mentioned: “Every time the semester starts, the teachers will force the students to use the transparent book covers of plastic material to wrap the textbooks, or even part of them uses a mandatory approach to force students and parents to meet the requirement.”

The “Say No to Plastic Book Covers” campaign from China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF)’s “Reducing Plastics, Picking-up Plastics” series has entered its second year of development in 2019. At the beginning of the school semester this year, CBCGDF “Reducing Plastic Girl” has once again collected opinions on the issue of plastic book covers for textbooks in secondary schools and elementary schools. The problem reflected by the parents is not the first time.

Almost every time the kids get a new book, the teachers will ask them to give book covers. As the parents reflected: At present, all the book covers of children's textbooks are made of plastic materials - do not understand why teachers must force students to wrap the books with covers; and television, newspapers and other media have repeatedly stressed the materials of the Plastic book covers are toxic - causing environmental pollution and unnecessary waste after production, use, and disposal.

Parents who reflect the problem are environmentally conscious and love nature. At the same time, many plastic book covers do have security risks.

Regardless of whether it is from a security perspective or from the perspective of protecting the environment, CBCGDF actively advocates the school to remove the mandatory covering book with plastic covers requirements. To this end, CBCGDF sent a letter to the Ministry of Education to put forward this proposal and brought this proposal to the NPC and CPPCC two sessions draft proposals meeting, and also gave feedback to the delegates and members. At the same time, in the activities that have entered the campus many times, the environmental concept of "Say No to Plastic Book Covers" has been popularized for children.

The advocacy and promotion of CBCGDF requires the support of the education department and school teachers. Instead of forcing students to wrap textbooks with plastic covers, it is better to teach them how to better protect books or teach them to use other more environmentally friendly materials instead of plastic textures. This can also play a good foundation for the next step in promoting the recycling of textbooks.

(Photo credit: CBCGDF)

Original Chinese article:

http://www.cbcgdf.org/NewsShow/4854/7963.html

By / Niu Jingmei