Natural History Museum bans sale of plastic water bottles to help fight ocean pollution

London’s Natural History Museum has taken more positive steps to counter plastic pollution in the ocean by announcing a ban on the sale of single-use plastic water bottles at its two UK sites.

The museum’s main building in South Kensington, London, and premises in Tring, Hertfordshire look set to do away with bottles and offer visitors alternatives such as water fountains and reusable bottles, as well as looking at ways to encourage visitors to bring their own bottles. It has already stopped offering plastic straws.

The museum, which unveiled its stunning 25.2-metre-long blue whale skeleton exhibit earlier in the year, also recently released research on the extent of unseen plastic pollution in the Thames. 

More than 480 billion plastic drinking bottles were sold in 2016 across the world. For more information on the plastics issue, its effect of whales and dolphins, and how you can help, go to WDC’s #NotWhaleFood site and join the battle against plastic pollution.

Please make a donation to support our work to protect whales and dolphins. Thank you.