The UK could do more: one survey showed that we only recycle one-third of our plastic. Michael GoveA Conservative politician who has held a variety of high-profile ministerial positions. He was defeated by Theresa May in the 2016 Conservative leadership election., the environmentThe natural world. secretary, says he was "haunted" by Blue Planet II. He has promised to tackle the problem.

Meanwhile, journalist Damian Whitworth took matters into his own hands. He decided to buy no plastic for a week. He ordered groceries from a special delivery service and carried a reusable plastic bottle for drinks.

Things got tough: he found there were very few snacks or supermarket goods that he could buy. "Plastic-free shopping... is wildly impractical," he wrote.

Should everyone have a go at cutting out plastic?

We waste too much plastic. That said, cutting it out altogether - even for a week - is stupid. Extreme responses to problems are counter-productiveHaving the opposite effect to what is desired.: as Whitworth admits, he just grew frustrated and ended up eating plastic-wrapped cheese. We should make smaller decisions, like saying no to plastic straws and cutlery - and stick to them for life.

Whitworth's experiment was a good idea. True, it made little difference to the environment, and it was hard on him. Yet it taught him "just how much we rely on plastic packaging and how excessiveMore than needed. that packaging often is". Now that he understands this, he will find it easier to cut down on plastic. We should all follow his example.