Twenty twenty: that strange and fretful year was a time to hibernate, eat takeaway while watching Tiger King and put loftier ambitions on hold. My resolution to go plastic-free 12 months ago was forgotten in a whirl of lockdown anxiety and takeout containers (#supportlocal). When I could get a supermarket delivery, it arrived smothered in plastic. When coffee shops reopened, I was so excited to drink a flat white that I ignored the fact it was in a disposable cup.
It’s undeniable that the national lockdown last spring hurt the war on plastic. Supermarkets suspended bagless deliveries. Coffee chains stopped accepting reusable cups. Restaurants across the UK, fighting for their survival, pivoted to takeaways, with many using plastic containers and cutlery. Takeaway orders were up 33 per cent in March and April compared to the same period in 2019, according to JustEat.