Scottish Teenager’s Petition on Single-Use Plastics Gains Parliamentary Support

Published: 24 September 2025. The English Chronicle Desk

A determined campaign by a 17-year-old schoolgirl from the remote Isle of Jura has captured national attention, as her petition calling for a ban on single-use plastics receives widespread support from Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) in the Highlands and Islands. Tabby Fletcher, moved by the devastating impact of plastic pollution on her island’s wildlife, has already secured more than 26,000 signatures, bringing the issue firmly into the political spotlight.

The initiative began after Tabby witnessed the aftermath of severe storms washing vast amounts of plastic onto Jura’s beaches. Among the debris, she found dead birds entangled in plastic and even a goat trapped in a discarded fishing net. “I’ve seen so much change already in my lifetime,” she said. “So much plastic, so many gales and storms. In January, we had Storm Éowyn. Huge storm surges brought piles of plastic onto the beach close to my house. I saw dead birds wrapped in plastic. It was obvious from little bits inside their decomposing bodies they had eaten plastic. There was a dead goat too – its head stuck in a plastic fishing net. It’s really horrible.”

Tabby also described observing red deer, which feed on seaweed, caught in discarded nets, potentially starving if left to their own devices. She emphasised the broader environmental impact of single-use plastics, which endanger seabirds, seals, and other wildlife through ingestion, entanglement, and toxic contamination. Microplastics, tiny particles resulting from broken-down plastic, present a long-term threat to both ecosystems and human health, containing over 16,000 chemicals, many linked to disease.

Despite local efforts, including community-organised beach clean-ups, Tabby stressed that the problem is escalating and requires action at a national level. “I’m from a very small community. You don’t get to aim big when you are somewhere small,” she said. “So it’s good to see people writing to me and having the same thoughts and beliefs as I have. I’m hoping that Scotland will become the first country in the UK to ban single-use plastics. At the very least, we should have a conversation to prove that it is possible.”

Tabby focused her campaign on single-use plastics rather than plastic fishing nets or ghost gear, which account for 20% of marine pollution, because these items are already partly regulated by existing government policies. Nevertheless, the Marine Conservation Society’s 2024 “State of Our Beaches” report revealed that the amount of single-use plastic collected on UK and Channel Island beaches rose by 9.5% compared with 2023, underlining the urgency of reform.

The petitions committee of MSPs will discuss Tabby’s proposal on 24 September. Depending on the outcome, the committee may recommend a broader parliamentary debate, conduct a short inquiry, or advise the government to take specific actions to address the issue.

Several MSPs from the Highlands and Islands expressed strong support for the teenager’s initiative. Emma Roddick, a Scottish National Party MSP for the region, said the petition reflected the concerns of her constituents across the islands. “The government could be doing more,” she commented. “It’s inspiring to see a young person taking action like this.” Roddick noted the persistent problem of tiny plastic threads washing ashore on islands such as Eigg, Skye, and the Knoydart peninsula, which are difficult for communities to remove. She also highlighted practical challenges in implementing a blanket ban, citing medical plastic items in the NHS for which substitutes are currently unavailable.

Ariane Burgess, Green MSP for the Highlands and Islands, described Tabby’s efforts as “incredibly impressive” and fully supported her campaign. “The amount of plastic waste washing up on coastal communities’ shores is overwhelming,” Burgess said.

Environmental campaigners have also praised the initiative. Kim Pratt, a circular economy advocate at Friends of the Earth Scotland, noted that existing regulations are insufficient. “The first thing the government needs to do is enforce the existing ban,” she said. “The Scottish government has banned some single-use plastics, such as cutlery, plates, and expanded-polystyrene food containers, but it is not enforced. Creating a ban without acting on it is meaningless.”

Tabby’s campaign demonstrates the power of grassroots activism, even from the smallest of communities, to influence national policy. Her petition not only highlights the devastating environmental consequences of single-use plastics but also calls on lawmakers to take meaningful action to protect Scotland’s wildlife and coastal ecosystems. As the discussion in parliament approaches, many are watching to see whether a young voice from the Isle of Jura can drive tangible change in environmental legislation.