Plastic-free activity held in Dalian

Government officials, volunteer students and initiators cheer for the start of the "Plastic is not cool • Plastic free Golden Pebble Beach" activity. [Photo by Piao Feng/Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A comprehensive art exhibition, themed "Plastic is not cool", was initiated in 2016 by the school and Dalian Sophie Media Co Ltd. Last year, it was exhibited at the Beijing's 798 Art District, said Wang Yifei, one of the curators of the activity and director of the media and animation school of the Luxun Academy of Fine Arts, Dalian campus.

The concept "Plastic is not cool" was put forward by Belgian Wouter Dierickx, chief director with Sophie Media.

"The reason for launching this activity is the recycling of plastic bags, plastic lunch boxes and plastic straws is not enough. It can also cause secondary pollution. The most important thing is to change people's behavior and advocate plastic-free ideas," Dierickx said.

"I hope this activity will continue and attract more cities to join in and lead this environmental trend around the world," he said.

According to Dierickx, Rachel Yates, one of the initiators of the UK-based charity organization Surfers Against Sewage, sent greetings to the "plastic-free beach" activity. Yates said she is glad to know someone in China has launched such an activity and received support from local government.