在英國，已有40多家公司報名加入了一個旨在未來七年里減少塑料污染的協(xié)定。這些公司做出了一系列承諾，包括保證將通過更優(yōu)化的產(chǎn)品設計來嚴守杜絕使用一次性塑料包裝。

文字稿

The companies range from consumer giants like Proctor and Gamble and Coca-Cola to supermarkets including Asda and Marks and Spencer. And they've come together with government, trade associations and campaigners to form what's called a Plastics Pact.

簽署協(xié)定的公司包括從寶潔和可口可樂這樣的消費品巨頭到阿斯達和馬莎等超市，種類繁多。它們與政府、貿易協(xié)會以及環(huán)保人士們共同組成了名為“英國塑料協(xié)定”的環(huán)保項目。

It's a series of pledges meant to tackle plastic pollution over the next seven years. For example, to improve designs to make recycling easier - many products are currently made with a mix of different types of plastic. Also to cut out unnecessary single-use packaging and to include more recycled plastic in new products.

該協(xié)定包括一系列旨在接下來七年著手處理塑料污染問題承諾。比如，通過改善設計而簡化回收過程，因為目前有很多商品是用不同種類的塑料混合制成的。還有停止使用不必要的一次性包裝以及在新產(chǎn)品中加入更多再生塑料。

The move has been welcomed by environmental groups, who've long-argued that pollution can never be reduced until products are designed with recycling in mind. But Friends of the Earth says government measures are also needed to make sure the targets are met.

此舉得到了各環(huán)保團體的支持，他們一直認為，除非在商品設計之初就考慮到回收利用，否則污染是不會被減少的。但環(huán)保組織“地球之友”稱，政府需要采取相關措施，以確保目標得以實現(xiàn)。

1. 詞匯表

consumer giants 消費品巨頭
Plastics Pact 塑料協(xié)定
pledges 承諾，保證
to tackle 著手處理、解決（難題）
single-use 一次性的
the move 該舉措，該做法
in mind 考慮到
targets 目標

2. 閱讀理解：請在讀完上文后，回答下列問題。

1. Name something the new Plastics Pact aims to do.

2. What currently makes recycling certain plastic products difficult?

3. True or false? Environmental groups are happy about this new Plastics Pact.

4. Why does single-use packaging create so much waste?

3. 答案

1. Name something the new Plastics Pact aims to do.
It aims to improve designs to make recycling easier and to cut out unnecessary single-use packaging and to include more recycled plastic in new products.

2. What currently makes recycling certain plastic products difficult?
Many products are currently made with a mix of different types of plastic, not all of which can be recycled.

3. True or false? Environmental groups are happy about this new Plastics Pact.
True. Environmental groups have welcomed the pact.

4. Why does single-use packaging create so much waste?
Because it can only be used once – it is 'single-use'.