Two University of Exeter researchers based at the Penryn Campus are attempting to live a plastic-free life during this month and are appealing for others to join them.

Dr Jennifer Sanderson and Lindsay Walker are undertaking the month-long challenge to help raise awareness of our dependency on plastic packaging.

Members of the public are invited to join the initiative by visiting the Unpackage me website and pledging not to purchase any products that contain or use plastic for a day or more during October.

Miss Walker and Dr Sanderson will showcase the Unpackage me campaign around Falmouth and the rest of Cornwall with interactive information stands, posters and a display of the plastic saved.

Miss Walker said: “Plastic packaging has become so ubiquitous that people use and throw away several tonnes of plastic every day without any thought to the consequences of their actions.

“We have been shocked by the statistics on plastic waste and decided that we wanted to try to do something to build community awareness about the environmental and economic costs of living in a world reliant on plastic.”

Dr Sanderson added: “We use so much plastic in our everyday life, it is often impossible to escape it.

“Whenever I go to a supermarket I am always shocked by how much plastic packaging there is everywhere and I am constantly worried about the impact that this is having on the environment.”

The researchers are writing a daily blog and there will be a Twitter-based weekly photo competition to find the product with the most pointless plastic packaging, #pointlessplastic.