It’s the year 2050 and Future Britain is barely recognisable. A howling storm rages outside, the wind carrying with it a lethal cargo – discarded plastic waste. Streets once bustling with the vibrant sounds of life are now eerily silent, save for the incessant patter of debris raining against the roads and buildings.
In the eye of this storm, a colossal football stadium lies abandoned, its hallowed turf obscured beneath a layer of plastic items fallen from the sky – fizzy drink bottles, chocolate wrappers, coffee cup lids, and more. The FA Cup Final was meant to be played here today. But there is no football. There are no cheering crowds. Only empty seats standing like silent sentinels, as the odd bottle bounces off their surface. The decision was unanimous and inevitable: the match had to be postponed.
The violent storms, once a rare occurrence, have become regular and predictable. And it’s not just sporting events affected. Motorways are shut. Planes remain grounded. Beaches sealed off from the members of the public, who must stay locked in their homes for their own safety. Everything we used to enjoy about our way of life has been put indefinitely on hold.
The irony of the situation is palpable. “Why didn’t we see it coming?” is the question on everyone’s lips, whispered in living rooms, blasted IN ALL CAPS across social media. But deep down, they know the answer. The warnings had been clear, the research was there. Over a million pieces of discarded plastic worldwide may sound like an impressive statistic at first, but it becomes a grim reality only when it affects something we love.
More questions arise as the storm intensifies. Was the convenience of plastic worth this irreversible devastation? What if we’d embraced more sustainable practices? Would it have made a difference?
Eventually, the storm passes, leaving a fresh layer of synthetic snow in its wake. As Britons cautiously emerge from their homes and start clearing up the wreckage, another question lingers: is it too late? The answer seems as mixed and muddled as the plastic landscape that surrounds them. Yet, in the hearts of countless Britons, the fight persists. After all, they have a football match to look forward to.
Click here to view Beyond the Box’s ‘Match Postponed’ advert.