Luyện theo cấu trúc Cambridge IELTS 17 · Writing Task 1 + 2: Marathon Finishers & Packaging Waste

The table shows how many men and women in four age groups completed a city marathon in 2006, 2016 and 2026.

Overall, the number of finishers rose considerably over the twenty-year period, with women accounting for most of this growth. Participation also shifted towards older runners, although the 30–44 age group remained the largest throughout.

In 2006, men outnumbered women by almost four to one, with 7,700 male finishers compared with just 2,030 female ones. Over the next two decades, the number of women nearly quadrupled to 7,950, whereas the male total increased more modestly to 10,600, most of this rise occurring by 2016. By 2026, female runners under 30 (2,050) were almost as numerous as their male counterparts (2,150).

The 30–44 group was consistently the most popular, peaking at 4,600 men in 2016 before falling slightly, while the number of women in this group more than tripled. The most striking growth, however, was among older runners. Finishers aged 45–59 roughly doubled for men and increased almost sevenfold for women, and those aged 60 and over, though still the smallest group, grew from just 280 in total to 1,350.

The amount of packaging thrown away every day has become a serious environmental concern, and there is growing debate about who should take the lead in reducing it. In my view, manufacturers and retailers bear the main responsibility, although consumers still have a meaningful role to play.

The principal reason for placing responsibility on businesses is that they control the design of packaging in the first place. A shopper buying a toothbrush or a bag of apples usually has no choice about whether it comes wrapped in plastic, cardboard or nothing at all. Companies, on the other hand, can decide to use refillable containers, recyclable materials or simply less packaging, and a single decision by a large supermarket chain affects millions of products at once. Furthermore, firms often over-package goods for marketing purposes, making them look larger or more attractive on the shelf, so it seems fair that they should pay for the resulting waste.

That said, consumers are not powerless. When enough customers choose loose fruit and vegetables, carry reusable bags or support brands with minimal packaging, companies respond to that demand. In several countries, for example, small charges for plastic bags led to a dramatic fall in their use, which shows that individual habits can change quickly when people are given a clear incentive.

Ultimately, however, relying on individual goodwill is unlikely to be enough. The most effective solution would be for governments to require producers to pay for the collection and recycling of the packaging they create, which would give them a strong financial reason to use less of it.

In conclusion, while consumers can support change through their choices, I believe the primary responsibility lies with the businesses that design and profit from packaging.