“Unmasking the Plastic Menace: A Call to Action”

In our daily lives, plastic has become an omnipresent companion. According to studies in 2021, each person uses an average of 15kg of plastic every day. However, this seemingly harmless material has far-reaching and detrimental impacts on our environment.

The Silent Saboteur

A gardener recently discovered the insidious effects of plastic when their plants failed to grow to their full potential. Upon investigation, they found plastic covers buried in the soil, hindering the plants’ growth. This incident is a microcosm of the larger issue at hand - the pervasive and harmful impact of plastic on our environment.

The Plastic Problem

The escalating rate of plastic production poses problems in numerous areas of our society. It contributes to waste and pollution issues, impacts our health, and threatens our oceans and wildlife.

Waste and Plastic Pollution

Every week, we go through 10 billion plastic bags worldwide. Plastics don’t break down; they break up, becoming a permanent pollutant in our environment.

Health Impacts

Microplastics have been reported in food for human consumption. The average person could be ingesting up to 5 grams of plastic a week. Microplastics may also be inhaled and have been found in human organs and even in the placentas of unborn babies. Toxic chemicals such as phthalates and BPA are present in plastic food packaging, further exacerbating the health risks.

Threat to Oceans and Wildlife

Each year, 8 million tonnes of plastic pollution enters our oceans. It’s estimated that by 2050, there will be more plastic in our oceans than fish. More than 270 marine species are affected by marine debris through ingestion, entanglement, and chemical contamination. In the next 30 years, 99% of seabirds will have ingested plastic.

Recycling is Not Enough

Despite the importance of recycling, it is not the ultimate solution to our rapidly expanding plastic consumption. Only 9% of our plastic has been recycled, and only 10% of that has been recycled more than once. Recycled plastics are mostly downcycled, meaning they’re recycled into products of lesser quality which are less likely to be further recycled.

The Plastic Pollution Solutions

While the facts about plastic pollution can make us feel hopeless, the Plastic Free Foundation has shown that small changes, by millions of people, all add up and can make a large impact.

Reuse and Recycle

We can explore reuse models such as ‘cup libraries’ and container refill and reuse schemes to reduce the need for single-use plastic. We can give recycling a chance by following our local recycling guide and putting items in the right bin. We can petition governments to require businesses to use recycled plastic in their products and packaging.

Circulate

We can encourage businesses and organizations to move away from the concept of ‘take, make and throw away’ and towards a circular economy that promotes recycling and the reuse of materials.

Eliminate

We can increase our single-use plastic bans to eliminate problematic or unnecessary plastic packaging. By banning items such as lightweight plastic bags, foam packaging, and balloon releases, consumers and businesses alike are forced to find alternatives to plastic.

Conclusion

The usage of plastic is one of the biggest problems of our environment. We urge our readers not to use plastic and instead of throwing the plastics away, please collect it and hand it over to the right hands. Together, we can make a difference and pave the way for a plastic-free future.