Plastic pollution: Is plastic really worth it?
Is using plastic really worth it?
We’ve all heard about plastic pollution, but do we really know what it is? Do we really understand its real impact on our lives or the amount of damage it is causing our beloved planet? After little but highly insightful research, I’d like to share with you some of my findings here.
Let’s take a look at some basic facts
According to National Geographic, the amount of plastic produced until now has exceeded 8 billion tons worldwide, growing by over 300 million tons each year. And even though using plastic might simplify our way of living, it is also rapidly destroying the environment which we live in. The circumference of planet earth is approximately 40,000 kilometers pole-to-pole, and the amount of plastic which has been thrown up-to-date is enough to circle the earth more than 200 times (if my calculation is correct). Remember that life is a full circle, these toxic chemicals leach out of plastic and end up in the blood and tissue of nearly every human.
While many see that animals and wild life are a global priority, the amount of plastic pollution is killing approximately one million sea birds and 100,000 marine mammals in our oceans every year. Some researchers even suggest that there could be more plastic than fish in the oceans in weight, by 2050.
But, how come?
Virtually every piece of plastic that was ever made still exists in some shape or form. It can take up to a thousand years for plastic to degrade. So that plastic bottle of formula your mother used when you were two days old still exists you know? Do you know that going to the super market could be one of the most dangerous acts of plastic pollution? Can you imagine that approximately 500 billion disposable plastic bags are used annually worldwide? This is more than one million bags every minute. Yes, every minute!
On the bright side…
With all these saddening facts and figures, we still have heroes across the globe fighting for our planet besides just governments. This includes public and private organizations, and even individuals working on reducing plastic consumption by using plant-based products and boxes instead of bottles, recycling, raising awareness campaigns and more. There have been efforts made in many countries, across the globe, to reduce the use of disposable plastic bags. Currently about 127 countries around the world have instituted some sort of plastic bag control mechanisms, either by charging taxes on them or banning them completely.
Doing our part
So, does that plastic straw still seem appealing to you? You too can contribute in saving our planet from more pollution; you can start very simple and tell everyone about it.
"The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it." – Robert Swan
Take advantage of the tool (MS Excel file) here to easily measure your progress in reducing your own plastic consumption (water bottles, plastic utensils, straws, plastic bags, etc.). Begin by:
downloading and opening the MS Excel file;
specifying the plastic item which you wish to reduce consumption of;
entering the item’s weight (A) and base-lining your consumption of it (B);
reducing your consumption of it, and then entering your new figures where they belong (C);
checking the results and your progression (D, E and most importantly F) and proudly sharing it with your family and friends to increase awareness.
For more information about plastic pollution, click here and type “plastic pollution”.
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