Plastics are the most prevalent man-made items in the World
Plastics are everywhere. They're found in our food, our clothes, and even our drinking water. And while there are many benefits to using plastics, many of us are starting to wonder how we offset the many downsides that plastics present to the planet.
What is plastic?
Plastic is a man-made material that's created from chemicals called polymers. It's used in many products, including packaging, bottles and other containers, building materials, and medical devices (like artificial joints). There are many different types of plastics—each designed to serve a specific function—and they're often blended together when they're produced to create stronger or more flexible materials.
What happens when you throw away plastic?
Plastics contain chemical additives that make them strong and durable, but these additives can also make them hard for nature to break down once you've tossed them out into a landfill or washed them down the drain. This means that as plastic breaks down into smaller pieces over time (called microplastics), these tiny particles can end up polluting our oceans and waterways where fish and other marine life live Even if human beings are becoming more and more aware of the hazards this material poses to life, the presence of plastic in our ocean is continually increasing, and plastic pollution is still one of the main causes of marine species extinction, health problems for human beings and animals alike, and the destruction of our ecosystems.
In this Blog post, we will look at ocean plastic pollution and lay out the data and statistics you need to understand the daunting issue we are facing. Most importantly, we will also look at what we can do as individuals and as part of our society to prevent plastic pollution and save our planet.
FACT: More than 5 trillion pieces of plastic are already floating in our oceans.
Here are Five ways you can begin your journey and make a difference, starting today.
Our family loves going to the beach and when we can we do. While there we routinely clean-up after ourselves or others where we see it. The key to any addressing a solution or starting a journey is taking the 1st step.
Here are Five ways you can begin your journey and make a difference, starting today.
1. Cutback on your Single-Use Plastics (More than 40 percent of plastic is used just once, then tossed)
We all use tem. Whether dinking single use plastic bottles or opening our packages containing plastic packing material or any1 of 100 other products. So, it makes sense that if we direct our attention to just ensuring that we are recycling and cutting back where we can and makes sense that we will begin to have a postive impact. Single-use plastics include plastic bags, water bottles, straws, cups, utensils, dry cleaning bags, take-out containers, and any other plastic items that are used once and then discarded.
The best way to do this is by a) refusing any single-use plastics that you do not need (e.g. straws, plastic bags, takeout utensils, takeout containers), and b) purchasing, and carrying with you, reusable versions of those products, including reusable grocery bags, produce bags, bottles, utensils, coffee cups, and dry-cleaning garment bags. And when you refuse single-use plastic items, help businesses by letting them know that you would like them to offer alternatives.
2. Support Legislation to Curb Plastic Production and Waste.
As vital as it is to alter our own actions, doing so is not enough to halt the poisoning of the oceans with plastic. Additionally, we require legislation that controls the production of plastic, enhances waste disposal, and holds plastic manufacturers accountable for the pollution they produce. You may support local, national, and worldwide laws in a number of different ways that offer vital answers to lessen plastic pollution. There are several state-level initiatives to introduce extended producer responsibility (EPR) legislation, which holds plastic producers and distributors accountable for their products and packaging at the end of their useful lives. The 2021 Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act is one such American effort that aims to address the plastic pollution crisis.
Fact: Worldwide, 73 percent of beach litter is plastic: filters from cigarette butts, bottles, bottle caps, food wrappers, grocery bags, and polystyrene container.
How Can I Minimize My Family's Exposure?
This should go without saying, but when you use single-use (and other) plastics that can be recycled, always be sure to recycle them. At present, just 9% of plastic is recycled worldwide. Recycling helps keep plastics out of the ocean and reduces the amount of “new” plastic in circulation. If you need help finding a place to recycle plastic waste near you, check Earth911’s recycling directory. It’s also important to check with your local recycling center about the types of plastic they accept.
4. Avoid Products Containing Microbeads
Tiny plastic particles, called “microbeads,” have become a growing source of ocean plastic pollution in recent years. Microbeads are found in some face scrubs, toothpastes, and body washes, and they readily enter our oceans and waterways through our sewer systems, and affect hundreds of marine species. Avoid products containing plastic microbeads by looking for “polyethylene” and “polypropylene” on the ingredient labels of your cosmetic products (find a list of products containing microbeads here).
5. Spread the Word
Stay informed on issues related to plastic pollution and help make others aware of the problem. Tell your friends and family about how they can be part of the solution or host a viewing party for one of the many plastic pollution focused documentaries, like A Plastic Ocean, Garbage Island: An Ocean Full of Plastic, Bag It, Addicted to Plastic, Plasticized, or Garbage Island.