WelcomeHumanity is becoming too accepting and dependent on their plastic goods. We are much too quick to take out a plastic straw or take up the offer of a plastic bag and it will only bring destruction to our Earth.
|
What Are Single Use Plastics? Plastics, a creation that has been used for decades, now is still being used for a variety of purposes, such as: packaging, water bottles, grocery bags etc. Currently it is being used for some of the simplest things, and it’s becoming strangely universal in some parts of the world. Look at these pictures.
How to Avoid Using Single Use Plastics:
Major Businesses Using Single Use Plastics: The reason behind major businesses using plastic is for the reason that they cut labour costs. Washing traditional silverware took too much time and energy. In the late ’50s, plastic bags were used as an alternative to paper bags to help save the planet because too many trees were being cut down to produce paper bags. These days, single-use plastic has become an addiction for companies. Walking into a grocery store has become equivalent to walking into a plastic factory. Produce, meats/dairy, beverages, and your favourite snacks - they all have one thing in common and that is being packaged in plastic.
Did you know Coca-cola produces 3 million tons of plastic packaging each year? This is equivalent to 200,000 plastic bottles per minute. Greenpeace volunteers conducted an experiment and sifted through many pieces of plastics around 42 countries to identify the pollutant's sources, they discovered that Coca-Cola, Pepsi, and Nestlé products were found most often. Consumers hold the power to support whichever business they want to. If we all collectively supported companies that weren't using single-use plastics, then we could live a greener life. Many big corporations such as McDonald's, Starbucks as well as Disney are making the change by swapping plastic straws for reusable ones. Disney is banning single use straws at all its theme parks and properties. This is a sign that major businesses are taking action to change consumer habits. By speaking up and raising our voices we can encourage businesses to be mindful of the amount of damage they are causing and educate consumers so that we can work toward achieving a greener and healthier planet. |
Why it is a Problem: Single-use plastics might be convenient for us to use in the moment, like when we “need” to use a straw, or when buying groceries, but when using them for that moment, you are contributing to the devastation that may last for centuries. Are we really considering a moment’s convenience over our environment?
Now you may think, well why are single-use plastics so bad if I make sure to recycle them? Or maybe you’re thinking why it’s so important if it’s only one person... Most of the used single-use plastics end up in the landfills or ecosystems. In addition to that, once they are thrown away, they can end up in bodies of water, especially so if they aren’t properly disposed of. This can happen from plastic used at the beach (eg. straw, plastic bottle, cups etc.), plastic blowing away in the air, and many other ways. It is usually littered in public spaces and cities too. Plastic is not biodegradable; it breaks into smaller and smaller pieces until there are microplastics in its place., This can later be absorbed by the food chain and eventually yet inevitably, onto our plates. Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic (hence the name) that are so broken up they are practically everywhere (but usually in water). However, plastic, even before they turn into microplastics, can affect animals in such disgusting ways. When they end up in the water, they can contribute to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch or the huge amount of plastic in the ocean in general. Marine animals can swallow plastic pieces/packaging thinking it is an animal/prey (e.g., Sea turtles sometimes mistake floating plastic bags as jellyfish). Even if they don’t eat the plastic, they can easily get stuck in it too. Both ingestion and getting tangled in plastic (possible suffocation) can lead to serious harm and death. Due to that, marine species are not only more prone to endangerment but extinction. Over one million marine animals, including dolphins, whales, turtles, and seabirds are killed each year because they consume plastic. If this continues, marine species will soon become extinct, affecting the ecosystems, biodiversity etc. Plastics also affect us! As it was mentioned before plastics can eventually end up on our plates. Scientists are finding plastic everywhere. In the food we consume, in the water we drink and more. It definitely affects everyone, no matter the amount of plastic you use as an individual. It is something that reminds us that to have plastic/plastic residue free food and water, we need to be better, collectively. What Can the Government Do? This section is where we discuss what we think our government should/could do to help with the fight against plastic. It can inspire you to do some of these things in your own household! It is NOT based on any announcements or actual restrictions made by the government of Ontario.
|