We are so habituated with taking that glass of iced tea with a plastic straw or shopping for groceries in a plastic bag, and we never think that they may cause any harm to the environment. Plastic is so convenient that it is highly ubiquitous. We throw them here and there without even considering the consequences. But what we often forget is that our addiction to plastic has a devastating influence on the wildlife, oceans, and the environment as a whole.
Understanding the impact of single-use plastic
Single-use plastics are generally produced from fossil fuels and chemicals that are meant to be disposed of after one use. Single-use plastics are commonly used for packing and other things, like bottles, bags, and wrappers. The popularity of these plastics skyrocketed during the 1970s. Manufacturers started replacing conventional glass and paper with durable and other sustainable alternatives.
There are several usages of plastic that are not just reasonable but important. For example, in a study conducted in 2017, over 50 percent of non-fiber plastics like nylon and polyester are sourced from the elemental plastic only. The majority of this is for single-use articles. Single-use plastic is the shining example of the issues caused by this throwaway culture. Rather than investing in good quality products built to last, it is the natural tendency to opt for convenience rather than considering the long-term consequences. And the more we depend on plastic for our daily living, the more we are gathering waste and affecting the environment around us.
Plastic can outlive human lives.
Banning plastic is a giant step and cannot be achieved overnight. But there are several reasons why removing plastic from our daily lives is the most sustainable solution to all the environmental issues cropping up. In the first place, plastic accumulated in landfills will practically never disappear. It is estimated that plastic bags can take around two decades to degrade, while plastic bottles can take up to centuries together. And while you may think that the plastic is gone, the residual stuff continues harming the environment.
Plastics never go away anywhere; they can only break down into smaller pieces until they become microscopic and mix up with air and water. Over time, many businesses are opting for biodegradable choices to offer conveniences sustainably. However, the negative aspect of single-use plastic is that it probes us to devalue something to the point that we throw them away after every use. This, in turn, brings about further problems and environmental hazards.
It’s time that we alter this normalized cycle of devaluing plastic and throw it away. This destructive behaviour is adding to millions of tonnes of waste every day. And it’s high time that we change our mindset and go for an eco-friendly solution. There are loads of green options available, and all we have to do is create awareness and opt for choices that won’t threaten our coming generations.