The dangers of plastic and reducing your plastic consumption
I am sure you have heard the word plastic more than ever recently, and there are many people advocating for single use plastic and reducing consumption. I am in no way an activist, but being responsible is something we can all do to help ourselves and our planet. My passion for caring for the planet is mostly derived from my love of animals and hearing about extinction due to human actions. So whilst we have been using plastic all our lives, why is it so important to reduce our usage now, and what are the long-term dangers?
Plastic does not go away
Plastic is a material that is made to last forever and yet 33% of all plastic - water bottles, bags and straws are used just once and thrown away. This means that it stays in the environment for up to 2000 years or longer, ending up in the oceans and in the greenery. Therefore, recycling is extremely important, as well as using reusable bottles and straws.
Plastic threatens wildlife
Wildlife become entangled in plastic, they eat it or mistake it for food and feed it to their young. This can result in impaired movement, injuries and even death. I’m sure you have seen many news articles featuring animals that have died from consuming or getting entangled in plastic. These problems have been increasing rapidly and will continue to do so.
Plastic piles up in the environment
30 million tons of plastic gets discarded every year, and only 8 percent is recycled. The rest ends up in landfills and is burned or becomes litter. The release of harmful chemicals in the air contributes towards global warming, and thus making the earth hotter and inhabitable.
What can you do to reduce your plastic consumption?
Carry a reusable bottle - Carrying a reusable bottle is a great way to cut your plastic usage and save money. There is even an app to tell you where you can refill your bottle for free
Say no to plastic straws - Plastic straws are bad for our oceans, next time you need a straw use a paper one
Avoid excessive food packaging - I know that this is not always possible, but try to buy loose fruit and veg and bring your own packaging to put it in
Avoid microbreads - The UK government have announced a ban on mircobeads, however if you still have products purchased previously, ensure that these products and disposed of responsibly
Carry a shopping bag - Since the plastic bag charge was introduced in England, there has been a massive 85% drop in their use. If you still find it hard to remember to carry a reusable bag around with you, try a foldaway one that you can carry in your normal day bag
Making these small changes can have a big impact on the amount of plastic we use on a day-to-day basis.