It is well known that plastic is one of the most damaging man-made inventions in the last century. It has been found in all corners of the earth, from our oceans to our beaches. In fact, it’s estimated that there are more than 5 trillion pieces of plastic debris in the world’s oceans, which is about a third of all plastic ever made.
What are the benefits of plastic?
Plastics are materials made of polymers (chemicals and their ingredients) and they can be classified as thermoplastics and thermosetting plastics.
Thermoplastics can be remoulded or moulded. Thermosetting plastics cannot.
Plastics make up 85% of all the manufactured materials we use today, such as packaging, electronics, cars and toys.
They are lightweight and resistant to corrosion. They are also easy to mould into any shape desired.
There is a wide range of different types of plastics that can be used in many different applications because they’re compatible with most other materials like glass, metal alloys and composites.
Who produces the most plastics?
America produces the most plastics in the world.
According to a report by Global Industry Analysts, the US produce an average of 20 million tonnes of plastics every year. This includes packaging and non-packaging plastics.
The top producers of plastic include China, Europe and North America.
Space is becoming an issue for us as we can’t keep producing more and more plastic products without any space for them to be recycled or disposed of.
Why is there so much plastic waste in the world today?
The production of plastic has increased exponentially over the last few decades. The growth of this industry is a result of a number of factors, which include the development and invention of new types of plastic, increased demand for plastics as the material became cheaper and more durable, as well as a lack of regulation on plastic disposal.
Reducing Plastic Waste with 5 Simple Steps That Can Be Done Right Now!
As the world’s population continues to grow, so does our consumption of plastics. We use plastic for everything from food packaging to clothing fibres, not to mention microbeads in toothpaste and beauty products.
Plastic manufacturing is projected to increase 60% by 2030, while at the same time demand for water is expected to increase 55%. The unfortunate reality is that there are not enough recyclers in the world.
However, it’s important not to despair about this latest environmental crisis. With these 5 simple steps, you can do your part in reducing your plastic footprint each day.
- Reduce. Start with reducing your plastic consumption. Take your own reusable bags with you to the supermarket. Don’t put your bananas in a bag, they come in their own wrapping, literally.
2. Reuse. Don’t throw things out so easily. Have household items mended rather than just replacing them when they break. Buy quality items that are made to last. You can wear outfits more than once! You can repair clothes with holes in them and make them look like new again.
3. Recycle. Make sure that when you do end up with plastic, you recycle it. Many plastics are now roadside recyclable which makes it really easy to not just send your plastic waste to landfills.
4. Use alternatives. Glass and metal are endlessly recyclable so they make great alternatives.
5. Choose greener beauty. Microplastics are often used in beauty products and they have no place nor serve no necessary purpose. There are always better alternatives.
I hope this post helps you want to be greener. Thanks for reading.
