Plastic pollution: a threat to our oceans and wildlife
YOK.P @ 2024-03-18 11:08:21 +0700Plastic is something that we have all used in our daily lives for a long time. With its ability to be shaped and transformed to be used according to different needs. Today, most plastics are used in packaging such as water bottles, food containers, drinking glasses, and many more. And for this reason, the amount of plastic waste has increased significantly each year.
Global plastic waste production more than doubled between 2000 and 2019, reaching more than 353 million tons.
Our world is facing a global plastic pollution crisis, which poses a threat to our oceans, marine life and ecosystems. This problem is becoming more serious, with more than 400 million tons of plastic waste being produced each year. We can no longer ignore this issue.
Did you know?
Less than 10% of plastic waste worldwide is actually managed for recycling.
According to the OECD website : Only 9% of plastic waste from around the world is recycled, 19% is incinerated, 50% is landfilled, and 22% is not disposed of in a designated place, either burned in the open or mixed in water or soil. This improper waste disposal often occurs in poor countries, as plastic management requires a lot of resources.
Various processes, from the extraction of fossil fuels to produce plastics, the processing of plastics, and the burning of plastic waste, all cause the release of harmful gases into the atmosphere and affect global temperature changes.
What environmental problems does plastic cause?
In 2015, a video of a marine scientist named Nathan J. Robinson saving a sea turtle by pulling a 15 cm long plastic straw out of the sea turtle's nose shocked people all over the world and started a campaign to reduce the use of plastic straws and to be more aware of the use of plastic in our daily lives.
Even if you don't throw trash directly into the ocean But choosing products that are environmentally friendly also has an impact on the environment.
Microplastics are products of the plastics we use.
In addition to large pieces of waste that are thrown into the ocean, there are also small pieces of plastic waste smaller than 5 millimeters that are caused by the decomposition of plastic. However, plastic cannot decompose like biological materials, so these microplastics still circulate in the world both on land and in water.
The reason why we should not ignore microplastics is because microplastics have a very negative effect on the body of living things. We may not consume them directly, but the marine animals that we consume may have microplastics. Not only that, microplastics can affect the food chain and life cycle of living things around the world. Because if consumed in large quantities, whether by humans or animals, these microplastics can affect the digestive system and absorption of nutrients as well.
Managing plastic is easy, starting with you.
Managing the problem of plastic pollution is not difficult and not far from you. You can start to create changes easily by giving importance to the selection of plastics and separating waste correctly to reduce the difficulty of separating waste and also create support for those who separate waste on the job site.
Once you have successfully started to manage your own plastic waste , you can start to gain confidence and join environmental projects with people who share your ideals. For example, the Beach Cleanup project aims to remove plastic waste from sandy beaches and prevent waves from washing it back into the ocean, thus preventing further damage to marine life and ecosystems.
In addition to managing the waste used, choosing to use reusable everyday items such as metal or bamboo straws, cloth bags, and refillable water bottles can greatly reduce plastic usage and also help reduce the environmental impact caused by the production and management of plastics.
Efforts to reduce plastic waste, as well as initiatives to change the world, such as reducing plastic use, recycling programs and developing biodegradable alternatives, are all good things that many people want to do to help make our world more sustainable. However, large-scale change will require a concerted effort from individuals, businesses and governments to make changes that lead to true sustainability. Working together to create a more sustainable “circular economy” by choosing materials that can be fully recycled.
Reduce plastic waste easily by using a single piece of material.
The amount of plastic waste will not decrease if we continue to need new plastic to make new products along with recycled materials. That’s why choosing the right raw materials for production is the key to reducing this plastic pollution problem.
Single material helps reduce the problem of waste pollution. Choosing to produce things using sustainable materials and not having to mix the material with other raw materials can make it easier to manage waste and " help to completely recycle the object, allowing it to be reused with full efficiency. "