Why Single Use Plastic Needs to be Outlawed: A Future for Us All
“The Earth is what we all have in common,” said by environmental activist, Wendell Berry. With this in mind, it is not unreasonable to suggest the outlaw of plastic packaging products. Excluding the small proportion of plastic that is medically essential, the elimination of widespread production of single-use plastic products would drastically improve worldwide pollution and wildlife habitats. There are many viable, environmentally considerate options to plastic production. The head of UN Environment, Erik Solheim, once said, “Making the switch from disposable plastic to sustainable alternatives is an investment in the long-term future of the environment.” And if the Earth is the common factor to all quality of human life, why not invest in it?
Keeping the environmental implications of pollution in mind, it is impossible to ignore the impact of the current global attachment to plastics. The ocean has increasingly become a graveyard for discarded plastics and microplastics, with significant social, economic and environmental impacts. At this point, it is neither possible nor desirable to remove all plastics from society. However, the realization from consumers and policymakers that urgent action to stop the flow of disposable plastics is needed is growing, and alternatives can have a significant role in reducing our dependence. Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues, as rapidly increasing production of disposable plastic products overwhelms the world’s ability to deal with them. Lotte Krüger reports that plastic pollution is most visible in developing Asian and African nations, where garbage collection systems are often inefficient or nonexistent. But just because it is out of sight, does not mean it should be off our minds.
Moreover, the conveniences plastics offer, led to a throw-away culture that reveals the material’s dark side: today, single-use plastics account for 40% of the plastic produced every year, according to Walter Leal Filho of Science of the Total Environment. Many of these products (such as plastic bags and food wrappers) have a usage lifespan of a few minutes to hours, yet they may persist in the environment for hundreds of years. For instance, plastic bottles take around 450 years to decompose! Chlorinatedplastic can even release harmful chemicals into the surrounding soil, which can then seep into groundwater or other surrounding water sources, and also the ecosystem. This can cause a wide range of potentially harmful effects on the species that drink the water.
However, the medical necessity of some forms of plastic usage should not be ignored. There are situations (particularly in the medical field) where plastic provides an essential use. But often, natural materials and alternative technologies can be used to break humanities addition to disposable plastic. This is particularly true for consumer products as these represent a large amount of the plastic pollution contributing to marine litter. Along with marine litter, Demetres Briassoulis in Critical Reviews of Science and Technology contributes, “the debate on how to make our use of the planet more sustainable, citing several of the sustainable development goals, including poverty reduction, increased community resilience, and waste minimization.” His report highlights some relatively conventional alternatives to plastics such as: paper, cotton, and wood (as well as less obvious solutions including algae, fungi, and pineapple leaves) etc. For example, dine in or takeaway in stainless steel or glass reusable cups could be implemented as a requirement by law. It is suggested to dine where they have reusable cutlery or bring some from home. Some environmentally friendly, reusable trends have caught on to reflect this movement. Reusable straws in glass, stainless steel, bamboo, or silicone are all currently popular among certain conscientious individuals. For instance, we have all seen a reusable lunch box before.
In conclusion, the expected impacts include reduction of public health and environmental pollution problems, preservation of natural resources, reduction of emissions, avoidance of land and marine littering. By growing global awareness of the social, economic and environmental impacts of our current relationship with disposable plastics as well as outlining a varietal set of alternatives, a better tomorrow is born for generations to come.
Works Cited
Briassoulis, Demetres, et al. “End-of-Waste Life: Inventory of Alternative End-of-Use Recirculation Routes of Bio-Based Plastics in the European Union Context.”CriticalReviewsinEnvironmentalScience&Technology, vol. 49, no. 20, Oct. 2019, pp. 1835–1892.EBSCOhost,doi:10.1080/10643389.2019.1591867.Filho, Walter Leal, et al. “Plastic Debris on Pacific Islands: Ecological and Health Implications.”ScienceoftheTotalEnvironment, vol. 670, June 2019, pp. 181–187.EBSCOhost, doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.181.Krüger, Lotte, et al. “Plastic Debris Accumulation in the Seabed Derived from Coastal Fish Farming.”EnvironmentalPollution, vol. 257, Feb. 2020.EBSCOhost, doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113336.Wagner, Swetlana, and Martin Schlummer. “Legacy Additives in a Circular Economy of Plastics: Current Dilemma, Policy Analysis, and Emerging Countermeasures.”Resources,Conservation&Recycling, vol. 158, July 2020.EBSCOhost, doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2020.104800
