The Devastating Problem With Single Use Plastics
Who doesn’t love the convenience of a quick take-home meal or bottled water? The ease of these products is attractive, but do they come at a cost?
According to experts, they sure do. The long-term consequences of single use plastics are starting to catch up with us.
What are the dangers of single use plastics, and what can we do about it? Read on to find out how you can help pave the way for a better future.
The Dangers of Single Use Plastics
Single use plastics are exactly what you’d think they are. They’re plastic products that get used once and then tossed away. Here are a few examples of single use plastics:
- Straws
- Drinking bottles
- Grocery bags
- Food wrappers
- Packaging
- Cutlery
- Coffee cups
Do you find yourself using these types of products on a regular basis? If so, then it’s important to start considering the impacts of such wasteful behavior. Plastic products may be easy to use, but they’re difficult to dispose of.
It can take over one thousand years for your plastic straw to decompose.
As you can imagine, that means our landfills, oceans, and dumps are swimming in plastic waste.
What Can We Do About the Problem?
The UN estimates over half of the globe’s waste consists of plastic packaging. That’s a huge concern for everyone. So, what can we do about the problem?
Experts have told us that there are alternatives to plastic. We could use cardboard, paper, or glass to make disposable products. Yet, these materials also have an environmental impact.
Hemp is another viable option, but it remains illegal in some areas.
Businesses are beginning to recognize they need to act. Many of them are looking for alternative beverage packaging. Grocery stores are encouraging shoppers to get reusable bags. Lawmakers are banning straws.
All these minor actions are having a major impact. Step by step, those in power are trying to steer the course of history.
How Can I Help?
Lawmakers and businesses are starting to act, and you should, too. Are you wondering how you can make a difference on an individual level? Here are a few tips:
- Buy a reusable water bottle
- Don’t buy bottled water
- Stop using straws
- Use reusable shopping bags
- Buy products that don’t overuse plastic
It might not seem like much, but you’ll make a huge difference by changing your actions. You’ll encourage businesses to start making the switch with your purchasing power, too.
Don’t wait for lawmakers to act. Start making the change now.
Paving the Way for The Future
You can’t force big businesses to change their behavior. There are steps you can take as an individual to help. Single use plastics are wreaking havoc on our planet, but we can put an end to it.
It’s important to stay on top of the latest news and trends. In this way, we all pave the way for a brighter future.
