Plastic is great. No honestly, no joke. It has great benefits such as:
- Long lasting material
- Lightweight (in transport)
- Endlessly reyclable
Let’s start with the bad news:
-
Annually, an estimated 8 to 12 million tons of plastic are dumped into the oceans worldwide. (Source: UN Environment Programme)
-
It takes an average of 400 years for a plastic bottle to break down in the environment. (Source: National Geographic)
-
Only about 9% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled. (Source: National Geographic)
-
More than 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals die each year due to plastic pollution. (Source: Ocean Conservancy)
You might know the devastating impact on our planet & wildlife by now, but did you know it also has a huge impact on us, humans? It is so important to know why YOU should really avoid single-use plastic as much als possible:
- Micro plastics have been found in baby embryo’s, causing damage to human cells
- On top, microplastics have also been found in human blood and breast milk
- Causes hormone distriuptions & cancers
- Enters our foodchain
-
Many countries have banned or restricted single-use plastics, leading to a decrease in plastic pollution.
-
There's a rise in alternative packaging materials that are biodegradable or made from renewable resources.
-
Advances in recycling technology and infrastructure are making recycling more efficient and widespread.
-
Grassroots movements are cleaning up beaches and rivers, raising awareness, and inspiring action locally.
-
Many companies and governments are implementing policies to tackle plastic pollution, reducing plastic usage, improving recycling efforts, and investing in sustainable alternatives.
- Using refillable household products such as @brauz
- Using refillable water bottles such as @paveau_glassware or @dopper_official
- Shopping at bulk stores such as @ohne.gent
- Carry reusable shopping bags