Plastic and plastic: a problem for earth and mankind

The plastic is one of the biggest problems for our environment and ourselves, is no longer a secret. In this article we would like to show you the fatal effects, introduce initiatives and projects and present the main causes.

The biggest problem with plastic is its non-degradability

The amount of plastic waste, especially in the oceans, is fatal. Over 100 million tons swim in the oceans. If nothing changes, in a few years there will be more plastic than animals in the sea.

• Plastic cannot be broken down by nature. The microorganisms cannot decompose plastic because they are purely chemical products.
• Rather, the plastic waste is shredded very slowly by the sea water and wind.
• However, even that takes a very long time. A plastic bag takes around 20 years to become microplastics.
• The downsizing of a plastic bottle due to environmental influences even takes about 450 years.
• However, the garbage never disappears completely and gets into the marine animals as microparticles and into our bodies through fishing.
• This not only causes damage to the oceans due to species extinction, pollution and the destruction of natural spaces. Human health also suffers.
• In the meantime, there is alternatively bioplastic packaging. However, these also take several months to years to be completely degraded and therefore also have a negative impact on the environment.

Disposable plastic products have the greatest impact

There is a variety of garbage in the oceans, such as fishing gear, ship parts or plastic products. However, the largest part with around 49 percent are single-use plastic products (as of October 2018). Waste from single-use products is not only found most frequently in the oceans, but also on coasts and beaches, and generally in nature. The products that represent the most single-use waste are:

• Plastic bottles with closures
• Plastic cutlery and cups
• cigarette end
• cotton swab
• Bags and packaging
• Hygiene products such as tampons or wet wipes
• straws
• balloons

Awareness of people in buying behavior

Pollution of the environment and the sea is no longer an unknown topic, because it is discussed in many ways and is constantly present in the media. More and more people are becoming aware of what the cause of plastic waste means.

• It can already be seen in the buying behavior that fewer customers use the plastic bag, for example, and alternatively use a cloth bag. Not least because of the cost of a plastic bag in the EU since 2016.
• However, consumer behavior has not yet changed significantly. For example, too many still use the free plastic bags for fruits and vegetables.
• The same applies to to-go products such as coffee or food. Few bring their own cup or box and still use the disposable packaging.
• Landing garbage in nature continues to be a problem. Plastic waste, which was carelessly thrown on the floor, is lying on many beaches or along the way.

Projects and alternatives to the problem of plastic waste

There are now many voluntary and political actions and projects in the fight against plastic waste. There are also some alternatives to plastic packaging.

• There are now several voluntary actions and associations of people who clean beaches and seas. Examples are the Surfrider Foundation, 4Ocean or the manatee.
• One of the biggest projects is The Ocean Cleanup, invented by the Dutch boyan Slat. Plastic garbage floating on the surface of the water is to be collected on floating tentacles and then recycled on land.
• Some to-go sales outlets, supermarkets, restaurants or cafés offer a discount if you bring your own cans, cups or boxes for food and drinks.
• Politicians are trying to sensitize people more through initiatives and projects, to draw attention to correct disposal and to promote more biodegradable plastic.
• In addition, from 2021, disposable plastic products such as straws and cotton swabs are to be banned in the EU. There will then be alternative products made from recyclable material.