Why Are We Still Using Single-Use Plastics?

We seem to be addicted to the use of plastics and this habit is ravaging our environment. Single-use plastics are those commonly used disposable or recyclable plastics used for packaging and service ware. Examples are:

• Plastic straws, knives, forks, and spoons
• Plastic shopping carrier bags
• Plastic and Styrofoam coffee cups, lids, and takeout containers
• Plastic water bottles (the disposable kind rather than the reusable options)
• Plastic surgical/food preparation gloves
• Single-use disposable face masks
• Simple, everyday items such as plastic-stemmed cotton swabs and sanitizing wipes made from polyester-based materials.

(Seagoing green)

The issue with these single-use plastics is that they are non-biodegradable, they just break into smaller pieces at most. These plastics can get eaten by wildlife or animals in the oceans and somehow we get to consume them too. They can puncture or cause damage to animals and our internal systems, and the chemicals used in producing plastics also have harmful health effects.

Marine animals bear the most burden of plastic damage. We’ve seen evidence of these damages: a turtle trying to breathe while having a plastic straw lodged up its nose; a starving whale with a stomach entangled in plastic bags. The damage that single-use plastic products cause to the environment and wildlife is becoming more widely known. And yet, we take them without thinking twice at grocery stores and restaurants. Scientists say that by 2050, we will have more plastics than fish. So, dare I ask, why are still using single-use plastics?

Why?

Single-use plastics have benefits. Many businesses are believed to have switched to using more plastic packaging merely because it is more affordable. We have started relying on plastic packaging more frequently because it is less expensive, but there are also other good reasons. Plastic is resilient and shields users from outside elements and contaminants. Because food is preserved and given a longer shelf life, less food waste results. Food is shielded from bugs, microorganisms, and humidity. Food is more likely to sustain damage and become more spoiled without this defence. Every effort we make to lessen the effects of food waste — which include climate change, energy and water use, deforestation, and biodiversity loss — makes a big difference. Plastic packaging makes this possible.

Plastic can be made thin and light, which reduces emissions because it doesn’t significantly increase the volume or mass of a vehicle. In other words, compared to other materials like heavy metal and bulky cardboard, plastic has a lower overall environmental impact. You don’t need to transport a lot of additional mass and volume because plastic can be made to be durable without becoming heavy. This implies that you can cut back on fuel use, which will result in cost savings and a decrease in environmentally harmful emissions. In a nutshell, plastics play a crucial role in our daily lives.

The method of disposal is the issue. Consider this scenario;

You took your trash to the roadside dump site, there’s some leftover food in the plastic bags which you throw away without much thought. Stray animals in search of food consume this food and the plastic bag, and the bag stays undigested in their stomach. These bags could also enter the ocean through drainages and kiss the innocent and unsuspecting marine life the same way. The plastics keep piling up in their abdomen with every plastic consumption, slowly killing them until it does finally.

The Way Forward…

Proper Disposal

As a society, let’s learn how to properly dispose of plastics. To separate your waste at the time of disposal is a straightforward strategy that is used in many nations. Recycling will help us conserve our precious resources while solving 90% of the issue.

Policies

Seeing how much strain plastics are causing to waste management systems, our oceans and people all over the world, some countries have begun to implement policies and taxes to regulate or ban the use of single-use plastics. These policies are making forward-thinking companies innovate and source for more sustainable alternatives.

Product Shifts

Thankfully, some big corporations have begun to change the narrative, shifting away from plastics to other eco-friendly materials. McDonald’s UK, Hyatt Hotels, Starbucks and others are taking the lead. It is anticipated that the change would be widespread.

Choices

We make choices every day, we choose to use or not to use single-use plastics. Somehow, we empower and sponsor the continuous production and use of these materials. Here are a few pointers.

• Always carry a reusable bag along
• Don’t trash, re-use
• Buy in bulk to reduce their consumption
• Use reusable containers to store leftovers
• Encourage others

In a time when environmental threats are prevalent, both individuals and businesses must take steps to reduce how much of a negative environmental impact their operations have. Plastic food packaging decreases both food waste and carbon emissions. The secret is to design packaging that is more eco-friendly and to dispose of that packaging in an eco-friendly way.

Author: Yetunde Oyelami

Photo:breakfreefromplastics,The Guardian, saynotoplastic.com,