Jul 17, 2023
By
uCan-Packaging
What Is Plastic Pollution & How To Reduce Plastic Waste
The industrial age has brought many benefits to humankind, but one of the drawbacks of mass industrialization was the plastic waste produced by factories. The global plastic waste problem is one of the prime examples of how years of human exploitation and misuse of materials have led us to devastating side effects. Plastic is a synthetic material made in the 19th century in labs to address the growing demand for alternative materials. However, it was not until 1907 when Leo Hendrik Baekeland invented the first entirely artificial plastic made with fossil fuels, which was a significant milestone in plastic production. Plastic production rose to new heights during world war 2 and so did plastic pollution, and it never came down again. The progressions in chemical engineering and polymer science throughout the years allowed for the creation of several plastic forms that possess contrasting attributes, resulting in the widespread use of plastic in numerous industries.
In recent years plastic waste has become a ubiquitous and pressing global issue. Plastic pollution's impact on the environment, healthcare system and economy can hardly be ignored when we look at giant patches of plastic waste in the ocean and minute pieces of microplastic in our drinking water. This article will explore the origins and types of plastic waste problem and why it is a problem for us. We will also carefully examine various means and choices that can be made to address the question - how to reduce plastic waste and what are the solutions to plastic pollution?
What Constitute As Plastic Waste?
Plastic waste or plastic waste problem, in simple words, refers to any discarded plastic material that has served its purpose, for example, single-time use water bottles. Once the consumer drinks the water from the bottle, they throw it away without giving it any second thoughts. Plastic is a synthetic material which does not decompose like other natural materials. Due to its resistance to breaking down or decomposing, plastic waste can remain in our environment for hundreds of years. Despite plastic breaking up, it never disappears from the Earth's surface and transforms into minuscule plastic particles.
How Did Plastic Pollution Start?
The plastic waste problem has its roots in our modern-day society, with the rise of consumerism, mass production, and urbanization. Plastic was originally manufactured to help meet the growing demand for convenience, efficiency, and mass production. It was a revolutionary material then; however, plastic products became increasingly popular among consumers as their manufacturing became cheaper and more widespread. This led to the overuse of plastics and increased plastic pollution, as many people did not dispose of it properly or recycle it.
Why Is Plastic Waste a Problem?
Despite knowing the negative impact associated with plastic, it remains one of the most used and is often not disposed of properly, leading to plastic waste accumulation in various locations such as landfills, oceans, and rivers. In addition to their initial harm, plastic pollution has further damaging consequences as they break down into microplastics, which penetrate the food chain and cause disastrous effects on the environment and biodiversity, ultimately affecting human well-being. This makes the plastic waste problem one of the major problems that is currently faced by the world.
What Is The Plastic Waste Problem?
Plastic is a handy material due to its durability and versatility. However, due to its non-biodegradable nature as well as challenging and expensive recycling techniques, plastic waste has accumulated in billions of tons on earth. Since the 1950s, the worldwide production of plastic has exceeded over 8.3 billion metric tons, equivalently weighing as much as 800,000 Eiffel Towers[1]. Plastic waste can take 500 to 1000+ years to break down, meaning each plastic material produced from as early as the 20th century can still be present on the earth's surface, littering land and waterways worldwide. Moreover, according to a United Nations report, merely 10% of plastic waste has been recycled[2] because there are different types of plastic available in the market, with each having different chemical characteristics, making the recycling process very difficult.
The plastic waste problem has become a global environmental challenge that has reached alarming proportions and is shaking the environment to its core. As stated above in the article, single-use plastics are the most notorious plastic pollution causing materials which also are the major contributor in plastic waste in the ocean. This includes plastic bags, food packaging, water bottles, and other single-use plastics. Also, plastics that eventually decompose release toxic chemicals into the soil, water, and air, affecting the health and well-being of humans and animals alike. This situation significantly threatens marine and terrestrial ecosystems, human health, and livelihoods. Therefore, finding viable solutions to the plastic waste is vital for sustaining our environment, biodiversity, and human health.
What Are The Negative Side Effects Of Plastic Pollution
Over the past few years, the plastic waste problem has escalated significantly and is causing detrimental impacts on marine life and the ecosystem. We all know that plastic pollution has been and is causing a lot of trouble, but today, we will discuss briefly how it has affected nature, the environment, and oceans and to what extent. We will also discuss its effect on human health.
Nature: While talking about the plastic waste problem and its effect on nature, air and water pollution come to mind. Non-biodegradable plastic waste creates problems in landfill sites, and a few people's solution to this problem is burning the plastic trash. It is a harmful activity for both nature and human health. Burning plastic waste not only releases toxic chemicals into the air but also greenhouse gasses, contributing to global warming. Moreover, the main ingredient in most of the plastic materials is a derivative of crude oil and natural gas. We all know how dangerous the mining of fossil fuels is in terms of global warming. Similarly, some people throw their plastic waste in water streams in the hope of getting rid of it. However, it pollutes the water with harmful and toxic chemicals, making it undrinkable and unlivable for marine life.
Environment: Plastic pollution has detrimental effects on ecosystems and natural habitats. It litters landscapes, pollutes water bodies, and disrupts soil health. Improper disposal and inadequate waste management lead to plastic accumulation in forests, harming these precious ecosystems. Plastic debris can alter ecological processes, such as entangling vegetation and harming biodiversity by disrupting natural processes. Land pollution occurs when plastic waste ends up in landfills, releasing harmful chemicals and toxins into the soil, hence furthering the list of plastic waste problem. This not only degrades soil quality but also poses risks to groundwater sources.
Oceans: Plastic pollution adversely affects the health of ocean-dwelling creatures, directly and indirectly. Plastic waste severely damages and endangers marine life, and the most common cause of death among sea turtles, dolphins, whales, and other aquatic animals is the ingestion of plastic debris. Plastic wastes interfere with their digestive systems, causing infection and, in some cases, death. Apart from that, plastic waste in the ocean has accumulated over large surface areas worldwide. This causes the decline of any aquatic plant species and further leads to the destruction of biodiversity.
Health: When we talk about the plastic waste problem and health, it raises a lot of alarms. Plastic is made up of many chemicals, some of which are found to be harmful, such as BPA. BPA is used to make leakproof plastics, but it has been potentially linked to various diseases, including brain damage and cancers. Furthermore, the breakdown of plastic waste into microplastics and nano plastics causes harm to the foundation of the marine food chain which leads to non-biodegradable toxins entering the food chain that affects humans as well.
How Much Plastic Waste Is Produced Each Year?
Everything nowadays seems to be made entirely or partially of plastic, from car parts to everyday utensils such as water bottles, cutlery and clothing. Nevertheless, it should be pointed out that this particular material poses a significant threat to the environment and mother nature. Unfortunately, a substantial portion of plastic waste is not adequately managed or recycled. It is estimated that around 79% of all plastic waste ever produced accumulates in landfills or the natural environment [3]. The recycling process is costly, complex and dangerous as heating plastic releases toxic gasses.
Even though plastic pollution has been associated with many problems, plastic production shows no signs of slowing down. As a matter of fact, plastic production is rapidly increasing, resulting in significant pollution of our oceans and landfills. This might raise a question among readers that how much plastic waste is produced each year? According to international sources, it is estimated that the world annually produces over 380 million tons of plastic waste, almost half of which is single-use plastic [4]. As the name suggests, single-use plastics are thrown away as trash only after using them once, such as disposable plates, contributing to the already alarming levels of plastic waste problem. This plastic production rate has been increasing over the years due to factors such as population growth, urbanization, and the rise of consumerism.
While the plastic waste problem is a global issue, some countries contribute more significantly to its production. Historically, the top contributors to plastic waste generation include China, the United States, India, Indonesia, and Brazil. However, it's important to note that waste management practices, recycling infrastructure, and consumption patterns vary among countries, affecting their respective contributions.
Solutions To Plastic Pollution
Plastic waste's impact on oceans, nature, forests and land ecosystems highlights the urgent need for responsible waste management practices, recycling efforts, and a transition towards sustainable alternatives to plastic packaging to minimize these harmful effects and protect our environment. Consumers and companies have a significant role to play in order to tackle the plastic waste problem. It is high time for consumers to think about how to reduce plastic waste and ditch traditional plastic packaging materials and opt for more sustainable and recyclable options such as aluminum and glass. This will, in turn, force companies to stop using harmful plastics and switch to sustainable packaging solutions.
From a company's point of view, there are several solutions to address plastic pollution, with a particular focus on packaging materials and exploring recyclable and sustainable alternatives. It is undeniable that plastic packaging is one of the biggest culprits for the global plastic waste problem. But today's versatile market provides an alternative and better options to plastic. Companies can prioritize packaging materials that are easily recyclable, such as aluminum bottles and glass jars. These materials have a high recycling rate and can be recycled repeatedly without losing their quality. Recycling these materials not only reduces the burden on landfill sites but also helps reduce the carbon footprint of the packaging industry. As a matter of fact, recycling aluminum is more cost-effective and eco-friendly than extracting it from virgin ore. Furthermore, these materials are sustainable and reusable, which minimizes the need for single-use plastic and helps reduce plastic waste in the ocean. Another added benefit of adopting aluminum and glass over plastic is that they are free from toxic chemicals, ensuring the safety and quality of our environment and water sources.
By adopting these strategies, companies can fight the plastic waste problem and reduce plastic pollution, promote a more sustainable approach to packaging, and foster a circular economy where materials are reused and recycled instead of discarded as plastic waste. These are a few small steps to fight this ever-growing global problem. It will help us to protect animals, marine life, oceans, forests, nature and the environment for future generations and also help us to live a healthy and sustainable life.
[1]https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/effects-of-plastic-pollution-facts-you-should-know/