Are Humans Turning The World Into Plastic?

Plastic Pollution

But,

Why Should WE Care About Plastic Pollution?

Well, you won't believe but plastic pollution has become one of the most urgent environmental issues we are facing presently. If we do nothing, we will destroy the balance of nature and totally disrupt ecosystems that all life on earth depend on.

Therefore, in this blog, let us address this critical problem:

What Is Plastic Pollution?

Plastic Pollution is the accumulation of plastic objects and particles like plastic bottles, bags and microbeads in the Earth's environment that adversely affects wildlife and humans.

But,

How Does It Affect The Lives Of Humans And Animals?

Well, imagine a sea turtle swims through the water in search of food and finds a white blob floating near the surface.

"Yummy!" It thinks, "a jellyfish!" And eats the item. But after sometimes the innocent turtle realize that the floating blob isn't a jellyfish but a plastic bag that could make it and many and other aquatic animals very sick.

Yes, just like that, millions of animals are killed by plastic every year, from birds to fish to other aquatic organisms. Not only that, plastic has been found in the stomach of many land based-animals, including Elephants, Zebras, Tigers, Camels, Cattle, and other large mammals, in some cases causing death.

And all these factors somehow impacts human lives. Yes, scientists have found microplastics in 114 marine species and almost one-third of these end up on our plates. Also, they've been found in a majority of the world's tap water.

But before we jump to a conclusion, we need to understand that not all plastic is terrible as they're handy. Yes, plastic revolutionized medicine with life-saving devices, made space travel possible, lightened cars and jets saving fuel and pollution and saved lives with helmets, car airbags, and equipment for clean drinking water.

And for many of us, plastic has become integral to our daily lives. But the problem is that most of us use and throw away more plastic than we need things like grocery bags, drinking bottles, straws, food wrappers etc. This kind of plastic that's used only once before being thrown away is called single-use plastic and it makes up more than 40% of all plastic trash and this short-lived use of millions of tons of plastic is quite simply unsustainable and dangerous for our planet as a whole.

How Can We Reduce Our Plastic Waste?

Well, these are the some tips which you can follow for reducing your plastic consumption:

• Recycle when possible.

• Avoid single-use plastics. 

• Use alternative packaging. 

• Do a trash audit. 

• Find reusable options. 

• Grow your own food. 

• Buy from local markets and low-waste     shops.

• Make your own cleaning and cosmetic   products in jars.

• Stop buying water.

• Avoid microplastics.

• Hold a town or beach clean.

• Speak up at work or university.

Thanks For Reading!

Author: Muniza Shah