There are many, many ways of looking at the environmental issues facing our planet today. Different people choose to focus on different things but our goal is the same – to do the best that we can to preserve the health of the planet for future generations. Right?
Some people try to source as much as possible second-hand, others eschew plastic at every turn, barely a handful of waste is the goal sought by another group and then there are those who are always looking for a way to recycle or re-use items that are no longer required.
Plastic seems to have been recently declared ‘public enemy no. 1’ due to the masses of micro (and not so micro) plastics in our oceans and the detrimental effect it is having on marine life. I agree with this sentiment and do the best I can to minimise my use of single use plastic products. However, I have not rushed to get rid of all my plastic containers and other items as I believe it is my responsibility to use my existing products wisely and extend their life as much as possible.
Some people disagree because of the perceived potential risks of using plastic – particularly where food and drink are concerned. I do not have a problem with this as I do not use plastic for storing liquids, oils, acidic foods nor do I use plastic where there is heat involved – such as the microwave.
There will always be some plastic products but it is our responsibility to restrict the use of plastics to those applications where it is necessary. Not only for the marine life but due to the fact that plastic is made from oil which is a finite resource – there is not an endless supply. Most people can clearly recognise single plastics – water bottles, drinking straws, disposable cutlery, takeaway food containers and so on but it is the composite plastics that are less obvious. These include takeaway coffee cups, reuseable ‘green’ shopping bags, ‘foil’ chip packets and packaging where plastic may be sandwiched between 2 layers of paper or cardboard.
The purpose of this blog post is to encourage people really try to make a difference where plastic products are concerned.
Here are a few goals.
- Minimise your use of single use plastic items – look for re-useable, non-plastic alternatives.
- Dispose of any plastic waste carefully to ensure it stays out of waterways and oceans.
- Remember that plastic is manufactured from oil and oil is a finite resource.
- Use recycling as a last resort – it is not a licence to keep using as much plastic (and everything else) as we want and assuaging our guilt by simply tossing it in the recycle bin. At best, plastic is downcycled not recycled. It only has one secondary life then it becomes landfill.
- Be a conscious and responsible consumer.
It is not yet July but there is no time like the present to begin to phase out the single-use plastics from your life and consider what else you can change.