Plastic Pollution: How it hurts the Environment

Feb 24th, 2023

Plastic pollution has emerged as one of the most pressing environmental issues. The world’s ability to deal with it has been overwhelmed by the rapidly increasing production of disposable plastic products.

The top cause of plastic pollution is mismanaged plastic waste - plastic litter is not collected and dealt with by recycling or incineration, but rather simply discarded into the environment and not cleaned up.

How did this begin?

​​Plastics derived from fossil fuels have been around for a little over a century. After World War II, the production and development of thousands of new plastic products accelerated, transforming the modern era to the point where life without plastics would be unrecognizable today.

Many difficult tasks were made possible by plastic that would not have been possible without it. Plastic can save lives by reducing weight in vehicles and jets, saving fuel, and reducing pollution. It can also be used to make helmets, incubators, and clean drinking water equipment.

Despite all of these advantages, plastic has one major disadvantage: it is non-biodegradable, which means it will not decompose like wood or any other organic waste by microorganisms.

Many plastic products, such as plastic bags and food wrappers, have a short lifespan (a few hours) but can last hundreds of years in the environment. As a result, we must seek a perfect plastic substitute that can overcome all of its drawbacks.

Plastic by numbers

Some terrifying key facts,

1. Half of all plastics ever manufactured have been made in the last 15 years.

2. Production increased at an exponential rate, from 2.3 million tons in 1950 to 448 million tons in 2015. Production is expected to more than double by 2050.

3. Approximately 8 million tons of plastic waste escape into the oceans each year from coastal nations.

4. Plastics frequently contain additives that make them stronger, more flexible, and longer lasting. However, many of these additives have the potential to extend the life of products if they become litter, with some estimates ranging from 400 years to break down.

Harm to wildlife

Every year, plastics kill millions of animals, including birds, fish, and other marine organisms. Plastics are known to have harmed nearly 700 species, including endangered species. Almost every seabird species consumes plastic.

The majority of animal deaths are caused by entanglement or starvation. Abandoned fishing gear or discarded six-pack rings strangle seals, whales, turtles, and other animals.

Microplastics have been found in over 100 aquatic species, including fish, shrimp, and mussels that will end up on our plates. In many cases, these tiny bits pass through the digestive system unnoticed and are expelled. However, plastics have also been found to block digestive tracts or pierce organs, resulting in death. Plastic-filled stomachs reduce the desire to eat, resulting in starvation.

What can we do to prevent this?

We can’t completely avoid using plastic in our daily lives, but we can take small steps to reduce our use of plastic. When going shopping, use a cloth bag instead of plastic bags. There are numerous methods for preventing plastic pollution. But that’s a topic for another article.

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