HOW PLASTICS AFFECT OUR DAILY LIFE?
1. The Plastic Age
Plastics have revolutionized our lives. They are lightweight, durable, and versatile, making them ideal for a wide range of products, from water bottles to medical devices. However, the widespread use of plastics has also led to a serious environmental problem: plastic pollution.
Every year, millions of tons of plastic waste end up in our oceans, rivers, and landfills. This pollution harms wildlife, contaminates our food and water supply, and contributes to climate change.
2. The beginning of the plastic age
The plastic age began in 1907 when Belgian scientist Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, the first commercial plastic. Bakelite was quickly followed by other plastics, such as PVC, polyethene, and polystyrene.
2.1. Single-use plastic
- Single-use plastic is any plastic product that is designed to be used once and then thrown away.
- This includes items such as plastic bags, straws, utensils, water bottles, and coffee cups.
- Single-use plastics are a major source of plastic pollution, which is a serious environmental problem.
- Plastic pollution harms wildlife, contaminates our food and water supply, and contributes to climate change.
- Animals can become entangled in plastic debris or mistake it for food. Plastic pollution also contaminates our food and water supply.
Plastics have many benefits. They are lightweight, durable, and inexpensive to produce. This makes them ideal for a wide range of products, including:
- Food packaging: Plastics help to keep food fresh and safe during transportation and storage.
- Medical devices: Plastics are used to make a wide range of medical devices, such as syringes, catheters, and artificial joints.
- Automotive parts: Plastics are used to make many automotive parts, such as bumpers, dashboards, and airbags.
- Construction materials: Plastics are used to make a variety of construction materials, such as pipes, siding, and roofing materials.
- Consumer electronics: Plastics are used to make a wide range of consumer electronics, such as televisions, computers, and smartphones.
2.3. The drawbacks of plastics
- Despite their many benefits, plastics also have several drawbacks. One of the biggest problems is plastic pollution.
- Every year, millions of tons of plastic waste end up in our oceans, rivers, and landfills.
- Plastic pollution harms wildlife. Animals can become entangled in plastic debris or mistake it for food.
- Plastic pollution also contaminates our food and water supply. Microplastics, tiny pieces of plastic less than 5 millimetres in size, have been found in fish, seafood, and even drinking water.
- Plastic pollution also contributes to climate change. When plastic is incinerated, it releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
- Plastic production also requires fossil fuels, which are a major source of greenhouse gas emissions.
3. Microplastics
- Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic less than 5 millimetres in length.
- They can come from a variety of sources, including the breakdown of larger plastic items, such as plastic bags and water bottles, and from the microbeads used in some personal care products.
- Microplastics are a serious environmental problem. They can pollute our oceans, rivers, and lakes, and they can harm wildlife. Microplastics can also contaminate our food and water supply.
- Microplastics can harm wildlife in several ways. Animals can become entangled in microplastics, which can lead to injury or death.
- Animals can also mistake microplastics for food, which can block their digestive system and lead to starvation.
- Microplastics can also leach harmful chemicals into the environment, which can harm wildlife and humans.
Benefits of recycling plastic
Recycling plastic has many benefits, including:
- Plastic pollution is a major environmental problem. Recycling plastic helps to reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills and incinerators.
- Recycling plastic helps to conserve natural resources, such as petroleum and water.
- Recycling plastic helps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change.
- The recycling industry creates jobs in collection, sorting, processing, and manufacturing.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has several programmes aimed at addressing plastic pollution. These programmes include:
- The Clean Seas campaign is a global movement to end plastic pollution in the oceans. UNEP works with governments, businesses, and individuals to reduce the use of single-use plastics, improve waste management systems, and clean up plastic pollution from beaches and oceans.
- The Global Partnership on Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution is a multi-stakeholder partnership that brings together governments, businesses, NGOs, and academia to work together to reduce plastic pollution. UNEP provides secretariat services to the Global Partnership.
- The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution is a committee of government representatives that is negotiating a global legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. UNEP provides technical support to the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee.
- UNEP also works on plastic pollution in other areas, such as freshwater systems, terrestrial ecosystems, and the circular economy. For example, UNEP is working to develop guidelines for the management of plastic waste in freshwater systems and to promote the use of recycled plastics in products.
There is currently no international convention on plastics, but there are several international initiatives aimed at addressing plastic pollution. These initiatives include:
- The Global Partnership on Marine Litter and Plastic Pollution is a multi-stakeholder partnership that brings together governments, businesses, NGOs, and academia to work together to reduce plastic pollution. The Global Partnership was launched in 2012 and has over 1,000 members.
- The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution is a committee of government representatives that is negotiating a global legally binding instrument on plastic pollution. The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee was established in 2022 and is expected to finalize the global instrument by 2024.
- The Basel Convention is an international treaty that aims to control the transboundary movement of hazardous wastes and their disposal. The Basel Convention was adopted in 1989 and has over 180 parties.
- The London Convention is an international treaty that aims to prevent marine pollution from dumping of wastes and other matter. The London Convention was adopted in 1972 and has over 190 parties.
- The Marpol Convention is an international treaty that aims to prevent marine pollution from ships. The Marpol Convention was adopted in 1973 and has over 190 parties.
7. how to reduce the use of Plastic
There are several things we can do to reduce our reliance on plastics and combat plastic pollution. Some of these things include:
- Reducing our use of single-use plastics, such as plastic bags, straws, and utensils.
- Choosing reusable products over single-use plastics whenever possible.
- Recycling plastics whenever possible.
- Supporting policies that promote sustainable plastic production and consumption.
We can also support research into new technologies for recycling and reusing plastics. For example, some scientists are developing enzymes that can break down plastic into its parts. This could make it easier to recycle plastic and reduce plastic pollution.
8. Conclusion
Plastics are a double-edged sword. They have many benefits, but they also pose several environmental challenges. By reducing our reliance on plastics and supporting sustainable plastic production and consumption, we can help protect our planet for future generations.
|
Practice Mains Questions 1. Discuss the environmental issues associated with plastic pollution. How does plastic waste impact ecosystems, wildlife, and human health? (250 Words) 2. Assess the potential of new technologies, such as plastic-degrading enzymes, in mitigating plastic pollution. What impact can these innovations have on recycling and reusing plastics? (250 Words) 3. Explain the concept of single-use plastics and their adverse effects on the environment. What policies can governments implement to reduce the use of single-use plastics? (250 Words) |
