Reducing Plastic Pollution

These days, it seems like plastic is everywhere you look. It’s packaging your food, holding your groceries, conveniently providing water for you, wrapping your uneaten food, filling your bathroom, housing your cleaning products; truly pervading every aspect of daily life.

Yet unlike food, wood, or any other organic materials we use in day to day life, plastic is not biodegradable – meaning it can’t be eaten and decomposed by other organisms. In fact, many plastics aren’t even degradable. And those that are degradable merely break into smaller and smaller pieces, leaching chemicals and toxins into the environment and the organisms around it.

Because it takes even the most easily degradable and common plastics between 10 and 1,000 years to decompose, plastics are building up to an unmanageable amount. We are finding traces of plastic pollution in rivers, oceans, beaches, and even in animals and soils.

It is yet unknown how human consumption of plastic toxins affect our health, but studies have found plastics in our seafood and the domestic animals brought in for slaughter.

Research has also been conducted by clean up crews, such as the Ocean Conservancy, to document the most common culprits of plastic pollution found in the ocean and on beaches. Because of organizations such as this, we are beginning to better understand common pollutants and how to manage them.

The top ten most common plastic items found during the international coastal cleanup this year include (2018):

• Cigarette butts (2,412,151)
• Food wrappers (1,739,743)
• Plastic beverage bottles (1,569,135)
• Plastic bottle caps (1,091,107)
• Plastic grocery bags (757,523)
• Other plastic bags (746,211)
• Straws (643,562)
• Plastic take out containers (632,874)
• Plastic lids (624,878)
• Styrofoam take out containers (580,570)

Some of the biggest offenders of plastic pollution include plastic bags, take out containers, plastic bottles, straws, and disposable coffee mugs.

What is both unfortunate and hopeful is that almost all the items that make up these lists are single use plastics. These are items that are only used briefly for one purpose before being discarded. Fortunately though, due to their disposable nature, many of these items can not only be replaced, but avoided altogether.

Plastic Bags

On average, a plastic bag is only used for 12 minutes. And because they are so readily available, convenient, and easily discarded, we use on average about 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags a year, worldwide.

However, reducing plastic bag consumption can be simple and fairly easy. There are many things you can do to limit or stop your plastic bag use completely.

• Decline the option for a plastic bag when your items are easy to carry.
• Purchase your own reusable bag and bring it with you when you go shopping.
• Use paper bags instead of plastic when they’re available.
• Start using reusable produce bags to carry your produce, rather than the thin plastic bags provided.
• Recycle and reuse the plastic bags that you do acquire.

As you begin to transition to more sustainable options like cotton or jute bags, backpacks, or reusable plastic bags, then your perspective on plastic will shift. Instead of seeing it as an integral part of daily life, you’ll start to see it as superfluous.

Plastic Packaging

Another major offender of plastic pollution is plastic packaging (‘Other Plastic Bags’). This can range from the bags your food is packaged in, the plastic bottles your cleaning products come in, the plastic your clothes or household items are packaged in, and even your bin bags.

There are many ways to avoid this group of plastics. One is to buy in bulk at the grocery store—storing dried goods in glass jars or durable plastic storage, rather than single-use plastic.

There are entire grocery stores being established that are dedicated to plastic-free packaging.

Another is to make your own cleaning products or buy products packaged in cardboard instead of plastic. Using biodegradable bin bags is another more eco-friendly option to replace traditional plastic trash bags. Transitioning to newspaper liners is also an option.

Plastic Straws

The plastic straw movement is gaining momentum around the world and continues to be at the forefront of sustainable transitions. Last year, the Ocean Conservancy found enough straws in their beach clean up to reach the height of over 10,000 palm trees.

McDonald’s announced their transition to paper straws in the UK and Ireland earlier this year. There are many other companies looking to change their policies on plastic straws in the coming years.

One of the easiest ways to reduce plastic straw pollution and to advocate for better options is to simply say no. Whether you’re ordering a cocktail at the bar or an iced coffee at your local Starbucks, decline the option for a straw.

Another way to enact change is to inquire about paper or metal straws at your local eatery. Show your favorite establishments that you’d like to see more sustainable options.

Plastic Beverage Bottles and Disposable Cups

More than 480 billion plastic water bottles were sold in 2016, and this number is expected to grow to 583.3 billion by 2021 if things do not change.

Disposable coffee cups, which are not only lined with plastic and therefore neither recyclable nor biodegradable, use over 20 million trees to meet the need of consumers each year. It is estimated that the US alone uses over 50 billion of these coffee cups each year.

The most economical and sustainable solution to disposable beverage bottles is to switch to a reusable one. Find yourself the perfect reusable water bottle or coffee mug to bring with you in your car, on the way to work, while exercising, or what ever the occasion. 

Another way to reduce plastic water bottles is to reuse or recycle them. While not purchasing one in the first place is the best solution, if the situation cannot be avoided, recycling is the next best option.

Take Out Containers and Packaging

Take out containers also make up a significant portion of plastic pollution. Between plastic and Styrofoam containers, take out packaging is one of the top 10 items that pollute our beaches and waterways. And this does not include the plastic cutlery and/or plastic bags that typically accompany take out orders.

So what can you do to avoid this?

Decline any extra plastic ware with your food – bring your own cutlery, or use your own at home. Another great option is to skip the bag and carry the containers in your hands. Ask your favorite establishment if they can start carrying biodegradable take out containers. And finally, if you’re dining out, bring your own tupperware to place leftovers in!

Take a Stand

Individual actions are critical in the fight against plastic pollution. But individual actions alone will not be enough. It is also important to take a stand and work to effect local and national policy change. The two most important components of policy change include bans and taxes. 

Bans on certain plastics have proven to be some of the most effective plastic pollution management solutions around the world. In California, where a plastic bag ban has been in effect since 2011, there has been an 89 percent reduction in plastic storm drain litter and 59 percent reduction in city streets and neighborhoods.

In Ireland, there has been a 95 percent reduction in plastic litter since their ban in 2002.

In Kenya, where one of the most drastic plastic bag bans went into effect last year, The Guardian reported a reduction in plastic the stomachs of animals for slaughter from 3 in 10 to 1 in 10.

In terms of clean up, plastic pollution is estimated to cost an estimated $13 billion each year, according to the UN Environment Program. When it comes to the natural capital cost of plastic use – including financial impacts from pollution issues – UNEP estimates the cost at $75 billion. This number can be reduced with effective disposal programs and proper plastic waste management, reducing costs to communities and the environment.

There are innumerable ways to reduce the plastic pollution that you create as an individual and to promote change within your community. While plastic pollution may seem like an unattainable problem to tackle, both individual action and the promotion of government and corporate cooperation will begin to curb the growing problem of plastic pollution worldwide.

Learn how to stop using plastic bags:

When looking at a worldwide problem, it seems nearly impossible to stop yourself from asking, “But what can one person’s actions really achieve? Am I really going to make that much of a difference?”

When it comes to using plastics, the answer is always yes.

Take plastic bags for example: The average family in the United States accumulates around 60 plastic bags in a mere four trips to the grocery store. If that family went to the grocery store four times a month and made even one simple change – to bring their own bags – they would save over 700 plastic bags each year.

One of the simplest ways to reduce the impact of plastic pollution is to stop using plastic bags. Each year, 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed globally and only roughly 1 in 200 gets recycled.

Plastic bags take anywhere from 10-1,000 years to degrade by breaking into smaller and smaller pieces, building up in the natural environment, affecting wildlife, habitats, and human populations.

And aside from being non-biodegradable, plastic bags are a nuisance both in the environment and in the home—floating in the ocean, being eaten by wild and domestic animals, clogging drainage systems, and penetrating agricultural soil. By reducing your plastic bag use, you’re practicing a more cyclical lifestyle that not only reduces waste, but saves money and resources in the long run.

This may seem like an unrealistic goal for the average individual, but it doesn’t have to be! There are several steps that you can take to reduce your plastic bag use and eventually stop using plastic bags entirely.

• Be aware. First, simply realize how many plastic bags you use throughout any given day; per week; per month. The first step in changing a habit is to recognize it in the first place. Start paying attention to how often you use plastic bags, how quickly you discard them, and in what circumstances you could go without one.
• Decline the bag. Once you’re actively noticing your bag usage, start putting it into practice. Decline the bag! Buying one or two items at the grocery store? Opt to carry them out of the store in your hands, rather than using a plastic bag. See if the store has paper alternatives. Decline the plastic bag you’re offered for your carry-out containers. By simply pausing to consider the necessity of the bag you’re offered, you can begin to reduce your plastic bag use.
• Recycle, recycle, recycle. Opt to either recycle your plastic bags at home, or try to return them to the store you received them from. If plastics are going to be in circulation, the best case scenario is that they are recycled into other usable materials. 
• Reuse. Notice you’ve been collecting a lot of plastic bags lately? Reuse them. Plastic bags can be used throughout the house as small bin liners, to hold other recycling, or on your next grocery trip.
• Use reusable bags. What better way to reduce your plastic bag use than to stop using them? There are so many alternatives to plastic bags that can be used over and over again. Cotton, durable plastic, jute—Just to name a few. There are a variety of options out there for each individual. Find the right reusable bag for you and carry it with you, leave it in your car, or bring it to work, so that it’s on-hand when you need it.
• Bring your own produce bags. Even when you bring your own bag to the grocery store, it seems nearly impossible to avoid plastic bags in the produce aisle. One of the best ways to stop using plastic bags entirely in the grocery store is to bring your own reusable produce bags. 
• Stop using plastic bin liners. A common household offender that often gets overlooked is the garbage bin liner. Each plastic bin liner goes directly into the landfill once it leaves your doorstep. An easy way to avoid this is to buy biodegradable bin liners, or opt to use newspaper to line your bins.
• Educate and act! Look into recycling options in your community. Seek alternatives to other plastic items you use in your household. Ask your local grocer or shopping mall to start carrying more eco-friendly alternatives. Petition your local congressman to ban, tax, or create deposit schemes for your city or state. Tell a friend.

Plastic pollution is becoming more and more of an overwhelming problem, and it’s become obvious that action must be taken to solve it. Single-use plastics, like plastic bags, are some of the most prevalent and preventable pollutants, making them priority number one for individuals, businesses, and governments all over the world. 

Reducing your plastic bag use is not only manageable, but also one of the most perceptible changes you can make to your lifestyle, making it an easy target for change. Try some, or all, of these tips and challenge yourself to stop using plastic bags altogether. As you begin to do so, see how quickly your kitchen cabinet becomes uncluttered, your trash less full, and your footprint smaller.

It seems we are hearing about plastic a lot these days. The environmental impact of disposable bags, the nearly 20 billion pounds of plastic entering our oceans each year, the rising amount of sea life whose lives are endangered from plastic – The list goes on and on.

But just how pervasive is this plastic problem? New research has found evidence of plastic pollution ranging from the deepest depths of the ocean all the way up to the remote Swiss mountains. Our plastic problem is, in all actuality, all around us.

Scientists have begun extensive research into plastics and their effect on the environment, and their research is becoming truly alarming. The most recent findings take us all the way down to the Mariana Trench, up through Point Nemo, the most remote point in the ocean, to the nature reserves of the Swiss mountains.

Over 10,000 m below sea level lies the Mariana Trench. Located just east of the Philippines, the Mariana Trench is the deepest section of the world’s oceans. A study published by the Global Oceanographic Data Center (GODAC) in Japan in April 2018 documented single-use plastic debris found in the trench as early as 1998.

The study also found that 92% of the plastic analyzed at depths greater than 6,000 m were made up of single-use plastics. Scientists claim to have found more chemical pollutants in parts of the Mariana Trench than some of China’s most polluted waterways, and as much as 17% of the debris was found with at least one organism – entangled, covered, or “attached”.

Another remote ocean area, Point Nemo, was discovered to have up to 27 microplastic particles per cubic meter. Point Nemo is nearly 1,700 miles from an inhabited island and deemed the “oceanic pole of inaccessibility”, yet plastics have seemed to find their way there.

And lastly, a study conducted by the Geographic Society of the University of Bern found that even in the most remote, unsettled mountain areas of Switzerland, whose recycling rate is nearly 100%, microplastics still pervade. Of the 29 floodplains studied, 90% of the soils contained microplastics, evidence of wind transport of plastic particles.

Evidence from this study has spurred even further research into microplastics, with increased concern with traces of plastic in soil, domestic livestock, and even agriculture.

It is becoming more and more apparent through studies such as these that action against plastic needs to happen immediately.

The extent of our plastic problem continues to expand and public concern is continuing to rise. There are many plastic alternatives out there to substitute for single-use plastics and regulation is continuing to expand, including the EU and the U.K.’s strategies to cut plastic pollution.

However, much and more needs to be done if we are to truly remedy the permeating and ubiquitous presence of plastic around the world.

In the late 1980’s, large islands of floating trash seen by satellites were reported in the global news. Swirls of trash concentrated by the movement of the oceans’ gyres gave another hint to the then naïve public that our planet is finite after all. The world population—as of early 2018—is estimated at 7.6 billion; all contributing waste and debris to some extent.

Only one hundred years ago—when the world population had not yet reached 2 billion—trash was at worst unsightly or smelly but it was relatively harmless. Back then it eventually degraded and was not ultimately toxic to life.

In the early 1900’s, the first synthetic plastics were invented, giving way to the “plastic revolution”. As we found more uses for these new lightweight, cheap, and strong wonder materials, plastics rapidly found their way into most industries.

Today, plastics are a part of our daily lives and their prevalence can be a little overwhelming, especially when we are not welcoming them.

Our natural areas, waterways, and oceans have been polluted by plastic waste at an alarming level. It is at such an extent that gyres of plastic can be seen from space! It’s estimated that every square mile of ocean contains around 46,000 pieces of floating plastic.

While plastic debris is an eyesore and a threat to wildlife, the majority of the trash in the ocean is not even visible and poses its own threats.

A large portion of the plastic in the oceans is microplastics, composed of synthetic plastic particles so small they can barely be seen with the naked eye. The minute debris is so small and often suspended under the surface, making it invisible to satellites or even from the deck of a passing ship.

Microplastic pollution comes from countless sources, most prominently from cosmetic and household products, synthetic clothing fibers and industrial abrasives. Microplastics also result when larger pieces of plastic eventually break apart—not degrade, but break into smaller and smaller pieces.

Thin, single use plastics like disposable bags are one of the biggest offenders finding their way into our oceans.

Most plastics, when hit with UV radiation from the sun, begin to break down and gradually become microplastics over time.

A significant enough amount of microplastics now exist in marine environments to be detected in the bodies of fish sampled from different parts of the ocean. Fish and other marine creatures consume the microplastics, concentrating them in their bodies up the food chain. Humans included! People have tested positive as well for microplastics in their bodies.

Why does this matter?

Plastics are created from petroleum—hydrocarbons that when concentrated in the body are toxic. The liver and digestive system struggle and depending on the type and concentration of the synthetic particles many are known carcinogens. Synthetic substances, when regularly consumed, potentially contribute to disease due to a toxic cellular environment. The introduction of synthetic molecules into the Earth’s environment has created a toxic soup in the air, water and soil of the planet. The microplastic issue is just one aspect of the global pollution problem caused by humans! Life in many ways is now marinating in toxins.

What can I do about microplastics?

Avoid products that include plastics, especially microplastic particles. Most common brands of face scrubs, such as Neutregena and other Johnson & Johnson products, contain tiny plastic beads acting as abrasives. Skip those types of products, read the ingredients and avoid chemicals like Polyethylene (PE). This will help to reduce the amount of plastics being flushed through water treatment facilities which eventually end up in our water systems and potentially in wildlife.

Purchase natural fibers derived from plants when possible (e.g. cotton, bamboo or hemp).

Remember to bring—and use—reusable grocery bags. If you don’t have a good alternative to plastic bags, you can reduce your impact by reusing your “single use” plastic as many times as possible. Even using plastic bags as trash can liners is a valid way to reuse them and slightly reduce your environmental impact.

When purchasing anything, choose merchandise with minimal packaging and with the least amount of plastics as possible. Remember that you’re not only reducing your use of plastic by being selective but you’re also voting with your wallet – telling brands that excessively use plastic that you’re going to find an alternative.

All of our individual actions add up over time. Don’t forget that your daily actions DO make a difference!

It has become common practice around the world to use disposable plastic bags to assist us in our every day lives. Out of mere convenience and utility, the plastic bag has become a go-to resource for in-store purchases, big or small.

However, in light of current of research pointing to the environmental impacts of plastic bags, many cities, states, and countries have sought to change this through regulation and legislation.

Impact of Plastic Bags on The Environment

According to the Earth Policy Institute, 1 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide each year. For every 100 billion plastic bags being made, 12 million barrels of crude oil are being allocated to their production. Equivocally, a car could drive for one mile on the energy required to produce 12 plastic bags.

And most of these are not being recycled. Instead, they are ending up in lakes and oceans, on beaches, in landfills, and even in our own food chain. This is because rather than breaking down over time, they are simply breaking into smaller and smaller pieces.

Legislation on Plastic Bags Around the World

Due to the mounting environmental concerns, legislation is being passed across the globe to mitigate the manufacture and use of disposable plastic bags. The first plastic bag law went into effect in Denmark in 1993, which implemented a tax on the use of plastic bags. Ireland introduced the Bag Tax in 2002, reducing plastic bag use by 90 percent.

Bangladesh became the first country to outright ban thin plastic bags in 2002 after two major floods in 1989 and 1998, which were magnified due to plastic bag waste blocking drains and sewers.

China began enforcing plastic bag bans and regulations in 2008, just before hosting the 2008 Summer Olympics. This eventually caused their largest plastic bag factory to shut down.

Other countries that have enacted regulations on plastic bags include Kenya, the Phillippines, Australia, Argentina, Brazil, and more.

Legislation on Plastic Bags in the U.S.

As of 2016, legislation regarding plastic bag bans spanned 23 states and included 77 bills. Notable city-wide bans are now enforced in Austin, Chicago, Seattle, and Cambridge, Massachusetts.

In 2014, California became the first U.S. state to ban disposable plastic bags statewide. Since then, a de facto statewide ban on plastic bags has been enforced in Hawaii, and the District of Columbia has passed a law banning the distribution of disposable, non-recyclable plastic bags.

However, many states in the U.S. have passed legislation prohibiting regulations on disposable plastic bags. Preemptive legislation that prevents cities, towns, or counties from regulating the sale and distribution of plastic bags is enforced in nine different U.S. states, including Arizona, Michigan, Florida, and Wisconsin.

What you can do about plastic bags…

The ban on disposable plastic bag use is gaining momentum and there are many ways you can contribute to this movement.

The most effective way to impose change is by writing your state representative. It is the job of your legislators to pass laws based on the values of their constituents. Voice your opposition to disposable plastic bags directly to those who can enact change.

In addition to directly contacting your representative, you can also make your voice heard through one of the many campaigns started to ban plastic bags, such as Greenpeace or Clean Up (The Project).

Sometimes the politics behind such a significant change can seem daunting. If you’re looking to promote change on a more local level, contact your local grocer to express your concern.

And finally, bring your own bag! By bringing your own bag to the store with you, you are easily able to say “No, thank you,” to plastic disposable bags when offered. Just because they are not legally banned in your city or state, doesn’t mean you have to use them.