A WORLD OF PLASTIC.
by john bauer, co-founder – The Foodery
July 9th, 2012
Spend a couple minutes and look around. Plastic is everywhere. From glass jars to car parts, this petroleum product has replaced many substances for its versatile uses, light weight and durability. During the 1980’s, plastic was no longer just an industrial material. We started making plastic for fast one-time use. The “throw-away” lifestyle was born and the waste of plastic has grown to levels no one 30 years ago could have guessed. This convenient plastic lifestyle we have globally become accustomed to carries with it a price. Now more than ever, we must become aware of plastic in our planet while reducing and reusing the plastic in our world. People 20 years old and younger have grown up recycling. It’s routine to their daily lives. But if the plastic you consume everyday never quite seems to make it to the proper recycle bin, these facts might scare you into remembering. Consider this:
Plastic is a petroleum product (a non-renewable resource)
The first plastic was produced 144 years ago. That plastic still exists today.
The world produces 300 million tons of plastic every year
The world disposes 1 million plastic bags ever 90 seconds
7 million tons of plastic becomes oceanic pollution each year
Harmful chemicals leach from certain plastics and contaminate our environment and our food supply
The long-term health consequences of plastic are being studied. Current research by the FDA and the National Toxicology Program indicates that chemicals like phthalates and Bisphenol-A (chemicals that make plastic hard and soft) cause hormonal problems and disrupt the endocrine systems in humans and animals. Studies show that BPA can effect liver enzymes and cause sexual dysfunction in fetuses. While health dangers continue to surface, the environmental impacts are plain as day. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is a vortex of plastic trash swirling in the North Pacific. Different seasonal currents create gyres that keep the lightweight plastic concentrated in this area while over time, the waste breaks down and makes its way to the ocean bottom and shores lines. Over years, plastic trash becomes tiny pieces where in concentrated areas, is more readily available than phytoplankton for small sea life to consume. Sea life near the garbage patch mistake the bright colors of plastics for phytoplankton and die with stomachs full of tiny plastic particles, bottle caps and cigarette lighters.
When it comes to national defense, countries are more than conscious about oceanic boundaries. But when it comes to cleaning up the ocean’s pollution, 70% of the planet is treated as unclaimed territory. Governments have not assumed responsibility for territories of oceanic cleanup. But it’s not all gloom and doom. Companies have surfaced to make plastic reusable. After all, plastic is a petroleum product and can be converted into energy. Watch this 10-minute presentation from Michael Biddle, the founder of MBA Polymers.
Entrepreneurs have begun creating sustainable market-based solutions for the future need to turn old plastic back into new products. While these solutions are being created, what steps can we do as individuals to make an instant impact on the over-consumption of non-renewable resources? Here is a list of things you can do today to decrease your plastic impact on the environment:
Keep cloth and canvas grocery bags in your trunk so you have them for every shopping excursion – not just the grocery store.
Don’t stop with reusable grocery bags. Eliminate your use of the ultra-thin plastic produce bags at the grocery store. Buy a few reusable cotton mesh produce sacks at Ecobags.com. Stow them in your reusable shopping bags (Tip #1 above).
3 million pounds of plastic are produced each year for water bottles. Buy a water purifier.
Buy recycled or compostable trash can liners. If you’re physically capable, eliminate bags and haul your personal trash can out to the dumpster to empty it.
Always opt for no napkins, bags, throw-away utensils and other unnecessary items that businesses readily give you by default.
Pounds of paper and plastic tossed in your front yard every morning just isn’t cool anymore. Cancel your newspaper subscription and get the news on your laptop. Find free news program apps on your smartphone and get your news while you drive.
Start thinking “no plastic” when you’re at the store. It’s amazing what you can buy in glass or cardboard for a similar price when you look for it.
Spread the news – read more into the topics contained in this blog. Then without being pushy, tell others about the simple and meaningful impacts than can be made by being more conscious.
Up your “Plastic I.Q.”. Start looking at the bottoms of containers and remember which ones are recyclable (1,2,4 and 5).
Like Mr. Biddle states in the video presentation above, we must stop thinking of ourselves as consumers. Instead every individual needs to consider themselves as a resource user. Own this new identity and become aware of the resources you consume. ~F
Tips #2 and 3 were used from Carey Okrand in her blog “Reduce Your Use of Plastic, Plastic, Plastic”.
©2012 The Foodery. The Foodery crafts meals from nearby organic ingredients. Although the company uses #5 polypropylene recyclable food containers, The Foodery has a goal of eliminating plastic containers from its meal delivery service as soon as it is feasible.