Plastics are almost basically everywhere! From packaging to soda bottles, clothing, and everything in between, it is no wonder that this widely used item has many negative adverse impacts on the environment.
In this post, we discuss some of the impacts of plastic. And the environmental initiatives to take to help save the planet.
Environmental impacts of plastic
- Kills ocean life
If you are environmentally conscious, you probably have heard concerning the mass amounts of plastic polluting waterways. When such waste makes its way into these waterways, that affects all kinds of ocean life, choking and tangling animals, resulting in death.
Besides killing them, plastic debris also destroys animal habitats, making them inhabitable. When the waterway’s ecosystem dies, that results in human catastrophes, including starvation, land erosion, overheating, and so on.
- Produce chemical pollution
Plastic contributes significantly to environmental pollution. Since these get made from gas and oil, mining these non-renewable resources causes the production of harmful chemicals such as toluene, xylene, benzene, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ethylbenzene, and so on. When people try to incinerate plastics, toxic chemicals get released into the air, which is harmful to humans and the environment.
What we can do to save the planet
To avoid harming the environment, you can try staying green while working from home and there-after. And that includes not having to use your car to go to work or run errands. By doing this, you positively impact the ozone layer and lower the carbon footprint.
Also, you may consider recycling waste by using reusable produce bags and freshie food saver bags. These bags get manufactured with renewable energy and double stitched to ensure the safety of your products. And that you do not have to purchase the bag every other time due to wear and tear.
These bags are also fully biodegradable, and after use, you can toss them right into the compost pile without worrying about harming the environment. With the sturdy construction of these products, it means that you will not lose your contents or have the rebuy these bags over and over.
In an attempt to reduce waste, most countries have now implemented the single-use plastic ban. And this has contributed significantly to saving the environment. That has allowed manufacturers such as life unplastic to think of better and sustainable alternatives to plastic bags.
Since plastic bags take many years to decompose, banning their supply means that you won’t have to deal with non recyclable waste.
Finally, most people have turned to green thumbs. And this means that they are now growing their vegetables and other plants from home. That has a positive impact on the environment and is also a healthy way to get food. As a plus, you get to save on money that you would have otherwise used at a shopping store.
By having organic meals, it means that you stay a lot healthier. As mentioned above, you also save significantly from your monthly grocery bill. Home gardens also help to reduce noise and air pollution. And this minimizes your carbon print and offers a habitat for insects and other animals.