Once a revolutionary invention, it now fills our oceans and kills thousands of whales, birds, turtles…
Plastic was once considered a revolutionary invention, providing convenience and significant changes to human life. However, the popularity of plastic also means that it is filling our oceans and killing thousands of marine creatures. How has plastic infiltrated our lives, and can we live without it?
How Has Plastic Infiltrated Our Lives?
Since plastic emerged in the 1950s, humanity has produced approximately 6.3 billion tons of plastic. Only 9% of this has been recycled, 12% has been incinerated, and the remaining 4.9 billion tons has become plastic waste. Plastic accounts for about 10% of total global waste. If all plastic waste were gathered together, it would form a mountain larger than Mount Everest. Currently, about 90% of the waste floating on the ocean’s surface is plastic, with an average of 46,000 plastic pieces per square mile.
Plastic does not decompose like other organic materials. A plastic bag can take 700 years to begin decomposing and up to 1,000 years to completely disappear. Furthermore, producing plastic from petroleum, natural gas, and other chemicals causes severe environmental pollution. In the Los Angeles area, approximately 10 tons of plastic flow into the Pacific Ocean every day.
Plastic is one of the main causes of environmental pollution. Without plastic, the amount of waste would significantly decrease, especially the non-biodegradable plastic waste. The oceans would be cleaner, and marine life would no longer face the risk of entanglement or ingestion of plastic pieces.
Plastic and the Environment
The presence of plastic in the environment not only causes pollution but also seriously threatens marine ecosystems. Thousands of marine species become entangled in or ingest plastic, leading to death or significant population declines. If we could eliminate plastic from our lives, hundreds of marine species would be free from the risks of entanglement and plastic ingestion.
But it’s not just marine animals; humans also face risks from plastic. Some compounds in plastic, such as BPA, can cause serious health problems, including endocrine disorders and other diseases.
Many studies show that chemicals in plastic can cause various diseases in humans, from respiratory illnesses to cancers. Without plastic, we could minimize health risks related to exposure to these chemicals.
What Would Life Be Like Without Plastic?
If we imagine a life without plastic, everything would be very different. Even if you refuse to use plastic food containers or bags while shopping, plastic is still everywhere. Soda cans are lined with plastic to prevent the liquid from corroding, and paper cups have a thin layer of plastic to keep the liquid from spilling out. Without plastic, a paper cup would disintegrate within three days. Tea bags, which are sealed with polyethylene, would also not exist.
Food not wrapped in plastic would spoil quickly, requiring food production to be local and seasonal. Plastic plays an important role in food preservation, helping to keep items fresh longer and reduce food waste. Without plastic, organic food waste would become a larger environmental issue.
Without plastic, the fashion industry would also be affected. Our clothing would be limited to natural fibers. Fleece jackets, polyester socks, and acrylic sweaters would disappear. Additionally, plastic plays a crucial role in the technology and medical industries. Modern electronic devices, from smartphones to computers, use plastic as an insulating material. Without plastic, advancements in electronics would not have occurred, pushing us back to an era of using non-durable and hazardous rubber.
Many industries today rely heavily on plastic, such as packaging, electronics, and construction. Without plastic, these industries would need to seek alternative materials, which could lead to increased production costs and slow down development.
Solutions to the Plastic Pollution Problem
While we cannot completely eliminate plastic from our lives, we can find ways to reduce our reliance on it. Recycling plastic, limiting the use of single-use plastics, and seeking alternative materials can help reduce plastic pollution. A unique solution currently being researched is using wax worms to digest plastic. Wax worms have the ability to break down plastic into biodegradable materials, opening up a new avenue for plastic waste management.
Plastic has become an indispensable part of modern life, but the price we pay for that convenience is environmental and ecological destruction. To protect the planet, we need to change our approach to plastic, seek more sustainable solutions, and minimize plastic use in our daily lives. This will not only help protect the environment but also allow us to live more harmoniously with nature, creating a sustainable future for generations to come.
