How is throwing away plastics not a good idea for future generations?

Author: NaturTrust Time: 10-02-2021 13:00:55

Imagine that you are sitting in your favorite seafood cafe`, relishing a plate of fresh-off the ocean seafood. Just as you are about to take another bite, a chewy plastic bit churns around in your mouth… Seems a bit far fetched? Well if the current plastic dumping scenario is anything to go by, it could very well be a reality! Ladies and gentlemen, this blog aims to serve as a wake-up call for all those plastic packed FMCG lovers, which is basically all of us. It is the time to act, the time to pause and think of new, reliable alternatives to petroleum-based plastics that are slowly but surely taking over our landscapes and seascape.

Ever heard of bio-magnification? Well if you haven’t, we are going to help you understand its serious implications on the future generations who are yet to see the face of this beautiful planet. So basically the food chain goes like this, the smaller fish eat the phytoplankton and the larger fish devour the smaller ones. This continues till the top of the trophic level. Plastics much as the erstwhile used DDT can accumulate over the various trophic levels and magnify in quantity as they move up the chain. So you can well imagine the disaster that this bio-magnification of plastic spells for the future generation. As per the findings of the research, by the year 2050, there is going to be as much plastic in the sea as there are fish. Wanna go scrimping for plastic instead of fish anyone?

Sounds scary, well indeed this Frankenstein creation refuses to abate if proper steps for are not taken. So if you are a grocery shopping lover switch to biodegradable bags instead of plastic ones, if you love to read your magazines fresh off the stands choose ones without a plastic wrapper. These small and seemingly insignificant steps will pave the way to a greener, plastic-free ocean bed tomorrow. If you love your kids and your grandkids in the offing, you would surely pay heed.

The need of the hour is to understand the sustainability offered by compostable plastic products. These biodegradable plastic products are different from the traditionally used plastic products that aren’t degradable and harm the oceans and land of our beautiful planet. The acidification and plastification of our “blue lungs” that is our oceans can be abated by switching over to compostable plastic products. So whether you run a hotel or in the healthcare industry, try choosing biodegradable and compostable bags, tableware, cutlery, and gloves, etc. These seemingly insignificant steps can make a world of difference when it comes to waste reduction in the long run. Imagine not worrying about the effect of colluded plastic film packaging of your last purchase on the environment! Because it would get degraded in the compost pit instead of piling up in the landfill pits for years to come. Now that would be seriously cool! Shop smart people!

Taken a walk down the supermarket aisle lately? You would have come across water bottles or baby feeders marked BPA-free. Now, what in the sweet Lord’s name does that mean? These products are made without Bisphenol A an estrogen imitator that plays havoc with our systems. However, are these products entirely safe? The jury is very well divided in their opinion. These products may not be entirely safe. The commonly used BPA replacements- BPS, BPF, BPAF, and diphenyl sulphone- can interfere with the most initial steps of the making of eggs and sperms. The very basis of life itself explains the threat it poses for the generations to come.

Research has found that BPA and its alternatives can interfere with the process of meiosis after fertilization, messing up the genetic makeup of the generations to come. These endocrine disruptors can literally change the face of the future generations who are yet to walk this planet. Got a bit of goosebump? Well, we surely did! It is indeed a perilous situation that we are facing and need to join hands in our endeavor to sort out the mess we have created before it wreaks havoc on the generations to come. Switch to compostable products like biodegradable bags and compostable tableware that promise a greener, and cleaner future for the generations to come.

 

2 replies on “How is throwing away plastics not a good idea for future generations?”

Love the article as someone in the industry , it’s a hard sell in the UK and even convincing the UK Government that making something from plants is better for the planet than making it from petrol is often met with ” we don’t have the infrastructure” as a get out of jail free.
We are getting their but in some countries it is still sadly one step forward and four back.
We personally are looking forward to a world where barrier solutions such as reusable cups aren’t used as the answer and the common sense approach of , make it from plants is the norm.
The UK still has a long way to go but progress in other countries is great to see.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *