Plastic-free world - a false narrative

 

Let me start by giving a few facts based on research studies. These studies have already shown us that the damage to the environment has already been made and Plastic has become a part of our life.

1) Hyemi Lee, Alexander Kunz and other researchers from Taiwan have found that Micro plastics are contaminating table salt which is used in cooking. They found that 94% of salt products tested worldwide contained plastic particles, with 3 out of 27 to be of polymer types. The most commonly detected plastic was PET (Polyethylene) Terephthalate). It was 50% of the total plastic consumption.

To make matters worse, recent studies have shown that tiny plastic particles were found in human blood. Yes, you read that right. PLASTIC HAS BEEN FOUND IN HUMAN BLOOD!

Amsterdam University Researchers are of the view that these pollutants are present in the environment and also in the food chain. Micro-plastics are likely to be absorbed or inhaled from the environment and this seems to have reached an alarming amount in the human bloodstream.

Humans are in close contact with plastic, such as, use of personal care products, dental fixtures, facial implants, tattoo inks, just to name a few.

2) We all enjoy a drink in a tetra pack thinking that it is safe to use and eco friendly. But this may be a myth! A tetra pack is made up of 6 layers, 4 out of these are made up of plastic! This means that even a tetra pack, in which we enjoy a drink, cannot be without plastic.

Further, the products used in our daily life, from tooth. brush and toothpaste to furniture, electronics equipment, all have varying amount of plastic mixed in them.

We are so much dependent on plastics these days that it cannot be easily separated from our lives permanently.

3) M third point is that even if we reduce the use of plastics, it would hardly make any difference! The reason is growing population. More population means more demand, therefore more supply. We buy plastics with the products, throw the plastic away and harm the nature.

Also, numerous products are being launched every day. They are either made of plastics or packaged in plastics containers.

So, whatever product from whichever company we buy, no matter how organic or eco-friendly it claims to be, Plastic would have a role to play.

Let us take an example. We all have heard of the company Mama Earth. The company claims that its products are 100% organic, which is good. But Mama Earth isn't focusing on the packaging of its products. They are all packaged in single-use plastics Even if they are making organic products, it would still harm the environment, because they unintentionally.

4) My fourth point is about excessive consumerism. Consumers may feel good that they are not buying plastic bags, but they may promote plastic in some other way.

Researchers in psychology have observed that people often harm the environment when they try to save the planet. For example, they may buy more of a product just because it is labelled eco-friendly.

This is related to the concept of Compensatory Behaviour. People may feel that just because they walked instead of driving to the store, they deserve an extra piece of clothing. We should be aware of what we want and what we need.

The point here is that reducing plastic bag use might grant people mental license to take other actions which are detrimental to the environment.

DISCLAIMER: 

The views expressed in the Article above are Saimaa Malla  personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article. The article belongs to its respective owner or owners and this site does not claim any right over it. Copyright Disclaimer under section 107 of the Copyright Act of 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, education, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing."

Courtesy:  Saimaa Malla  and  Koshur Samachar 2022, April