Over the past few years it has been growing on me, an ever increasing hatred of plastic. This may seem an unreasonable reaction to a product that is strong, lightweight and waterproof all at once, that houses my computer and stops the electricity from running out of my plugs.
O.k. I don’t hate all plastic what I actually hate is the abuse of plastic. I hate the way this incredibly versatile product is used to make stupid trashy items and the way it is manufactured into bags and bottles and wrappings for just about every product on the market
The things I hate about plastic are
The excessive amounts of plastic packaging we create
-
plastic lasts for centuries even millenia – we are making rubbish that lasts for ever.
Plastic packaging has to be specially disposed of because …
- Plastic doesnt biodegrade -
- Bury it and it will sit in landfill for centuries just filling it up.
- Burning it can release extremely toxic chemicals so has be done with care.
- Recycling is not always an option and it comes at a cost.
Not suprising then that plastic litter is visibly on the increase. From bags in trees to the very scary trash vortex, plastic pollution is a huge environmental problem.
- every year thousands of animals die from eating plastic -including dolphins, turtles and seals.
And plastic might not be even be so good for us
- Some of the chemicals used to make plastic have not actually been passed as fit for human consumption – thats the plastic we are using to wrap our food.More worrying still they appear to be mobile. Yikes
Plastic litter is a waste
-
Petrochemical based plastic is made from a non renewable resource – oil. Waste on line states “ that 4% of the world’s annual oil production is used as a feedstock for plastics production and an additional 3-4% during manufacture.”
In short, one use throw away plastic packaging is a dirty, expensive, possibly carcinogenic, profligate use of the worlds resources resulting in an overwhelming tide of permanent, non biodegradable debris.
So last year decided I would boycott bad plastic – the unecessary packaging, bags, bottles and stupid free coat hangers that snap before you get home.
Each month I veto a piece of nasty plastic and substitute a better packaged, more sustainable, biodegradable sometimes, as needs must, home made alternative
To find a whole range of plastic free products try the >>>A-Z<<< plastic free index
-
or check out the flickr group
More Photos or pictures of plastic pollution on google
YOU TUBE
on
TWITTER
-
Let’s Talk
-
Recent Comments
polythenepam on Plastic trash for concrete… polythenepam on Great pot Boat Made from Trash… on Plastic trash for concrete… How to Cut a Glass B… on Great pot
September 28, 2010 at 12:23 am
I’ve been trying the same thing! Good for you! Keep it up!
October 6, 2010 at 10:02 am
yay thanks