Can we be Green from Cradle to Grave with Our Constant Companion?

From Death By Plastic you know that plastics are a major environmental problem.  Much of the problem is caused by littering, and dumping, but also by some plastics not being able to be recycled, as well as going AWOL on the way to recycling plants and landfills.

Generally, when we think ‘plastic’ and ‘waste’ we think of plastic shopping bags and plastic bottles for water and soda / soft drinks.  Indeed, both of these items are major culprits.

Plastic however is completely ubiquitous in our daily lives.  We are scarcely out of the womb when we meet our first plastic – hospital wristband, aspirator, thermometer, disposable nappy. We chew on plastic teething rings and play with plastic toys.  School lunches provided by a caring mom may be wrapped in plastic.  Vaccination / inoculation injections are provided via a plastic syringe, wrapped in plastic to prevent contamination.

Our homes are full of plastic – desktop computers, hair-dryers, coffee makers, even the smoke detector.  Kitchenware, storage, some chairs and tables, your alarm clock, mobile phone, DVD player, mats, sofas, condiment containers, chopping boards, broom handles, buckets, basins,  storage crates, hair clips – not to mention toothbrushes, beauty products and containers for shampoo, conditioner, liquid soap, washing powder and deodorant.

Plastic filesThink about your car – how much plastic is inside it? Consider fast food outlets – plastic cups, cutlery, plastic ‘plates’,   What about the construction of your home?  Windows, doors, floors, gutters, plumbing, insulation……

Businesses use photocopiers and printers made from plastic, plastic files and folders, plastic staplers, desks and chairs made partly from plastic, filing trays, whiteboards…….

Look around you. Start counting things made of plastic – don’t forget your buttons, the stretch in your underwear, the little caps on the end of your shoelaces.

The stuff is absolutely everywhere.

We would be hard-pressed to do without plastic.

Awareness is the first step to reducing our plastic use.  It’s probably impossible in today’s world to eliminate it – and it does bring great convenience – but cutting back is definitely worthwhile.

Related:  a video with an interesting take on plastic usage.   5 myths debunked about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch

A fun video with actor Jeremy Irons

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Tags

eco lifestyle, environment, environment friendly, green, plastic, plastic waste, protect the planet, recycle, recycling, reduce


  • I never really thought about how much plastic there is out there in the world.
    Scott Sylvan Bell
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  • Wow! You’re absolutely right. I had not considered how many obvious things right in front of us are made out of plastic. It is our constant companion…

    Michael

  • There is a lot of plastic out there. Seems like there’d need to be an inexpensive alternative to what seems to be a very effective thing to move away from plastic. Curious.

  • I wonder what these things were made of before plastic? When did plastic become mainstream? When was it invented?

    Las Vegas Air Conditioning Repair

  • Is that why they call plastic space-age, because it does such a good job of messing up the planet?

  • Yes, plastic is everywhere … EVERYWHERE! And your article even brought to light more things that are plastic that we just don’t even pay attention to. I am looking forward to your next article regarding plastic usage.

    Best, Neil

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