In the name of development and modernisation man has continued to spread his dominance by cutting trees, polluting the land, air, and water through all possible means for convenience. And Plastic one such material invented by for his convenience but extremely harmful to mother earth.
On World Environment Day, 2018, UNEP brought out an informative publication along with other partners where it said: "our planet is drowning in plastic pollution." It also stated that while plastic has many valuable uses, we have become addicted to single-use or disposable plastic despite severe environmental consequences. For instance, around the world, one million plastic drinking bottles are purchased every minute, while up to five trillion single-use plastic bags are used worldwide every year.
Recently PM Modi Ji gave a clarion call urging citizens to eliminate the use of single-use plastics from 2nd October 2019. The reason: India Inc, is one of the key users of SUP—ranging from pet bottles, tetra packs, multi-layered plastics to milk pouches, etc.
But opinion is divided on PM’s war on waste. Some say it’s all optics, lacking serious government legislation, and punitive action. But senior government officials say they are planning to crack down on items such as plastic straws, cutlery, cigarette butts, pet bottles below 200ml and also plastic bags below 50 microns.
When we first synthesised plastic polymers from crude oil residues, mankind hardly knew how dominant a part they would become of modern life. Think of it this way-its very cheap today, for us to manufacture plastic cutlery than handout wooden spoons. From the cars, we drive, and the planes we fly, to almost every product that every single human being comes in contact with, there is a bit of plastic somewhere. The reason for the widespread usage of plastic is because it is extremely durable, immune to most types of corrosion and weather conditions. Most beverages, for example, are not sold in glass bottles, but in the breakage -free plastic containers.
Now plastic has engulfed the world and has become an existential threat to most life forms. Even our oceans are full of plastic. While the problem is global, the war against plastic has to be fought locally and also at an individual level.
However, UNO and all nations must unite to prepare a “zero plastic" usage and production. Its implementation is required on a war footing by the world. Trillions of accumulated plastic waste are killing and poisoning the life cycle of flora and fauna on land and in water.
Statistics say all countries are contributing to the same. Of the 260 million tons of plastic, the world produces each year, about 10% ends up in the ocean. The top five polluters are China, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka. Top soft drink bottles polluters are HongKong, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Philippines, South Korea, India, and Bangladesh.
According to global citizen, plastic production has more than tripled since the 90s, we can all do our part to prevent further damage to our environment and our waterways from plastics. "Zero waste and Zero plastic waste” movements are springing up around the world to tackle this issue. If we each do our part now we can help stop the world’s preventable plastic problems from getting worse.
On World Environment Day, 2018, UNEP brought out an informative publication along with other partners where it said: "our planet is drowning in plastic pollution." It also stated that while plastic has many valuable uses, we have become addicted to single-use or disposable plastic despite severe environmental consequences. For instance, around the world, one million plastic drinking bottles are purchased every minute, while up to five trillion single-use plastic bags are used worldwide every year.
Recently PM Modi Ji gave a clarion call urging citizens to eliminate the use of single-use plastics from 2nd October 2019. The reason: India Inc, is one of the key users of SUP—ranging from pet bottles, tetra packs, multi-layered plastics to milk pouches, etc.
But opinion is divided on PM’s war on waste. Some say it’s all optics, lacking serious government legislation, and punitive action. But senior government officials say they are planning to crack down on items such as plastic straws, cutlery, cigarette butts, pet bottles below 200ml and also plastic bags below 50 microns.
When we first synthesised plastic polymers from crude oil residues, mankind hardly knew how dominant a part they would become of modern life. Think of it this way-its very cheap today, for us to manufacture plastic cutlery than handout wooden spoons. From the cars, we drive, and the planes we fly, to almost every product that every single human being comes in contact with, there is a bit of plastic somewhere. The reason for the widespread usage of plastic is because it is extremely durable, immune to most types of corrosion and weather conditions. Most beverages, for example, are not sold in glass bottles, but in the breakage -free plastic containers.
Now plastic has engulfed the world and has become an existential threat to most life forms. Even our oceans are full of plastic. While the problem is global, the war against plastic has to be fought locally and also at an individual level.
However, UNO and all nations must unite to prepare a “zero plastic" usage and production. Its implementation is required on a war footing by the world. Trillions of accumulated plastic waste are killing and poisoning the life cycle of flora and fauna on land and in water.
Statistics say all countries are contributing to the same. Of the 260 million tons of plastic, the world produces each year, about 10% ends up in the ocean. The top five polluters are China, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, and Sri Lanka. Top soft drink bottles polluters are HongKong, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Philippines, South Korea, India, and Bangladesh.
According to global citizen, plastic production has more than tripled since the 90s, we can all do our part to prevent further damage to our environment and our waterways from plastics. "Zero waste and Zero plastic waste” movements are springing up around the world to tackle this issue. If we each do our part now we can help stop the world’s preventable plastic problems from getting worse.
