Alarming 3 Reasons To Quit Using Plastic Right Now

Do you remember the last time you were out eating some snacks and you were not eating using any plastic be it a container, spoon, or straw? If your answer is no, then you must quit using plastic.

That’s how addicted to plastic we are. If not a plastic container, you must have used a water or cold drink PET bottle or plastic cutlery.

The data from the UN has revealed that over one million plastic drinking bottles are sold every minute and nearly 5 trillion single-use plastic bags are used across the planet each year.

While plastic may have many valuable uses, the worrisome fact is that of all the plastic that is produced, about half is used only once. The situation is so bad that the amount of plastic that is in use has started to adversely affect the environment, animals, and humans.

How Did We Got Here?

If you look at the history of how plastic usage became so common, you will find that it is only because of the negligence of humans. Yes, humans are the only reason that we are at the cusp of environmental and health disasters.

According to UN data, up to the 1970s, a very small amount of plastic was used and therefore, it could easily be managed. However, two decades later the production increased almost threefold.

The surge in the use of plastic was continuous and as a result, today, we produce nearly 300 million tonnes of plastic every year. That means we generate as much plastic waste each year as the weight of the entire human population. It is a negative and very worrying trend.

This fact alone could be your reason to quit using plastic products for good.

The Single-Use Plastic Products

The biggest culprit behind this problem is single-use plastic products. As the name suggests, single-use plastic products are the ones that are used just once and then thrown away.

They become a part of enormous amounts of plastic garbage. According to the researchers, 60% of the entire plastic produced since the 1950s has ended up in a natural environment or a landfill.

These single-use plastic products are everywhere.

That polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles, high-density polyethylene (HDPE) containers, potato chip bags, polyethylene carry bags, plastic cutlery, hot drink cups, protective packaging made from polystyrene, etc. are a few examples of what is contributing to plastic pollution that us putting everything on the planet in jeopardy.

You should stop using these single-use plastic products and instead switch over to eco-friendly products.

How Plastic Pollution Affects Your Health?

You are definitely quit using plastic after you realise its effect on your health.

Eating and drinking from plastic containers are linked to major health concerns.

Also, the plasticizers used in toys, flooring, etc. are very dangerous. Flame retardants used in electronic equipment are another major cause of concern.

Here’s how using plastic can adversely affect your human health, to motivate you to quit using plastic.

#1. Bisphenol-A

It is found in plastic containers and cutlery is known to disrupt the endocrine system, which can lead to major health concerns. The endocrine system is responsible for the maintenance of metabolism, heart rate, digestion, sexual function, temperature, mood, and much more.

Therefore, if the endocrine system is messed up, your whole body gets messed up. This can lead to major endocrine disorders like obesity, thyroid cancer, low testosterone, osteoporosis, hypertension, diabetes, etc.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has found concrete evidence of the effects of these chemicals in plastic on various bodily functions like metabolism, brain function, thyroid function, and insulin and glucose homeostasis.

If this health hazard doesn’t encourage you to quit using plastic, then read on for more.

#2. Phthalates

Phthalates are plastic softeners, which used during the manufacturing and recycling process of plastics. It has been linked with reproductive problems, developmental disorders, toxicity, and adverse effects on the pulmonary system.

This must-have encouraged to quit using plastics. With these adverse effects on health, you must make a decision to quit using plastic.

#3. Plastic Pollution

Plastic pollution on the land and the oceans has been linked to many environmental problems. The plastic is present on ocean surfaces, deep down on ocean beds, and in the water in form of microplastics. Many marine animals are consuming the microplastics by mistaking them for food. And that way plastics have also entered our food chain.

Plastic pollution has also been linked to major health concerns in the marine ecosystem such as disturbing oxygen production, nutrient cycles, and carbon capture.

At this rate of increasing plastic pollution, it is estimated that the oceans will soon have more mass of plastic than that of fish by 2050. The only way to slow down this maniac is to quit using plastic.

What Should You Do?

The simple as repeated many times above is, Quit using plastic.

You might think it easy to say quit using plastic but hard to implement in real life. You can start by stopping the use of single-use plastics and switching over to using more eco-friendly products in your daily routine.

Immediate and critical steps are required to be taken to curb the disasters that can result from plastic pollution.

Here are some more tips for you to help you quit using plastic material or reduce its use.

1. Ask your food supplier to pack your food in non-plastic packaging.
2. Take your own reusable shopping bags to the supermarket.
3. Refuse to take plastic cutlery and straws. Instead, use or carry your own reusable straw.
4. Carry a refillable water bottle with you and avoid buying the PET bottles.
5. Support the ban on plastic.
6. Encourage the recycling of the plastic.
7. Raise awareness about plastic pollution.

You might have realised by now why you need to quit using plastic. If you have anything to add, comment below.