Say No to Plastic Bags!
It is important for people to examine how their actions are impacting the environment.
Plastic bags are literally everywhere you look. They are floating in the oceans, tangled in trees, stuck in fences and filling landfills. Every year, an estimated 100 billion plastic shopping bags are disposed of in the United States, with over 1 trillion consumed worldwide.
Check out the reasons below on why you should stop using plastic bags.
- Plastic bags are made from non-renewable resources and contribute to climate change.
Most plastic bags are made of polyethylene, a substance that is derived from crude oil refining and natural gas processing. Oil and natural gas are non-renewable fossil fuel-based resources and through their extraction and production, they emit greenhouse gases, which contribute to global climate change.
- Plastic bags never completely break down.
Each plastic bag is typically used for a total of 12 minutes before being disposed. However, a plastic bag never completely degrades in natural environments. Instead, tiny pieces break off and end up in the soil, oceans, and stomachs of wildlife.
- Plastic bags kill wildlife and marine life.
Birds, turtles, and other marine life mistake the plastic bags for food and eat them, which leads to the animal suffocating.
- Plastic bags are harmful to human health.
Pieces of plastic have been found in human feces but should not be a surprise since we eat seafood and drink tap water. Researchers estimate, “more than 50% of the world population might have microplastics in their stools.” While more research is needed, scientists believe the microplastics could stress the liver and cause toxins to enter the body.
- Plastic bags are not easy to recycle.
While plastic bags can be broken down and molded into new products, the equipment and cost associated with it are very expensive. Instead, the bags are filling up landfills and because of their light weight are picked up by the wind and carried off to other areas.
The only solution is to stop using them completely!
At the EcoFairy, our goal is to help you build a more sustainable life by offering you a line of reusable products. We offer products that last and that will help you reduce the amount of plastic you use.
More info on our website: https://www.theecofairy.com