Go Green: Single-Use Plastic Facts

Humans purchase 1,000,000 plastic bottles around the world and use up to 5 trillion single-use plastic bags every minute! Plastic waste is now so common in the natural environment; scientists have suggested it could serve as a geological indicator of the Anthropocene era (2.6 million years ago to the present).

Plastic has become a common material in modern civilization. Single-use plastics, such as plastic bottles and bags, are frequently used in everyday life. As the world continues to use disposable plastics, our ability to deal with the waste proves troublesome. While plastic has many practical uses, we have become addicted to single-use plastics, and the environmental consequences are severe. 

How Did we Get Here?

The world is recognizing that we need to find environmentally safe alternatives to our growing plastic use. Among one of the most significant contributors to plastic waste is bottled water consumption. Around the world, 1 million single-use plastic water bottles are purchased every minute! This number is expected to increase by 20% by 2021. While some of these plastic bottles are recycled, most end up in landfills, in our oceans, and along coastal shores.

While the concept of plastic is not new, the production and development of thousands of new plastics accelerated worldwide after World War II. These new plastic materials revolutionized medicine with life-saving devices, made it possible to travel in space, created lighter cars and jets, and saved countless lives thanks to the development of helmets, incubators, and equipment for clean drinking water. However, this increase in production, combined with plastics’ convenience, led to a throw-away culture that today accounts for one of the most pressing environmental issues we face as a global community.

Plastics by the numbers

• Half of all plastics ever produced have been manufactured in the last 15 years.

• Production of plastic materials has increased exponentially, from 2.3 million tons in 1950 to 448 million tons by 2015. Production is expected to double by 2050.

• Every year, about 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the oceans from coastal nations. This is equivalent to placing five bags full of trash on every foot of coastline around the world.

• Humans produce about 300 million tons of plastic waste every year. That’s equivalent to the weight of the entire human population.

Common single-use plastics

Single-use plastic products are everywhere. For many humans, they’ve become an integral part of our lives. When most of us think of single-use plastics, we think of water bottles and plastic shopping bags. However, many other single-use plastic products are contributing to the growing plastic waste concern, to include:

• Polyethylene terephthalate (PET): water bottles, dispensing containers, biscuit trays

• High—density polyethylene (HDPE): shampoo bottles, milk bottles, freezer bags, ice cream containers

• Low—density polyethylene (LDPE): bags, trays, containers, food packaging film

• Polypropylene (PP): potato chip bags, microwave dishes, ice cream tubs, bottle caps

• Polystyrene (PS): cutlery, plates, cups

• Expanded polystyrene (EPS): protective packaging, hot drink cups

What are Microplastics?

Microplastics are extremely small pieces of plastic debris in the environment resulting from the disposal and breakdown of consumer products and industrial waste. Once plastic reaches the sea, water, sunlight, wind, and wave action break down larger plastic wastes into small particles (typically less than one-fifth of an inch across). 

Most of the plastic trash in the oceans flow from land. Garbage is also carried to sea by major rivers, which work as a sort of conveyor belt, picking up more and more trash as they move downstream. Once at sea, most plastic trash remains in coastal waters. Once they reach the ocean currents, these microplastics are spread throughout the water column. They have been found in every corner of the globe, from Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world, to the Mariana Trench, the deepest trough in the ocean.

How to Reduce Your Single-use Plastic Consumption

There are many alternatives to using plastic. Given that single-use plastic bags and bottles account for most plastic waste consider carrying a reusable shopping bag and bottle for your water. Water filtration systems provide a great alternative to purchasing bottled water. 

You can also opt for plastic-free containers when you shop. Try looking for items in reusable glass or metal containers. If you must buy items in a plastic container, think ahead about how you can repurpose the container for future use (such as storing leftovers or items in your home). Additionally, when you buy in bulk, you are greatly reducing the packaging material.

At Sprudel, we’re committed to providing our clients with plastic-free drinking water solutions designed to improve water quality while simultaneously making homes and office spaces more environmentally friendly. If you’re interested in learning more about water filtration systems, contact a member of our team today. Together we can make a difference.