Humans have left a significant carbon footprint on the Earth for as long as we can remember. When plastic became mainstream, however, everything changed. Since 1950, 8.3 billion tonnes of plastic have been produced, with 2 million tons of plastic generated and only 9% recycled as a habitual practice. However, when people started getting conscious about its overload, companies blamed the consumers instead of coming up with a finite and permanent solution, stating that we weren’t disposing of plastic properly in the first place. This blame game resulted in the rendezvous of various components towards mother nature that are often harmful and disadvantageous.
How it impacts our sea creatures, on the other hand, is no laughing matter. According to the UNESCO Facts and Figures on Marine Pollution, plastic from land contributed to nearly 1 million marine fatalities, including sea animals, fish, sharks, turtles, and birds. Since plastic is typically disposed of in landfills or water bodies, the majority of it enters the world's ocean through rivers, where it subsequently makes its way into the natural habitats of various marine creatures, interfering with their physical and behavioral elements.
A dead albatross containing plastic debris in its stomach was retrieved on Midway Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.
Whether we like it or not, our habits of constantly incorporating plastic usage into our daily lives, not disposing of it properly, and not making conscious choices that reduce plastic use have a significant impact on our Earth’s carbon footprint. Starting with carrying our own reusable bottle, switching to stainless steel cutlery, and using tote bags will undoubtedly aid in mother nature's recovery and rid our sea friends of unwanted visitors.
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