Firm measures can save Earth from plastic damage

At the time, it seemed like a personal victory, being so involved with the campaign. And when a ban on 21 single-use plastic items was finally announced last year, it brought some relief. But unfortunately, the ban has been ineffective in most parts of our country as we are seeing the sale and use of all the items on the list.

This gap between a ban and its enforcement exists for several reasons: a reluctance to change because these goods create an illusion of convenience, the producers of these goods seem to have a stronghold and do not respect the requirement of the ban, and a Absence of legal framework for waste management in our country.

Civil society and civic bodies at large remain reluctant to implement the steps required to reduce, substitute, collect, recycle and sustainably dispose of plastic.

Allow me to start by sharing some shocking facts that will help us understand why it is so necessary to ‘beat plastic pollution’:

The world produces 400 million tons of plastic every year, most of which is mismanaged after use, causing untold damage to the environment and society.

About 75% of all plastic ever produced has become waste.

One million plastic bottles are bought around the world every minute, while five trillion plastic bags are used around the world every year. Overall, half of the plastics produced are designed for single use – used only once and then thrown away.

About 36% of all plastics produced are used in packaging, including single-use plastic products for food and beverage containers, of which about 85% end up in landfills or as unregulated waste.

Plastic can have a tremendous impact on biodiversity, including marine animals (mammals, fish, turtles and birds). There are studies that claim that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean.

Plastic also affects the scale of planets. The level of greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production, use and disposal of conventional fossil fuel-based plastics is projected to increase to approximately 2.1 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (GtCO2e) by 2040, or 19% of the global carbon budget. The global plastic market is estimated to be around $580 billion in 2020, while the loss of marine natural capital has been pegged at $2,500 billion per year. Plastics have very clear effects in urban flooding, aesthetic degradation, landfill leakage and clogging of drains that contribute to damage to coral reefs.

-Most plastic items never completely disappear; They just break down into smaller and smaller pieces. These microplastics can enter the human body through inhalation and absorption and can accumulate in the organs. Microplastics have been found in our lungs, liver, spleen and kidneys, a recent study found microplastics in the placenta of newborns, plastic has also been detected in breast milk. The full extent of its impact on human health is still unknown. However, there is growing evidence that chemicals associated with plastics, such as methyl mercury, plasticizers and flame retardants, can enter the body and are associated with health concerns.

For those of us concerned by these facts, it is time to spur us to action. There are many things that can and should be done. Institutions, industry, civic bodies and individuals have a role to play in reducing plastic pollution. The first step is to refuse all single-use plastics. This will ensure that we turn off the tap on items of low utility and high waste potential. The second step is to ensure expanded producer responsibility that sets targets for companies to address their plastic packaging waste – which accounts for around 59% of India’s plastic consumption – is implemented.

Scientifically managing the waste in our homes, workplaces, institutions, hospitals, universities, schools, restaurants, hotels, etc. would also be the most harmonious step. Because the best place to make a difference is within our reach. This is what gives a sense of relief to those running cleanliness drives across the country and the world. Every piece of plastic we pick up and dispose of responsibly reinforces our belief that we can and will combat this scourge.

Everyone can play a role in ensuring norms and standards are met by governments, cities, towns, panchayats, businesses and the financial sector to eliminate unnecessary plastics. They should also enact laws that encourage reduction in plastic consumption, encourage plastic reuse, invest in recycling, build partnerships to combat plastic pollution, and ensure a ban on 21 single-use plastic items. Do it.

Working to move from a linear plastic economy to a circular approach to eliminating, innovating and disseminating existing plastics is a concrete way forward but it requires our collective participation.

The good news is that countries across the world, including India, joined hands at the 2022 UN Environment Assembly and came up with a resolution to eliminate plastic pollution. In addition, more than 100 countries have adopted legislation on plastic bags, and many countries have generally implemented regulations on single-use plastics. The new rules include restrictions on the use of specific products such as straws, packaging materials such as polystyrene. Some countries have opted for taxes or waste-disposal fees on single-use plastics, extended producer responsibility requirements, recycling targets, or bans on the import of plastic waste.

But all these measures would be incomplete if ‘we’ citizens do not adopt a less resource-intensive lifestyle. We need to remind ourselves that the concept of Refuge and Reduce comes before Reuse, Recycle and Repair. And the best place to start is in our own lives. Our homes, our celebrations, our travel, our work can all be ‘single-use plastic free’ and together we can ‘beat plastic pollution’.

Dia Mirza is an actor and climate advocate.

Updated: June 04, 2023, 11:43 PM IST