You need to know the facts. Understanding the impact of plastic pollution can be overwhelming. Small changes can make a huge impact. From the environment in which we live to the impact on wildlife and even our health. Switching from plastic to eternally enduring materials like silver can help make a positive change for the better. Adopting an eco-friendly way of living is the future.
Top Facts About Plastic Pollution
According to “Science Behind The Film Document” produced by Plastic Ocean, a staggering 350 million tonnes of plastic are produced every single year.
To put that into another perspective, the weight of plastic we produce is heavier than the weight of humanity itself. The weight of human beings is estimated by Live Science to be 316 million tonnes, compared plastic which is currently tipping the scales at 350 million tonnes. Over 8 million of that waste enters our oceans every year, making up over 75% of all marine litter.
It’s not just the plastic waste itself which is the problem. Once in the ocean, plastic breaks up into tiny fragments. Known as microplastics they get eaten by commercial fish and subsequently consumed by humans. So we are in fact unwittingly eating the plastic we throw away as rubbish.
Pollution – The Statistics You Need To Know About
Did you know that 40% of all plastic produced today is used for packaging alone according to www.wrap.org.uk
Just as little as 9% of that plastic has been recycled according to National Geographic.
An estimated 3 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions annually will be released due to the production of plastic by 2050 according to the Guardian newspaper.
Earthday discovered that 93% of all the bottled water we consume contains microplastic contamination.
Single-Use Plastic – The Dangers
Almost half of all single-use plastic items get disposed of and according to the National Geographic, only 9% of that plastic waste can be physically recycled. While we still don’t fully understand exactly how long it could take for our plastic to be broken down, the estimates are thousands, rather than hundreds of years for it to denigrate.
That’s genuinely heartbreaking and has to stop.
It’s not just that plastic waste takes so long to disintegrate either that’s a concern. Plastic attracts other toxic chemicals from within the environment. Acting like a sink and transporting them for long distances throughout our oceans.
There’s evidence to support that plastics act as endocrine disruptors. By that, we mean that they are linked to serious health problems including birth defects, development problems in children as well as cancer.
So what Exactly is Plastic?
Plastic is everywhere. It’s all around us and undeniably has its uses. It’s what happens to it after it’s discarded that really promotes the problems. We already talked about the colossal weight of plastic but let’s think about that another way. It accounts to a mindblowing five trillion pieces a year according to latest research released by the BBC.
It’s in everything from clothing to crisp packets, drinking bottles to cutlery. Wouldn’t you prefer to use eternal, every day living products that we’re better for the environment and your health too?
Plastic comes in all kinds of shapes, sizes and even colours and is a man-made product that can be produced from other natural materials such as oil and coil. It’s these manufacturing processes which in turn have a part to play in producing an estimated 3 billion tonnes of CO2 emissions every year.
Every which way you begin to look at it, plastic is creating a problem not just now but for generations to come.
Plastic is creating a Legacy
It’s a legacy for sure, but not the enduring kind you want to proudly pass down through future generations of your family. Not like the Royal Touch London range of everyday treasures. You only need to look at our range of exquisite sterling silver cutlery, resplendent with motifs, to appreciate what an enduring family heirloom and legacy should really look like.
Plastic is Relatively New
While the origins of silver date back as far as 4000 BC, plastic is relatively new by comparison. The first entirely man-made plastic material was created just 100 years ago by a Belgian chemist called Leo Baekaland. It was named Bakelite and was the foundational product for all the plastic derivatives around today.
While we’re not entirely sure when man’s relationship with silver was definitively established, archaeologists have discovered ancient silver smelting operations from thousands of years BC. Today it’s used in a wide variety of everyday objects and on account of the societal shift towards using non-single serve items and plastic-free objects, is enjoying a real renaissance.
We use plastic for pretty much anything. Just take one look around your home, office, gym or school and begin to notice just how much you’re surrounded by plastic products. From the cutlery you eat with to the cups you drink from, the games console you play on to the clothing you wear. Plastic is literally everywhere.
The Problem with Plastic
We’ve already identified many of the key problems with using plastic products and especially single-use items but the key issue is that most plastic just isn’t bio-degradable. It won’t rot like paper and food, it can’t be smelted down like silver and fashioned into something useful and timeless. Plastic pollutes. Bottom line.
According to the latest statistics, every year 100,000 animals in the sea are killed by our plastic pollution. Do you really want to have that guilt on your conscience?
Trash Islands – A Modern Reality
We’re probably all familiar with landfill sites, but how many of you have seen the astonishing pictures of floating islands of rubbish in the middle of our seas? They look like bits of land when in fact they are made up of everyday discarded plastic items like bottles, bags and fishing gear. Known as “trash islands” these are today’s new refuse sites, the most famous of which can be found in the ocean between California and Hawaii.
How can you Reduce Plastic Pollution?
There are plenty of groups and individuals promoting positive ways in which plastic pollution can be effectively tackled, including Royal Touch London who are advocates of adopting an attitude of eternal living.
- The fact that we now have to pay for plastic carrier bags in supermarkets has reduced the amount of bags used by 80%.
- Popular chains of cafes and restaurants have adopted a policy of only giving out straws when specifically requested with many having now replaced their plastic ones with paper versions.
- Everyday personal care items such as toothpaste and face scrubs are now banned from including plastic microbeads.
- Supermarkets are committed to making changes too by switching to less packaging overall or packaging that’s plastic-free and highly recyclable.
Meanwhile, the government has promised it will take active measures to cut all avoidable plastic waste within the next 25 years.
How to Adopt an Attitude of Eternal Living
Quit using plastic as quickly as possible and replace it with everyday items made out of silver and sterling silver instead. Silver handmade artisanal products have numerous healthcare as well as environmental benefits. Even if you’re not already a silver lover, just consider these key benefits below and you’ll soon be switching from plastic to silver forever.
- The antibiotic and antibacterial properties in silverware kill bacteria, fungi and algae in food by suspending the cell’s ability to form a chemical bond.
- Silver has purifying benefits and can preserve water, protecting the body from electromagnetic radiation and improving blood circulation. Why not check out our wonderful range of Sterling Silver Mugs here. Everyday treasures to be enjoyed daily and forever.
- Boosts the body’s immune system which is why silverware is recommended for serving hot food. The anti-bacterial properties of the silverware fuse with the hot food to deliver benefits to boost natural immunity.
Don’t forget to check out our exquisite range of sustainably produced everyday products. They’re perfect to set your children out on a positive journey towards eco-friendly living. Get them started today and commit to doing your part. Plastic pollution can and will be reduced if we adopt a more conscious attitude of eternal living.
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