Nearly every single piece of plastic bag that that had been first manufactured years ago exists even today. This might sound weird but research shows that it takes more than 300 years for a plastic bag to photo degrade. Besides, most of these bags are left to stray around without recycling them on account of the high expense involved in the recycling process. As a result, they end up in landfills where, during the course of time, they break down into tiny toxic particles that contaminate and pollute the environment.
Approximately 500,000,000,000 plastic bags are used every year, which has become a serious environmental threat. Plastic not only pollutes the environment but also leads to wildlife degeneration. Being practically weightless, plastic bags, rather polythenes, float in the air and accumulate in beaches, seas, gutters and almost everywhere. Some marine mammals end up consuming plastic that eventually lead to their death. Plastic bags which get deposited in the gutters clog up the drains and make the environment even more polluted.
As per estimates, plastic industry in the United States is worth $50 billion a year. The demand for plastic is high and plastic products like bags are widely used. They are cheap and easily available- another reason why 'the use and throw' theory rightly applies to plastic products. Figures suggest that plastic comprises 20% of the solid municipal wastes in the United States. Getting rid of plastic bags is not very easy. Just spreading awareness about the adverse effects of plastic use on the environment is not enough. People need a good alternative to plastic; something that is durable, cost effective, and, definitely, eco-friendly.
The best replacement comes in the form of reusable bags. These bags are made of non-woven polypropylene - a water repellent and reusable product. Reusable bags are eco-friendly, durable and do not cost much. Our environment is in danger and we need to make a commitment to help saving the environment from further degradation. If every individual starts using reusable bags, we can save the usage of 500,000,000,000 plastic bags a year!
Alfred Anderson has rich experience in the field of online brand marketing. His interests includes Internet marketing and research on emerging online business trends. Eco Bags |
