The End of Plastic Has Officially Arrived.

[Cattledog]

t has been estimated that by 2021, humans will annually use as many as half a trillion plastic bottles. Our consumption and the production of single-use plastics is out of control, with over 8 million tons of plastic entering the world’s oceans every year. This growing problem threatens Earth’s ecosystems in a dire way, choking natural habitats and harming wildlife that come across it. However, governments and companies around the world are not standing idly by as this problem worsens.

In a recent move to curb plastic waste, the EU has launched an effort to ensure that all packaging throughout Europe is reusable or recyclable by the year 2030.

This decision comes hot on the heels of China deciding to ban the import of foreign recyclable materials. Facing the possibility that plastics could pile up as a result, EU officials are looking for ways to cut down on waste and plastic pollution overall. As part of this movement, Brussels has launched a plastics strategy that involves a €350m (£310m) investment in plastics research.

Frans Timmermans, vice-president of the Brussels commission, described the damaging effects of these plastics in an interview with The Guardian: “single-use plastics that take five seconds to produce, you use it for five minutes and it takes 500 years to break down again.”

THE END OF PLASTIC

The move to reduce single-use plastics has become a worldwide initiative. For instance, the Asian food chain Wagamama has stated that starting on Earth Day, April 22nd, they will no longer offer plastic straws. They will instead offer a biodegradable, paper alternative upon request. Additionally, the UK-based supermarket chain Iceland (not to be confused with the country) has announced that, by the end of 2023, it will either drastically reduce or completely eliminate the plastic packaging used with their brand-label products.

And in December, nearly 200 countries signed a United Nations resolution to eliminate plastic pollution in the ocean.

https://futurism.com/end-plastic-officially-arrived/

[Wellstone ruled]

1. The Koch Brothers are

one of obstacles to Bio-degradable industry here in Murica. Familiar with the Degradable Cup industry. Solo Cup offered a Bio Cup in 1999,we sold Thousands and the Koch Industries went total nut-so because we stopped handling their Foam cups. Yes the Bio Cups were more dollars,but our Customers were all in with the idea.

[LisaM]

2. It's insane, and a lot of it is due to individual packaging.

It's hard to reduce consumption of plastic, but why does everyone have to get everything single serving? I try - and I'm not perfect - to at least use every plastic thing twice (if I get a plastic bag at a store, it lines a waste paper basket, e.g.) So in theory, that at least halves my consumption.


It would be great if there were more degradable plastics, too.