Plastic, plastic everywhere, how I wish you weren't there

The sheer volume of plastic waste entering our oceans is downright disgusting! An estimated 5 – 13 million tonnes of plastic waste is either drifting in our oceans, or smothering the sea bed,  or entangling marine animals, or being ingested by animals who mistakenly consume it thinking it’s tasty nutritious food – poor them being fooled by our colourful and tempting plastics. Oh and let’s not forget the convert toxic-loaded minuscule plastic particles that marine animals can’t help but avoid, as it is infused in their life-giving water.

How have we ended up in this awful environmental mess? I wonder if Leo Baekeland, the man who invented ‘plastics’ in 1907, would still feel proud of his creation? Or whether he might be filled with guilt or embarrassment over how much of a negative environmental impact plastics are now having on planet Earth.

A prime example of how absurd our love, or reliance on plastic has become is illustrated in the plastic spoon.

“It’s pretty amazing that our society has reached a point where the effort necessary to extract oil from the ground, ship it to a refinery, turn it into plastic, shape it appropriately, truck it to a store, buy it, and bring it home is considered less effort than what it takes to just wash the spoon when you’re done with it”

Yes, plastics are useful, there’s no denying that. I’ve been a long-time plastic fan myself, with a passion for Sistema containers and suchlike. I too am one of those reusable ‘plastic fantastic’ types in the human race. 

However, that’s changing. Little my little, it’s changing in me and my family. 

I’m determined to do my bit, and encourage my kids to do their bit to be part of the movement away from plastics. After all, if we all do our bit, it WILL make a difference. It won’t be easy, and part of me already feels a little sad at the prospect of one day parting with my faithful, food saving Sistema containers for alternatives such as glass, ceramic or stainless steel.  But it feels right to be heading in a plastic free direction.

It’s interesting how researching about plastic waste in our oceans for a Uni assignment has sparked a disgust for plastics in me, and is leading me on path away from plastic. I’m happy it has… and I think the environment will too. 

One day hopefully research papers can talk about how once it was estimated that between 5 - 13 million tonnes of plastic was entering our oceans, but now there is none.  

How amazing would that be?