VIII Международный конкурс научно-исследовательских и творческих работ учащихся
Старт в науке
Plastic disposable goods
Автор работы награжден дипломом победителя II степени
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Introduction
Being an inseparable part of our life plastic do us both good and bad. We seem to be relying on plastic as a major manufacturing material more and more these days. The rapid growth of middle-class and industrial economies has aroused the world’s plastic consumption in recent decades.
On the one hand, even as we work aggressively to reduce plastic waste in the environment, we must maintain the critical benefits that plastics bring to people and communities around the world. It has helped to improve living standards, hygiene and nutrition around the world, especially in developing countries. Rapid increases in incomes and prosperity have brought many of the conveniences of modern life.
On the other hand, the use of plastic has become a global environmental concern. Plastics and their byproducts are littering our cities, oceans, and waterways. Much of the planet is swimming in discarded plastic, which is harming animal and possibly human health. Millions of animals are killed by plastics every year, from birds to fish to other marine organisms. Nearly 700 species, including endangered ones, are known to have been affected by plastics. Nearly every species of seabird eats plastics.
I have decided to make a research about plastic wastes because it is a matter of a bid concern. My goal is to find out how Europe and Russia try to prevent the use of plastic by comparing their attitude to this environmental issue. In addition, I want to encourage people to cut down on buying single-use products that affect our habitat.
The consumption of disposable goods in Russia and Spain
This summer I was on vacation in Spain. I was there for two years in a row and noticed that supermarkets have started to reduce the number of plastic disposable cutlery, plates and straws. So, I decided to take a great advantage of my holidays by conducting a survey. I asked some locals whether they buy disposable goods or not. To make a comparison I asked the same question people in Russia.
The question was: “Do you buy single-use products?” And there were few options of answers:
- Yes, I use them when I have picnics.
- Yes, I use them on a daily basis.
- No, I think they are environmentally-unfriendly.
No, I prefer to buy paper disposable goods.
Spain
According to the first chart, we can see that 50 percent of interviewed people are more likely to buy paper disposable goods, rather than plastic. 22,2 percent of people are strongly convinced that it is environmentally-unconscious. Only 16,7 percent of locals use these products for making picnics. And the last but not least couple of people use plastic plates and glasses every single day, due to the fact that they live on their own and do not want to waste their time on washing-up.
Russia
Talking about Russians, more than a half of asked people appear to use non-biodegradable products only in case of outside activities and picnics. 22,2 percent of Russians think that we can’t benefit from consuming plastic cutlery and plates. About 11 percent of interviewed people prefer disposable goods made of paper. And the same percentage are related to people that tend to use plastic instead of regular plates and glasses.
If we compare the statistics of these two countries we will see that the consumption of plastic in Russia is much higher than in Spain. Spaniards tend to use paper goods instead of plastic, while Russians still use plastics. So what is the reason of such difference?
Ways of prevention plastic pollution in Europe
Spain
Nowadays in Spain it is a challenge to find a plastic single-use products. Spanish government decided to prevent plastic pollution by reducing the number of them in supermarkets. So, coming to the store the only thing you can find is paper disposable plates and glasses. To my mind, this the best way to get rid of plastic not affecting people’s convenience. They can still use disposable goods when they make picnics, but they won’t pose a threat to the environment.
Moreover, stores cut down on the use of plastic packets. Instead of them they sell paper packets. Thus, supermarket ‘Mercadona’ is the latest store in Spain to do their bit for the environment by making their packaging habits more sustainable and cutting down on plastic use. Customers are able to choose between paper bags, recycled plastic bags (made from 50 to 70 percent recycled plastic) and raffia baskets.
Germany
Introduced by government in 2003, Germany’s ‘Pfand’ (deposit) system has had a overwhelmingly positive effect on littering and introduced fun technology. ‘Pfand’ is an additional deposit you pay as part of the price of a bottle or can, and which gets back to you when you return the container to a vendor.
Almost all German supermarkets have sophisticated “reverse vending machines” that will weigh and scan your bottle to match against a list of acceptable shapes and sizes. If your bottle is not on the retailer’s list, the machine spits the container back at you. If it matches, the bottle goes down a chute for either recycling or shredding, and the machine hands you a voucher with the added-up ‘Pfand’ that you can then cash in at the till.Non-reusable, “one-way” bottles, mostly plastic, come with a higher deposit (usually 25 cents) than reusable, mostly glass bottles which come in at between 8 and 15 cents.
Consequences of plastic pollution
Marine litter is a growing global problem. We have all heard the warning by the World Economic Forum and others that, measured by weight, there will be more plastic than fish in the world's oceans by 2050 if we continue dumping plastic in the sea at the present rate. We cannot let this happen.
Single-use products and packaging are convenient and affordable but at the same time they cause a growing waste crisis. Scientists have been alarmed to discover plastic pieces in locations far removed from human populations, such as the Arctic and on remote islands. Earlier this year an entire plastic bag, completely intact, was found at the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the ocean’s deepest point; a chilling example of plastic’s pervasiveness throughout the natural environment. Moreover, as soon as plastic is a non-biodegradable material there are an increasing number of landfills on the shores of the seas and oceans. It causes over 12 million tons of garbage to get into the water annually. As a result, marine inhabitants mistakenly swallow similar-sized pieces of plastic, because they just can't distinguish them from food.
This is why the EU takes action to restrict the use of certain throwaway plastic products for which good plastic-free alternatives exist. And they will make plastic producers pay for cleaning up.
The new rules aim to stop the use of throwaway plastic products and packaging for which alternatives exist and is focused on the most frequently found items polluting European seas: plastic cutlery (forks, knives, spoons, and chopsticks), plastic plates, plastic straws, cotton bud sticks made of plastic, beverage and food containers made of expanded polystyrene (such as fast food and takeaway boxes). According to the European Commission, together these products constitute 70% of all marine litter items.
Everyday disposable items that can be replaced to help the ocean
With fast-paced lifestyles, packed schedules, and eating on the go, people all over the world have turned to the convenience of disposable plastics. Over the years, the rise in popularity of these quick and easy goods has contributed to the accumulation of plastic in our oceans, seas and lakes. We are beginning to see the detrimental effects of these items on our wildlife and waterways, and it is time to rethink our consumption habits.
We are all familiar with the principle of 3Rs “reduce, reuse, recycle”, but perhaps the best way we can help our environment is to refuse single-use plastics from the start. It turns out that many of the everyday plastics that consumers use can be refused and easily replaced with environmentally-friendly alternatives. Here are 7 commonly used plastic items and the simple swaps that you can do in your everyday life to help the ocean:
1.Plastic Grocery Bags
In some countries, plastic bags are not something that you can toss into your garbage bin. Instead, they must be brought to special recycling drop off centers (often at grocery stores) in order to be recycled. A great alternative to remembering to do this is simply bringing your own bags to the grocery store. Throw some canvas bags in your car that can be washed and used for years, or keep one on your keychain so you'll never forget!
2. Plastic Straws
Plastic straws are increasingly a problem for ocean animals like sea turtles, so I encourage you to ask your server to go strawless next time you’re at a restaurant. Additionally, there are great reusable alternatives made out of paper, bamboo, stainless steel, or even glass that you can bring with you wherever you go!
3. Plastic Water Bottles
Did you know that it takes about 2 minutes to consume a bottle of water, but the plastic bottle can remain on our planet for millions of years? Reusable water bottles are one of the easiest swaps you can make to help the ocean. You can find them in insulated stainless steel to keep your water icy cold or choose an attractive glass option to spruce up your work desk.
4. Body Wash In Plastic Bottles
Most soaps and shampoos come in some form of plastic bottle, but there are a couple of alternatives to reduce your plastic footprint while staying clean. Try switching to bar soaps with recyclable paper wrappers, or consider making your own soaps using essential oils and Castile soap. Your homemade body wash can be stored in a sealable glass jar that can be used over and over.
5. Plastic Wrap
Plastic wrap can be used to keep food fresh in your refrigerator, but often it ends up with being in the garbage bin instead of the recycling bin. Some types of plastic wrap can indeed be recycled, depending on what type of plastic it is made of, so it is important to check with your local recycling facility. A better option is to choose reusable food wraps. These are wax-coated fabrics that can be washed and used for up to a year. Imagine how much plastic you could keep out of the landfill by using these reusable wraps!
6. Plastic Cutlery
Most takeout restaurants give away plastic cutlery with their food. While this is convenient, these products are made from a wide variety of plastics, many of which don’t have a wide recycling market. Even if they are made of plastic that can be recycled, many times they are shipped all the way to China to be recycled, creating a huge carbon footprint! A great alternative is carrying your own reusable spork in your bag, or keeping a set of all three utensils handy when you're on the road.
7. Disposable Coffee Cups
Even though many disposable coffee cups from our favorite coffee shops seem recyclable, most are not. The paper cup is often a blend of paper and plastic, which is not actually recyclable and therefore ultimately ends up in a landfill. Even if the cup is made of paper, it usually comes with a plastic lid or straw. Try bringing along your own coffee cup – it’s nice to drink out of a real mug, and sometimes you can even get a discount for doing so!
Conclusion
This research was aimed to convince you that plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues, as rapidly increasing production of disposable plastic products overwhelms the world’s ability to deal with them.
Talking about new generation, being active in social networks, teenagers learn a lot of information about today’s state of our planet. They are likely to have more awareness of environmental issues and their ways of prevention. To my mind, there should be more lessons devoted to the problem of plastic and memberships at school, that will promote leading an environmentally-conscious lifestyle.
I think I have reached my goal and showed you my opinion about this popular topic, not only with information based on my thoughts and the Internet, but also on the survey I have made.
Literature
1.https://www.sanibelseaschool.org/experience-blog/2018/10/22/10-everyday-disposable-items-that-can-be-replaced-to-help-the-ocean
2.https://endplasticwaste.org/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIopOJ-8WU5gIV0OeaCh0csAplEAAYAiAAEgIaPPD_BwE
3.https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/anagarciavaldivia/2019/01/22/the-end-of-plastic-cutlery-plates-and-straws-eu-market-says-goodbye-to-single-use-plastic-products/amp/
4.https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2019/01/five-steps-towards-a-less-disposable-future/
5.https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2018/mar/30/has-germany-hit-the-jackpot-of-recycling-the-jurys-still-out