Harsh Realities: Why Is Plastic Bad for the Environment?

Going green and buying eco-friendly products are all the rage now, but is it really necessary?

Everyone complains about plastics, but why is plastic bad for the environment?

If you’re the type of person who wants to do their research before jumping on a bandwagon, you’re in the right place. Here’s everything you need to know about the environmental impact of plastic and whether you should be concerned.

Why is Plastic Bad for the Environment? Let’s Count the Ways!

We’ve all heard that we should minimize our plastic use, but is it all hype, or a legitimate problem?

Let’s take a look at the four main reasons why our continued plastic use can lead to environmental disaster. 

1. Plastic is Everywhere

Almost everywhere you look, you’ll find some sort of discarded plastic debris. Plastic trash has even been discovered in Antarctica and the Arctic! This shows just how far the problem has spread.

Mountains of trash have been found in the world’s oceans and in the stomachs of most of our marine life. This includes 90 percent of the sea birds in the world and 50 percent of the planet’s sea turtles.

2. Most Plastics Last Forever

The most commonly-used types of plastic don’t ever completely disintegrate. Instead, they break down into smaller and smaller pieces until they reach microscopic size. This means that one discarded piece of plastic can continue to impact the environment for millions of years.

3. Plastics Kill Wildlife

Every year, you hear more reports of wildlife dying from ingesting or getting tangled up in plastic garbage. This is most common in birds, fish, whales, and other marine animals.

Since plastic breaks down into microscopic pieces, even zooplankton can suffer from the effects. Ingesting plastic can kill these micro-organisms. Since they’re the foundation upon which the rest of marine life exists, this creates an extremely dangerous situation for the planet.

4. Recycling is Not the Answer

If you think plastic use is fine as long as you recycle, you’re also mistaken. The problem is that not all plastic is recyclable, and not all plastic that is recyclable is actually recycled. In fact, studies show that as much as 91 percent of plastic never makes it to the recycling bin!

Tips for Limiting Plastic Use

One of the best ways to limit plastic’s impact on the environment is to cut down your personal use. Here are a few tips to help you get started.

• Stop using plastic bottles and buy a reusable glass bottle instead
• Bring your own cloth bag when you go to the grocery store
• Stop using plastic straws and buy a stainless steel one instead
• Use matches instead of plastic lighters
• Buy products in bulk and store them in glass containers

Once you start looking for ways to cut down on your plastic use, you’ll be surprised how many you start to notice.

Help Us Spread the Word!

Now that you know the answer to the question “Why is plastic bad for the environment?” you have what you need to spread the word to your family and friends.

Before you go, take a look at some of the cool products we’ve created to help you do your part! Check out our wheat straw mugs, tea infusers, reusable straws, and more.