Plastic pollution has become the most trending environmental issue for some time now. It's visible in our oceans, rivers, canals and just everywhere. The consequence of Plastic pollution doesn't just involve the physical litter it causes but also the health issues it causes as well as the fact that it aggravates the impact of climate change by increasing floods.
But who is really responsible for plastic pollution? It's easy to say the Producers (supply) but how guilty are the Users (demand) in this case?
There is no doubt that if plastic wasn't produced in the first place, we wouldn't be using it. Indeed, we will find other alternatives whether we like it or not.
It's easy for one to purchase what has already been produced even if we know that it is bad for us. So yes supply is responsible for the plastic pollution we have today. They don't care about the environment and all they want to do is to make a profit form their business. So they never stop to think that what they produce is harmful to us all.
Nearly 300 million tons of plastic is produced every year and most of it is single-use plastic. See the amount of plastic that is pumped on the earth yearly.
We purchase this plastic produced every year in many forms; straws, bottles, bags, shoes, etc. Most of these forms of plastic are used just once before it is thrown away - single-use plastic. sometimes we don't bother to throw them in a dustbin nor separate the plastics from organic waste so that we can properly dispose of it.
Then one way or the other the plastic will find it's way to the ground and then the canal and then the ocean.
Users of plastic generally feel the need to use plastic because it has become such an integral part of their lives. It's always better to carry our groceries in plastic bags than paper bags, Plastic bottles don't break easily so we can carry our drinks without fear of it breaking, It's easier to drink with a straw than directly from the glass or the bottle.
That's why glass and iron are being replaced with plastic. There used to be a lot of reusable glass bottles for soft drinks but now most of it is being replaced by plastic bottles.
Users find plastic bottles better. We also find drinking with straws better. Just like we find the plastic bag better to carry our groceries than a paper or any other type of bag.
Who is to blame?
Eight million tons of plastic (bottles, bags, straws, etc) is thrown in the ocean yearly and places which do not make or use much plastic will find themselves suffering the consequences as much as those who do. The ocean is carrying plastics everywhere. All over the world. And soon we will be surrounded by an ocean filled with plastic.
Who is more responsible in this case? The producer or the user? Shouldn't we all take our responsibility to reduce the injection of plastic waste into our environment? Shouldn't we stop to blame and point accusing fingers to one another for plastic pollution?
You can decide to produce environmentally friendly products.
You too can also decide to use less plastic products, dispose of them properly and let's make the world a better place to live in.
