This time we will talk about plastic pollution. The practicality of single-use plastics in our lives is undeniable; plastic bottles, plastic bags or coffee cups are in everyday use for most of us. But we produce approximately 300 million tons of plastic a year and half of it is disposable. That is why it is important that, as a society, we promote ecological alternatives, social awareness and public pressure and avoid plastic pollution.
We can make other changes in our consumption that reduce the single-use plastics such as purifying your own water, instead of buying bottled water, or skip the plastic wrap to store your leftovers. As for hygiene, you can use bar soap instead of bottled soap.
1 bag takes 1 second to be manufactured, 20 minutes to be used and 100 years to be degraded. Say no thanks I DON’T NEED A BAG. Join the movement, let’s take care of the environment.
Plastic production and incineration contributes to climate change. Plastic waste chokes waterways, pollutes our oceans, kills wildlife and infiltrates our food chain. If we continue as we are and do nothing, by 2050 there will be an estimated 12 billion tons of plastic waste in our landfills or polluting the environment.
Plastic waste pollution in figures
Simple steps to help in the fight against plastic pollution
- Reduce your own use of plastic: The most common items found in beach cleanups are food related items. Use only environmentally friendly products, or as mentioned above, bring your own reusable items.
- Participate in cleanup movements or programs: Help keep the oceans and coasts clean.
- Use reusable bags: When you go to the supermarket to shop for your groceries, take cloth, mesh or wicker bags.
- Recycle chewing gum: Most of the chewing gum currently on the market includes plastic in its ingredients, reduce its consumption and put it in the correct container for recycling. You can also consume natural and ecological chewing gums.
- Bulk food: Consume more bulk food products and less packaged products. Throw-away containers such as polystyrene trays, PET bottles, tetrabriks, plastic containers etc. They are major pollutants and flood supermarkets.
- Wooden clothespins: Small actions that can have a positive impact on our planet, for example, use wooden clothespins and not plastic to hang clothes.
- Cosmetics with microplastics: Avoid the use of cosmetics containing microplastics, nowadays we have alternatives free of plastic pollution. You can consume microplastic-free lipsticks, wooden brushes and even T-shirts made with natural fabrics.
How long does it take for single-use plastics to biodegrade?
-Plastic bottle - 500 years
-Plastic bag - 400 years
-Straw -200 yearsToothbrush - 500 years
-Plastic cutlery - 400 years
-Plastic cup - 100 years
Plastic pollution is a major global problem that we have and we have been fighting to mitigate these actions of consumerism of polluting products. We invite you to join the worldwide movements to solve and mend this problem that affects us all.
Look for new alternatives, products that do not harm the oceans or the environment. We recommend you to use ecological products as we have already mentioned above and say no to the disposable culture. Do the right thing today so that new generations in the future will have a better planet in which they can live healthily.
We are a company committed to the environment, we generate clean energy.
At American Made Solar we are committed to a positive impact on the environment. Plastic pollution is not part of our actions. We are always looking for environmentally friendly alternatives, and our solar panel installation process is carefully carried out creating a positive impact for our planet, likewise the materials with which the solar panels are manufactured are made with natural materials that do not negatively impact the environment.
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