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Below you will find information on WHY it is important to reduce our consumption of plastic. Click on the Steps to Take tab above to learn more about HOW you can reduce your consumption!

Reducing plastic consumption is crucial for several environmental, health, and economic reasons:

1. Plastic pollution harms ecosystems:

• Oceans and waterways: Around 8 million tons of plastic waste, including microplastic fibers from our laundry, enter the oceans every year, harming marine life. Sea creatures can ingest or get entangled in plastic, leading to injury or death. Plastic bioaccumulates in fish that we eat - so that same plastic ends up as our food.
• Land pollution: Plastic never decomposes.  It accumulates in landfills and natural habitats, contributing to greenhouse gases and it ultimately enters our food and water supply as microplastics.

2. Microplastics affect human health:

• Over time, plastic breaks down into microplastics, which enters the food chain. These microplastics are found in drinking water, seafood, and even in the air we breathe, potentially affecting human health. Scientists are even finding microplastics in human blood, as well as in the plants we eat.

3. Plastic is made from fossil fuels:

• The production of plastic relies on petrochemicals from oil and natural gas, contributing to the depletion of non-renewable resources and increasing carbon emissions, which exacerbate climate change. We can shift away from fossil fuel as an energy source, but the current rate of plastic consumption will continue our reliance on fossil fuels.

4. Waste management challenges:

• Almost every  country, struggles to manage plastic waste properly. A large portion of "recycled" plastic ends up in landfills, incinerated (which releases harmful chemicals), or is exported to countries that have even more inadequate waste disposal infrastructure, worsening the global pollution crisis.

5. Harm to wildlife and biodiversity:

• Animals, both on land and in water, can mistake plastic for food. This ingestion can lead to malnutrition, suffocation, and death. Reducing plastic consumption helps protect biodiversity and ecosystems.

6. Plastic persists for centuries:

• Plastic does not biodegrade. Instead, it photodegrades into smaller fragments, but these remain in the environment indefinitely. This long-lasting pollution accumulates over time, making it an urgent issue to address.

7. Economic costs:

• Cleaning up plastic pollution is costly for governments, and the presence of plastic waste can harm tourism, fisheries, and other industries dependent on a clean environment. The plastic producers should be an accountable part of the solution.

8. Hazardous chemicals:

• Many plastics contain chemicals, such as phthalates and BPA, which can leach into food, water, and soil. In animals, the chemicals act as endocrine disrupters, potentially causing hormonal imbalances, reproductive issues, and other health problems in humans and animals. 
• When incinerated, plastics release an inumerable amount of toxins and airbourne microplastics, further degrading our air quality and contributing to environmental pollution.

9. Impact on climate change:

• The lifecycle of plastic—from production to disposal—produces greenhouse gases at each stage, contributing to climate change. Reducing plastic consumption lessens the demand for fossil fuel extraction and the emissions associated with plastic production.

10. Promotes sustainable practices:

• Reducing plastic encourages a shift toward more sustainable materials and practices, fostering innovation in packaging, product design, and lifestyle choices. This helps create a more circular economy where waste is minimized and resources are reused.
• Reducing plastic consumption is essential to protecting the planet, human health, and wildlife, while fostering a more sustainable future.