ENVIRONMENT

Earth is our home. All that surrounds us right from birth made by nature or by man is called environment. Man has been using natural materials for a very long time. This caused no problem because whatever material man used was recycled by nature. It meant that it would decompose and mix with the soil very easily. Also, there were fewer people around. But, as the number of people grew, the waste discarded by people also grew.

There was a revolution in transportation. Dependence on fossil fuels (petroleum and its products) increased. More and more factories were built. More and more synthetic chemicals were invented. 

Plastic Pollution

Plastics began to replace almost every kind of natural material. More and more trees were cut down for firewood to make paper etc. River waters and ocean waters were being made dirty by large amounts of waste mixing with them. The atmosphere, in general, started getting polluted.

You might wonder why should pollution be such a cause for concern. Well, pollution of any kind is definitely a cause for concern. Pollution has a long-term effect on the health of the people. Not only does it affect people, but it also harms wildlife and forests, plants, and animals. It disrupts the natural systems of our planet including the weather patterns around the globe. Some problems are caused immediately but some take years to show up.

Globally, 60% of plastic is in single-use by people and for packaging, and nearly 30% of plastic is thrown away when not recycled. In India, all plastic waste is either generated by households (47%) or the collection or processing sector (30%). Plastic packaging is the largest single source of plastic waste and comprises nearly half of the plastic waste generated in India.

Waste plastic generated includes white single-use plastic bags, which in India is about 70% of total plastic bags generated (less than half of that in the UK), wrappers and packets, sachets, bottles, lids, straws, utensils, food trays, food packaging, and packaging foam, among others.

The economy would be a lot better off if the dumping of plastic materials into the ocean were to be stopped. Research has suggested that as much as 90% of marine debris is made up of plastic, while half the plastic waste found on beaches is a result of plastic that has been dumped or lost by the sea. A lot of plastic waste is now seen in the ocean, which has caused it to affect the marine ecosystem in a very negative way. Not only this, the production of plastic alone accounts for around 2% of the world’s total carbon emissions, the material is also very toxic and a lot of it now ends up in the stomachs of marine animals. It does not seem like it is an exaggeration to say that plastic pollution is having a negative impact on the environment.

Waste not, want not. Stop wasting plastic on everyday items. Try to replace the glass or metal water bottles with reusable glass or stainless steel ones. Try to bring reusable bags with you as well so you’re not tempted to throw rubbish in the bin. Be sure to only buy as much as you need as this is one of the best ways to avoid littering.

To straighten the problem caused by pollution, people should become aware of the problem and find solutions for it. More and more natural materials should be used. Wherever possible, plastics must be reused. 

Conservation of the Environment

The conservation of the environment helps us in achieving sustainable development which is required for preserving the lives of the people, environment, natural resources, and creating a better living environment for future generations. If we want to improve our living environment, we have to improve the quality of air, water, and nature.

Often, we take for granted the environment. We don’t realize the impact we have on it until we have a problem. If we really want to save the environment, then we must consider ways to do so. One way to do this is by learning how to minimize your carbon footprint.

To do so, you must do the following:

Change your everyday habits such as: using energy-efficient appliances, eating organic food, and recycling.

Start locally by taking community action and taking your favorite companies into consideration when purchasing products.

Remember this environment slogan:

Reuse, reduce, re-fuse and recycle plastics to save the earth.

Any product which shows this symbol is a recycled product.