Micro plastics: How to Avoid Them?
Did you know that our planet has produced more than 8.3 billion tons of plastic since its mass production began in the 1950s?
Unfortunately, only 9 percent of all that plastic has been recycled. The remaining plastic goes into landfills or oceans to degrade further.
However, plastic doesn’t disappear, and it still exists in the form of micro plastics and nano plastics. These are ingested by marine animals and damage our ecosystem.
But there’s a way to avoid micro plastics.
What Are Micro plastics and Where Do They Come From?
Though plastic comes with many benefits, its durability and flexibility are exactly why it’s impossible to break it down naturally.
No organism responsible for decomposing materials can attack and decompose its long chain of polymer monomers and carbon-carbon bonds. Plastic doesn’t naturally decompose but breaks down further into smaller pieces. These are called microplastics.
They’re less than 0.2 inches (or five millimeters) in size, but they’re found in every corner of the world. Here’s how you can limit the release of micro plastics into the environment.
Don’t Microwave Food
According to a study by the World Wildlife Fund, you’re likely to ingest an amount of plastic roughly the size of a credit card every week. A lot of these microplastics actually come from the food and drinks we consume.
Microwaving your food can be harmful to you as microplastics from plastic containers can flake off your food. If you must microwave leftovers, use a glass container.
Reduce Seafood Consumption
A lot of plastic ends up in the oceans because of wind currents. In the water, plastic decomposes into microplastics and is eaten by smaller fish. As a result, they enter our food chain when the bigger marine animals eat them. In fact, microplastics have been found in most marine animals, ranging from whales to crustaceans.
Avoid Using Plastic Bags
People tend to use and throw away single-use plastic bags immediately. But do you know it takes them 1,000 years to degrade in landfills? Microplastics from these bags pollute the soil and freshwater to damage our ecosystem.
Buying eco-friendly reusable bags can help you reduce the amount of microplastics in the environment. If you want to shop organic grocery bags, try Sammy Shopping Bags.
Here, at Sammy Shopping Bags, we’re a family-run business striving to make a change with our environment friendly bags. Our range of reusable shopping bags is made from 100% organic cotton to not affect the environment.
So, what are you waiting for? Shop canvas tote bags online from our store for durable and sustainable bags.
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