According to International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), humans produce about 300 million tons of plastic every year, out of which 14 million tons of plastic ends up in the oceans, making 80% of marine debris. Plastic takes hundreds of years to degrade and breaks down into smaller fragments known as microplastics.
Marine life is being affected by plastic particles as they can get accidentally strangled by bigger plastics or ingest microplastics, causing them to end up in our food chain. Improper discarding of plastics by humans has led to significant harm for oceans and the environment.
The only solution is to dispose of it properly or find replacements. You can easily make some changes in your daily activities and reduce the use of plastic. These are a few recommendations for plastic-free alternatives that you can use to save our oceans.
Cloth and Paper Bags
Carry a reusable cloth tote bag to the market and avoid using a regular plastic bag for your grocery. Save those gift bags you receive in gifts; paper bags make an excellent alternative to plastic for everyday use as they are reusable and recyclable.
Reusable Bottles
One of the easiest ways to cut plastic from your life is by buying a reusable water bottle or a cup. Instead of buying a new plastic bottle and throwing it away every time, buy a stainless-steel water bottle for your daily use. A reusable cup is also a practical addition; you can carry it with you to the coffee or juice shop to use instead of their single-plastic cups.
Metal Straws
Oceans are filled with plastic straws left by people on the seashore that harm marine life. For this reason, consider replacing single-use straws with metal straws. They are an easy fit for your bag as they come with a collapsible clutch, a small brush for cleaning is also added for quick cleaning.
Bamboo Products
Bamboo produces more oxygen than other plants. Utensils made from bamboo are a perfect replacement to use for eating when traveling, during dine-outs, and drive-thrus. Bamboo products are similar in appearance to wood, and some of these products, such as toothbrushes, hairbrushes, and containers, also make effective alternatives to make the oceans plastic-free.
Organic Skin and Bath Products
Many skin and bath care producing companies use micro-beads in their products for cleaning and scrubbing the skin. These beads are microplastics that enter the sewage system, eventually flowing into the sea, endangering marine life. Choose wisely and invest in organic products for bathing and skincare as no plastic is used to produce them; they are natural, harmless, and eco-friendly.
Washing Away Plastic Waste
From the deep sea to the surface, oceans are filled with plastic disturbing the natural environment and affecting marine life. It is essential to understand that using plastics is harming our environment for the years to come. If you are eager to consider plastic-free replacements, the alternatives mentioned above will help you make eco-friendly choices.
