International Plastic Bag-Free Day: A Call to Action on July 3rd

July 3 marks International Plastic Bag-Free Day, as it carries significant meaning for those people who are environmental enthusiasts, urging others around the world to limit their reliance on single-use plastic bags.


Our environment faces ongoing danger from producing millions of plastic waste daily. The rapid increase in single-use plastic consumption is primarily due to the convenience and availability it has brought to us.

Additionally, our fast-paced lifestyles and daily activities, such as shopping, eating out, and wrapping every item from the mall, fuel the demand for cheap plastics.

As a result, we often use and dispose of plastic without much thought, making it a routine part of our modern consumer behavior.

The environmental impact of single-use plastic is significant to understand. Here are some of the outcomes:


Wildlife

While it's common knowledge that plastic waste harms the environment, people frequently ignore its effects on other living things. But how harmful is it?


When plastic isn't disposed of properly, it can find its way into the ocean, posing a danger to marine animals like sea turtles. Most of the time, aquatic life may mistake piles of plastic waste for food or become entangled, leading to injury or death.

Chemical Contamination

Plastic waste breaks down into tiny particles known as microplastic, which can contaminate soil and water, potentially endangering human health and marine life.


This becomes a problem when marine animals digest microplastics; they consume harmful substances that can pose a health risk for humans who consume seafood.

Habitat Destruction

The piles of millions of plastics in the ocean cause the coral reef and mangrove habitats to deteriorate, which affects the ecosystem and plant growth.


This also harms marine creatures that rely on these habitats.

Pollution

Plastic waste now poses a significant danger to the planet's ecosystems. This led to people urging leaders around the world to make an effort to combat the environmental crisis.


The problem has become more than just soil contamination; it affects plants’ growth and harms food security and human health.


We should know that the breakdown process exacerbates climate change by releasing greenhouse gases. It's no secret that pollution is a result of human action, and despite having control and regulation, plastic pollution continues to be a problem on our planet.

As we try to understand the impact of plastic waste, we can no longer overlook this problem. That's why it's crucial to reduce the use of single-use plastics and raise awareness of their consequences.

Join the discussion using #PlasticBagFreeDay.

- Llorele Masong