Big Danger in Small Things – Microplastics
Some plastics are so durable that it takes several hundred years for them to decompose completely. During the decomposition process, microscopic plastic particles with a diameter of less than five millimeters are created. In addition, many cosmetic products such as peelings or shampoos are enriched with tiny plastic particles and end up in the sea via wastewater. These particles, known as microplastics, pose a particular threat to the environment. If fish, seabirds or marine mammals consume too much of them, they starve to death with full stomachs. Microplastics are also a danger to us humans: via marine animals, they get into our food and with them the toxic pollutants that are contained in the plastic or bind to it.
environmental pollution caused by plastic bags
The most important raw material for the production of most plastic bags is fossil crude oil - one of the most valuable and contested resources on earth. Nevertheless, less than 10 percent of plastic bags are recycled in Europe. The far greater amount is exported to non-European countries, where it ends up in landfills or in the sea. Single-use plastic bags not only waste a diminishing resource, they also accelerate climate change. Every year, the production and transport of plastic bags causes an estimated emission of 31 million tons of the dangerous greenhouse gas carbon dioxide.
The most environmentally friendly solution would be to consistently reduce the consumption of plastic bags. This is an ambitious goal, as the annual consumption worldwide is one trillion. If sewn together, these bags would form a band that could wrap around the earth at the equator 10,000 times. According to the Society for Packaging Market Research, every resident in Germany uses 29 plastic bags a year. That is less than in previous years - and still 4,500 bags per minute!
Politics in Responsibility
Plastic is so widespread that without political intervention, it is impossible to manage this material in an environmentally friendly way. In the European Union, Germany is the largest per capita producer of packaging waste. Nevertheless, politicians in this country like to shirk responsibility when it comes to stemming the flood of plastic. There are many options: improved recycling standards, bans on unnecessary disposable products and the establishment of a reusable and deposit system. Recycling plastics is often difficult because they are firmly bonded to other materials. Legal regulation of such composite materials would make it easier to recycle plastic. However, it is doubtful that bioplastics made from compostable materials reduce the waste problem. Since there is no regulation on how long they have to be broken down, they can remain in the environment for a similar length of time as conventional plastic.
In January 2018, the EU Commission presented a strategy to prevent plastic waste. This envisages that in the future all plastic packaging will be recyclable and less single-use plastic will be put on the market. In addition, the use of industrially produced microplastics will be restricted. The strategy is still a plan and not a law. The extent to which it is implemented will depend on whether environmental protection is actually the priority or whether economic interests prevail.
There is not much time left to act. The mountains of plastic waste in the oceans have already reached catastrophic proportions. Soon the fatal consequences for the oceans, for us humans and for the entire ecosystem of the earth will no longer be avertable.
