People use plastic water bottles without any awareness of the environment. This material is also easily available and low-cost. But there are some environmental impact of plastic bottles that can imbalance our eco system. To prevent pollution we must be aware. Keep reading to know the actual impact of plastic bottles.
Raw Materials Used
It is estimated that more than 90% of plastics come from coal, natural gas, and oil—all of which are environmentally harmful and nonrenewable resources. By 2050, the plastics industry will be responsible for 20% of the world’s oil use if nothing changes.
The effects of the fossil fuel industry on the environment are widely known, and as more people switch to renewable energy sources in place of fossil fuels, groups like Client Earth argue that “fossil fuel companies need another industry to take over demand,” and one such industry is the production of plastic.
Oceans
The environmental harm that plastic bottles cause to the world’s oceans is horrifying, according to facts and figures.
One source claims that plastic pollution kills 100,000 fish, sea animals, turtles, and one million seabirds annually. According to a different organization, Plastic Oceans, plastic pollution kills one million marine species annually. Additionally, they estimate that 10 million tonnes of plastic are discarded into our oceans each year, with single-use plastic bottles accounting for a significant amount of this weight.
There is no greater illustration of the extent of plastic pollution in the world’s oceans than in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, a region in the North Pacific. An area twice the size of Texas is believed to be covered with more than 3 million tonnes of plastic trash. Furthermore, there is no government or organization to hold directly responsible because the “island” is floating in international waters.
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Human Health and Microplastics
Tiny plastic fragments that are smaller than 5 mm across are known as microplastics. While some microplastics are purposefully produced small for use in cosmetic products, others are created after separating from bigger plastics that have degraded over time. For instance, the microbeads found in face scrubs and toothpastes.
The permanence of microplastics—they are nearly impossible to eradicate from the different habitats in which they accumulate—is one of their primary issues. As a result, they have discovered microplastics practically everywhere they have searched, including on our bodies, in the air, on mountains, in the ice of the Artic Sea, and in the oceans.
Microplastics enter the food chain when we eat fish because they are swallowed by fish. A variety of pollutants can be found in microplastics, and when we digest them, they can enter our systems. While there is uncertainty over the overall harm to human life, particular microplastics have the potential to cause cancer and infertility.
The Landfill
The longevity of plastics has been a major factor in their success throughout the years, but it is also the reason that they have become such a concern.
In a landfill, plastic bottles take about 450 years to break down. It is estimated that just 45% of the 7.7 billion plastic bottles used annually in the UK are recycled, meaning that 55% of all plastic garbage ends up in landfills or the ocean. Landfills are limited and not a sustainable way to store plastic trash.
Solutions
Businesses and individuals alike can contribute to the fight against plastic pollution in several ways. Using recycled materials instead of virgin polymers is one of the most efficient. Without throwing the bottle into the environment you can recycle the water bottle. This will reduce the environmental impact of plastic bottles.