Reduce plastic, regain life  

By Chhavi Mohindru

Plastic is a synthetic substance which is made from a wide range of organic polymers. These organic polymers are long chains of atoms bonded to each other. In most plastics, the long chains have high molecular mass so that the plastic can be moulded into several shapes. Fossil fuels and natural gas are two primary components from which it is formed.   

Today, more and more people are trying to make their lives easier by discovering new plastics. The substance anyway has become an integral part of our lives. It is the most used substance and is seen everywhere around us. From clothing to chewing gums, tea bags to whitening toothpastes, toys to plastic bags and many more things. Up to 10 trillion single use plastic bags are consumed each year but still, there is very little awareness about how it is harming our planet.

It is high time we focus on minimising the use of plastic. We need to become aware about its lethal consequences in order to stop plastic from harming our planet. One of the major concerns is that plastic is non-biodegradable and can last on the surface of the Earth for about 400-1000 years. In addition, it causes a lot of pollution and fire hazards. The creation and recycling of plastic is also harmful because it produces toxic gases.

People buy and depend on this substance because it is cheap in comparison to other alternatives such as paper and cloth. Plastic pollution today is affecting the whole of Earth including man, animals and aquatic life. Its usage is taking the form of an incurable epidemic. It has the ability to even harm our upcoming generations. Before this becomes fatal, we must insist on being plastic-free.

If we want to see a bright future, we need sustainability and circularity. We can start by using and re-using the plastic in our homes to limit our purchase of this substance. If we use all plastic items in circularity then we could be able to prevent future harm to the natural environment. Another step that we could work towards is to clear plastic piles from our landfills and ocean beds. By doing so, we can save our planet and let the aquatic species grow.