Ajay Khajuria
“Beat Plastic Pollution” the theme for the World Environment Day 2018 (5th June 2018) underlines the serious proportions of one of the greatest challenges to the Global Environment in the 21st century. Although useful in many ways, the production of plastic products on a phenomenal scale, and the problems associated with their disposal, pose a great threat to all the life forms on Earth.
There is no denying the fact that, being less expensive, plastic has come to be overused. However on being disposed off in landfill sites, plastic products do not decompose at a fast rate and therefore pollute the land or soil in that area. Especially the convenience of low cost and light plastic products, like plastic bottles, straws and polythene bags which are usually thrown away after a single use have contributed in drastically increasing its pollution rate on land as well as in the oceans.
Recent studies have indicated that 90% of bottled water and 83%of tap water samples taken around the world were found to contain micro plastic samples. A study carried out in 2017 and focused on global drinking water pollution with plastics showed that the contamination rate of tap water was the highest in the United States at 94% followed by Lebanon and India. Though the United Kingdom, Germany and France were amongst the countries which had the lowest contamination rate, it was still as high as 72%. It is currently unclear if this contamination is affecting human health, but possibly, there could be adverse impacts on human well-being, according to scientists associated with the study. However, traces of microplastics are turning up in blood, stomachs and lungs of humans with increasing regularity.
It is estimated that, every year, about 100 million tons of plastic are produced all over the world out of which, an estimated 25 million tons of non-degradable plastic gets accumulated in the environment. It is estimated that 50% of the consumer plastics are single use which add to the plastic waste produced. Approximately 1 million plastic bottles are bought every minute, worldwide and 500 billion plastic bags are used each year. An estimated 13 million tons of plastic leak into the oceans each year. Discarded plastic products are eaten by terrestrial as well as aquatic animals, leading to the bio-accumulation of plastic inside their bodies, which often cause choking, ultimately leading to their death. An estimated 100,000 marine animals are killed by plastics each year. Statics show that by the year 2050 there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish.
World Environment Day 2018 provides us an opportunity to review the role of plastics in our lives and try and find ways to ward off or mitigate this environmental catastrophe staring us in the face. As also indicated by the UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme), it is neither possible nor desirable to remove all plastic from society. However, in the backdrop of the scale of today's plastic crisis, we need to look at alternative materials seriously, to reduce our dependence on plastic. Governments are slowly waking up to the problem and there is increasing trend of putting bans on plastic bags all over the world. The consequences of subsidizing certain sectors also need a relook to ensure that the perceived benefit (social, economic, environmental or political) is balanced against the actual cost, especially of environmental damage. The public and private sectors need to fully cost the social and environmental impacts of their current business models. As a rule, the precautionary approach and polluter pays principle must guide the transition to more sustainable products and practices.
Additional research is required to be conducted into the behavior, fate and effects of natural materials, semi-synthetic polymers and biomass-based biopolymers in the natural environment. Research into the use of agricultural and horticultural waste is also required as we explore alternatives to conventional plastics and it needs to be ensured that materials are clearly labeled as suitable for industrial composting. The use of the term “biodegradable” without clarifying the conditions under which biodegradation occurs would also need to be discouraged besides ensuring that products are adequately labeled so that users and consumers are provided with clear, comprehensible and accurate information on which to base purchase decisions.
The need of the hour is to raise awareness about the impact plastics have on society and the environment and seek to educate people about the potential of alternative materials. Though, there is no single, one size-fits-all solution to the current plastic crisis, Governments, businesses and individuals need to play a major role in weaning society from its dependence on a material that continues to cause havoc in the environment.
India has emerged as a global environmental leader in recent years and is the host country for the World Environment Day 2018 Celebrations. The Government of India has committed to organizing and promoting the World Environment Day celebrations through a series of engaging activities and events generating strong public interest and participation. From pan-Indian plastic clean-up drives in public areas, national reserves and forests to simultaneous beach clean-up activities – India proposes to lead the initiative by setting an example. The Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of India, has already set a precedence by requesting various governmental departments to avoid the use of plastic bottles to provide drinking water during governmental meetings, etc., and to instead make arrangements for providing drinking water that do not generate plastic waste. Similarly, the States of Sikkim and Bihar have also restricted the usage of plastic water bottles in government functions and meetings. Other States also need to follow suit to begin with.
In the meanwhile, we all need to resolve at individual levels to make a beginning by refusing to take delivery of items in plastic bags while shopping and, instead, insist on paper bags, or carry our own cloth or canvas bags from home. Similarly, instead of buying plastic bottles of drinking water we need to, instead, carry our own water in thermos flasks from home. During functions water tables with glass tumblers need to be arranged for guests instead of offering water in plastic bottles. This is the least we can resolve to do to make a significant reduction in the environmental pollution and make this planet more liveable for the coming generations.
(The author is a retired KAS officer and the President of Samiksha, the Society for Promotion of Inclusive and Sustainable Development, Jammu)
