The sea of plastic in just a few decades has invaded much of the earth’s surface. Often incognito, in the form of microplastics that the eye cannot see but the mouth swallows and the nose breathes in. And we all — more or less unaware, or unconscious — contribute to a new cycle of human existence. Just when the mirage of a no longer carbon-based economy appears, refluxes of petroleum derivatives enter our bodies. Change is possible, here’s how.
The plastic sea and those who inhabit it
Every minute the amount of plastic equivalent to a truckload is dumped into the planet’s waters. Pasture and poison to their hosts who slowly die from it, starting with the largest ones. Whales and dolphins, birds and turtles, as well as fish.
25-30% of the fish in the Tyrrhenian and Adriatic. contains plastic microparticles, reveal analyses conducted by the Marine Science Institute of the National Research Council (CNR) in Genoa, as well as those of the Marche Polytechnic University. Anchovies, mullet, cod, redfish, shrimp and mussels the species analyzed.
‘Worldwide, plastics account for 85 percent of marine litter.. In the form of microplastics are also present in the air, water and food and therefore reach our lungs and our tables, with as yet unknown health effects. Addressing the plastics problem is a necessity, which can open up new opportunities for innovation, competitiveness and employment‘
(European Commission, press release 28.5.18)
The plastic sea and Europe
Just this year, the European Union
adopted the ”circular economy
circular economy package‘
. A state-of-the-art system of rules designed to prevent and reduce waste by promoting the reuse and recycling of materials wherever possible.
The objects in disposable plastic are instead the subject of a proposed EU directive aimed at Protect our seas from pollution of related wastes.
The idea is to ban consumer products that can be easily replaced with environmentally friendly materials, such as plastic cutlery and tableware, cotton sticks. At the same time, limit the use and promote the proper disposal of other items, such as bottles. Also using economic incentives aimed at the consumer.
Ecology and food security go hand in hand. Polyethylene-which is used to make much of the packaging and disposable products-is indeed the leading cause of microplastic contamination of the food chain. A drastic cut in single-use plastic items will therefore help fulfill both goals of environmental protection and food safety.
The plastic sea and us
No one is excluded from responsibility
for the havoc described above.
‘The big companies that continue to make profits from disposable plastic know full well that it is impossible to recycle it all, but they continue to produce more and more of it. It is necessary for big brands to take responsibility starting precisely with reducing the amount of single-use plastics placed on the market‘.
(Giuseppe Ungherese, Pollution Campaign Manager, Greenpeace Italy)
While Big Food ‘s commitment to investing in the ecology of packaging should be demanded, everyone’s attention to small everyday gestures is equally essential. Some insights to follow.
A) Choose products that use less packaging. One example out of all, fresh fruits and vegetables pre-wrapped in plastic and Styrofoam packaging. To be avoided like the plague until the large-scale retail chains abandon this bad and unnecessary habit.
B) Avoid single-use plastic items whenever possible. Always prefer glass to plastic, eschewing the disposable cups too often offered by bars at beach resorts and other vacation spots. Do without the plastic straws, without which the
homo sapiens
has, after all, survived for a long time.
C) Reuse and recycle materials-plastics, in particular-at home as well as on vacation. And when the item is no longer usable, it is essential to allocate it to the appropriate recycling collection spaces.
A plastic bag takes up to 20 years to degrade, a straw or bottle up to 500 years, a Styrofoam container up to 1000. It is criminal to abandon them in the environment, foolish to use them inappropriately, demented to abandon them to the landfill when they could be turned into new objects instead.
The initiative
Plastic Radar
by Greenpeace
plans to send to Whatsapp number +39 342 3711267 photographs of plastic waste found on beaches, along with their location, before throwing them in the trash.
The purpose of the initiative is to analyze the nature of plastic objects that invade our sea. Above all, stimulate everyone to help remove litter from our beaches.
Small signs of civilization.
, on a planet that so badly needs them.
Dario Dongo and Giulia Torre
Dario Dongo, lawyer and journalist, PhD in international food law, founder of WIISE (FARE - GIFT - Food Times) and Égalité.
Graduated in law, master in European Food Law, she deals with agro-food, veterinary and agricultural legislation. She is a PhD in agrisystem.
