Dear MEL Topic Readers
The world can cut plastic pollution by 80% by 2040, the UN says. Here’s how
Plastic is a synthetic material that is created through a chemical process known as polymerization. We extract crude oil or gas from underground, refine and process it, and form plastic, which then is used for packaging, consumer goods, construction, electronics, medical, and agriculture. Once used, around 90% of the plastics are incinerated, put into landfill, or discarded somewhere including the natural environment. Indeed, the way we produce, use, and dispose of plastic is polluting ecosystems and affecting the climate. The problem is that we’re so used to the convenience and economy of plastic, especially single-use plastics, such as plastic bags, straws, food packaging, beverage bottles, food containers, and packaging wraps. The report from the United Nations Environment Program published in May states reusing plastics would have the greatest impact to reduce plastic pollution, as much as 30% by 2040. Also, enhancing recycling levels and using alternative materials for single-use plastics would further help reduce pollution. As the world’s population is increasing in the coming decades, plastic waste will just keep increasing unless more effective efforts are made on a global scale.
Read the article and learn about how seriously plastic pollution needs to be reduced.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/16/world/plastic-pollution-unep-climate-intl/index.html
The world can cut plastic pollution by 80% by 2040, the UN says. Here’s how
Plastic is a synthetic material that is created through a chemical process known as polymerization. We extract crude oil or gas from underground, refine and process it, and form plastic, which then is used for packaging, consumer goods, construction, electronics, medical, and agriculture. Once used, around 90% of the plastics are incinerated, put into landfill, or discarded somewhere including the natural environment. Indeed, the way we produce, use, and dispose of plastic is polluting ecosystems and affecting the climate. The problem is that we’re so used to the convenience and economy of plastic, especially single-use plastics, such as plastic bags, straws, food packaging, beverage bottles, food containers, and packaging wraps. The report from the United Nations Environment Program published in May states reusing plastics would have the greatest impact to reduce plastic pollution, as much as 30% by 2040. Also, enhancing recycling levels and using alternative materials for single-use plastics would further help reduce pollution. As the world’s population is increasing in the coming decades, plastic waste will just keep increasing unless more effective efforts are made on a global scale.
Read the article and learn about how seriously plastic pollution needs to be reduced.
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/05/16/world/plastic-pollution-unep-climate-intl/index.html
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