03/07/2021
Did you know that today is International Plastic Bag Free Day?
Plastic pollution is a global catastrophe and sadly it is a man-made one. Did you know that approximately 500 billion plastic bags are used on a global scale?
The marine ecosystem in particular is suffering immensely as a result of plastic pollution. 31 species of marine mammals are known to have ingested marine plastic whilst over 100 species of sea birds have ingested plastic artefacts. Over 250 species have become entangled in plastic, whilst entanglement rates of approximately eight percent have been discovered in some sea lion and seal species.
This pollution is also extremely dangerous because it is leading to the transportation of invasive species, which can have a catastrophic influence on biodiversity. We are not immune from the impact either. Plastic particles in the ocean attract toxins, which in turn affects us, as the toxins enter the food chain.
International Plastic Bag Free Day is dedicated to heightening awareness about these and very real and pressing issues brought about by this most popular of disposable carrying devices. We are reminded that those bags we pick up from the retailers are used for an incredibly short time, usually under 25 minutes, and are then disposed of.
They may pass out of our thinking then, but they do not pass out of our world. Plastic bags remain in the world for anywhere from 100-500 years before finally decaying completely, and have a profound impact upon our environment as a result.
Out in the great reaches of the ocean are massive reefs made up of all sorts of plastic waste, and plastic bags play heavily among them. Such is the magnitude of the problem that these great floating islands reach hundreds of miles, like great monuments to mankind’s wastefulness, and disregard for the world upon which we live. International Plastic Bag Free Day gives us an opportunity to remind ourselves, and others, that every action we take, and every bag we dispose of, effects the lives of everyone in the world for generations to come.
As we sell plastic trays, crates and dollies, we often get challenged about how "using plastic is bad" and "we should all move to cardboard". Sadly it's not that simple and all plastic is not made equally. For example, your mum's Tupperware! That's plastic, but how long has she had those bad boys!?!? FOREVER!! That's how long!
That's because they were designed to be used time and time again and apparently it seems, be passed down through generations! 😃 Unlike a carrier bag that handles break and stretch under weight and were designed to be as low cost as possible.
Another thing I here is, if there is so much plastic, why don't we just recycle it in to new things. Ohhhh If only it was that easy!! There are so many different kinds of plastic, each having their strengths and their weaknesses, and just like a Tupperware lid and container...some types just won't work together. If you imagine a water bottle. The lid is 1 kind of plastic, the cap is another kind of plastic. If you didn't separate the 2 types before melting it down the chemical mix would cause problems when you tried to make a new product out of it. Then there is the label or the ink when things are printed directly on to the plastic. I could go on and on with the science stuff, but I think you get the picture.
We understand the science of plastic. We understand what plastics will play nice together and what will not. That's why we have designed our products and tools to work with recycled plastic with out compromising the quality or strength.
We don't just sell plastic material handling equipment. We recycle old plastics and give them a new life.
If you have any old plastics that you want to KNOW is recycled or you want to know more about our products let me know below.
If you don't...but want to help us out, like and share this post!
