Plastic. It’s in our oceans, it’s in our recycling and it is in everything we buy. In the past few years plastic has been a big topic of conversation, which has led to people being more aware of how much of it they use, and in some cases reducing it (yay!). However, once Covid-19 hit, we began to see more and more plastic out and about. We need it, in some places, to protect our key workers with shields and visors, but do we need it everywhere else? And how good is it at protecting us?
At the moment, plastic gives us reassurance. If something is wrapped in plastic, like food, then it means it’s safe, right? Well, a study (linked below), found that the virus can survive for 24 hours on paper, but can survive for 72 hours on plastic. Therefore, is plastic actually any safer than other packaging materials? This confidence in plastic which is based on the idea that plastic is ‘safe’, has led to many countries slowing down, or stopping altogether, their bans on single use plastic. For example, in the UK, we have postponed our ban on single use plastic which was supposed to go ahead this year. It has also led to some supermarkets banning the use of reusable bags. These increases in plastic could become permanent, which is a huge step back, especially when there is evidence to suggest that plastic is not actually that safe. Just to be clear, I’m not talking about PPE here – I’m talking about the amount of plastic that has resurfaced onto our supermarket shelves, and the number of single use masks that are floating around on the streets.
But plastic is recycled, right? Not always. Because the amount of plastic that we use has risen, the amount we recycle has also risen – which puts more pressure on the recycling industry. This is felt particularly by informal waste pickers in countries like Indonesia, who need support from the private sector so that they can keep workers safe with gloves and masks. And if plastic is not recycled, it has to go somewhere. Disposable masks have been found in oceans, floating like jellyfish. An estimated 13 million tonnes of plastic goes into the ocean every year (UN Environment, 2018), with 570,000 tonnes going into the Mediterranean every year. This is equivalent to 33,800 plastic bottles per minute. So that is already a problem. Then, we have the problem that many disposable masks are made of polypropylene, which has a lifespan on 450 years! There is no such thing as disposable folks – it all has to go somewhere.
So what are the alternatives? Again, I’m not talking about the provisions to keep everyone safe – I’m talking about the little things that we can do:
- Masks – you can get cloth masks which are just as effective as disposable ones (and honestly, they’re pretty cute). You just wear them, then wash them as soon as you take it off.
- Taking your reusable bags instead of single use plastic ones – a lot of supermarkets still encourage this. And again, if your bag is a material, like canvas, you can just throw it in the wash to make sure it is safe.
- Buying loose fruit and veg where you can – I have been going to my local supermarket once a week, and I always try to buy my fruit and veg loose. When I get home, I wash it all anyway, so really buying it in plastic is just another thing to clean!
- Zero waste shops – I’ve used a few around me, they were great for when the supermarkets ran out of everything! There’s no reason why we can’t shop at the places we want to, as long as it’s safe, which it is. Have a look at your local zero waste shop, and see how they’re dealing with the situation – do they do click and collect? Or delivery? Or are they open with restrictions? If you’re happy with how they’re operating, give them a go – I’m sure they’d love your support. I’ll link some of my local zero waste shops below if you’re in the York-Leeds area.
As they keep saying on the news, these are unprecedented times, but if we keep treating the environment like a giant waste disposal, and believing that we can throw things into the magical land of ‘away’, we’ll face even more challenges in the years to come. Stay safe and maybe use a little less plastic.
Sources:
Study: https://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJMc2004973?articleTools=true
Protector or polluter? The impact of COVID-19 on the movement to end plastic waste: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/05/plastic-pollution-waste-pandemic-covid19-coronavirus-recycling-sustainability/
The Amount Of Plastic Waste Is Surging Because Of The Coronavirus Pandemic: https://www.forbes.com/sites/lauratenenbaum/2020/04/25/plastic-waste-during-the-time-of-covid-19/#4606425f7e48
‘More masks than jellyfish’: coronavirus waste ends up in ocean: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jun/08/more-masks-than-jellyfish-coronavirus-waste-ends-up-in-ocean
Zero Waste shops (Leeds-York)
The JarTree: http://www.thejartree.co.uk/
Refill and Go: https://www.refillandgo.co.uk/
Ecotopia: https://www.ecotopialeeds.co.uk/
The Bishy Weigh: https://www.thebishyweigh.co.uk/
Waste Makes Waste 