Fifty years ago, plastic was not as ubiquitous as it is today. Plastic had not yet entered our food chain, organs, blood, and breast milk, and seabirds had not been diagnosed with a new disease called 'plastic disease'. And now, our planet is becoming a plastic waste dump. The widespread use and long-term existence of plastic products have led to the accumulation of a large amount of plastic waste, which has had a serious negative impact on the ecological environment and biodiversity.
1、 The global production of approximately 438 million tons of new plastic each year is enormous, equivalent to the weight of over 43300 Eiffel Towers.
2、 Research shows that the average human consumes five grams of plastic per week, which is equivalent to the weight of a credit card. These microplastic particles may exist in food, water, and air, entering our bodies. The sources of plastic particles include the decomposition of plastic products, synthetic fibers in washing machines, and wear of car tire layers. These tiny plastic particles enter our food chain and are ultimately ingested by humans, causing irreversible impacts on human health.
3、 Nearly 80% of plastic waste is ultimately piled up in landfills or natural environments, which cannot be effectively treated, causing a huge burden and pollution to our ecological environment.
4、 According to statistics, approximately 51 million tons of plastic are released into the natural environment each year, which is equivalent to the weight of eight Giza pyramids. These plastic wastes come from various fields, including daily consumer goods, packaging materials, industrial production, and agriculture.
5、 The plastic industry has become one of the fastest-growing sources of global industrial greenhouse gas emissions. This is mainly caused by the energy consumption and large greenhouse gas emissions generated by chemical reactions in the plastic production process.
Let us work together to protect our planet and create a clean and sustainable future.
