Our choices of living can have a significant impact on the planet, including the ocean and wildlife. Hence, we should make smart choices about what we consume and where our waste goes, so as to protect our planet.
How Does Plastic End Up Littering Our Oceans?
According to the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), a non-governmental organisation, there are three main ways in which plastic ends up in the ocean:
1. Putting plastic in the bin when it can instead be recycled. Rubbish from bins goes to landfill, but because plastic is so lightweight, it can often blow away during transportation, and can then end up in rivers, lakes and the ocean.
2. Littering. If people litter their plastic carrier bags or other plastic items, these can end up blowing into rivers or into drains – which lead to the ocean. Not to mention, littering is illegal due to the effects it has on the planet.
3. Flushing products down the drain, whether it be down sinks or toilets. For example, flushing wipes, nappies, and sanitary products down toilets all release microfibres that end up polluting the ocean. Interestingly, this also happens when we wash our clothes in washing machines, so a solution to this is handwashing clothes!
How Does This Affect the Sea Life?
Watch this video to understand how plastic waste can affect turtles.
Are You a Fan of Coca-Cola?
The soft drinks industry produces 470 billion plastic bottles every year, of which a quarter are produced by Coca-Cola. These plastic bottles are designed to be used once and then thrown away, but this is having a detrimental impact on the planet – particularly sea life.
In 2018, Coca-Cola announced that they would recycle many of their bottles to make new bottles, but even so, they have been one of the top companies that are polluting the land and ocean with their products.
In Samoa, there is a plastic pollution issue, especially since glass bottles were replaced with single-use plastic ones. This led to more littering of the bottles. Find out more about Coca-Cola’s impact on the planet and oceans.
Sustainable Choices To Make
· Keep plastic away from beaches to ensure it does not end up in the sea.
· Try to use glass bottles or recycled bottles, not single use ones.
· Take a reusable bottle from home instead of buying plastic bottled.
· Don’t litter, and if you see any waste on the ground, pick it up and put it in a bin.
· Support charities and organisations who help the wildlife and planet by donating or volunteering for them.