Fork-You, Single Use Plastics
"It's only one straw," said 8 billion people. By 2050 it's estimated that there will be more plastic than fish in the world's ocean. The humble straw and plastic cutlery being some of the worst culprits. Single-use straws and cutlery can't be recycled, they aren't biodegradable, and they can cause serious harm to marine life.
You might think “but one plastic fork isn’t going to make a difference”. The fact is that every little bit really does count. I mean, just think about it - if every single person on this earth went plastic-free, we wouldn’t be in the situation we are now.
Right now, that’s not plausible, but the more people make an effort to ditch that plastic, the more of a ripple effect we’ll have.
Why is Plastic Bad for Our Ecosystem?
Sure, you probably know by now that it’s not a good thing. But when you’re making the conscious decision to make better choices, it’s important to know why you’re making those choices and what impact they’re really having.Here are some fast facts:
- Approximately 1 million plastic bags are used around the globe every minute
- 80% of marine rubbish consists of plastic
- Around 1 million seabirds die each year due to ingestion and from being tangled
- 8 million tonnes of plastic enters our oceans every year
- The Victorian Government spends $80 million per year on cleaning up this mess
But it’s those kinds of hard-hitting facts that are going to shift our mindset to focus on the alternatives.
Remember that it’s not all doom-and-gloom, and with even the smallest daily changes, you can rest-easy knowing you’re taking steps towards doing the right thing. We’re all humans at the end of the day, but it’s up to us to do what we can.
If you’re looking for another way to help, check out this initiative from the Australian Marine Conservation Society to turn the tide on pollution.