How do plastics affect our oceans? What about our health? The impact of plastic in the oceans is one of the greatest threats to the health and biodiversity of our planet. Every year, more than 300 million tons of plastic are produced, of which only a small part is recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, in the environment or in the sea where it accumulates and fragments into smaller and smaller pieces.
The oceans are the largest ecosystem on the planet and are home to great biodiversity. However, plastic poses a serious threat to marine life, affecting more than 600 species, including turtles, whales, dolphins, fish and birds.
Plastic can cause them physical damage such as suffocation, strangulation, wounds or blockage of the digestive tract, but also chemical damage, as many plastics contain toxic substances that are released into the water or accumulate in the animals’ tissues. Animals become entangled in them and mistake the smallest fragments for food, which can cause intoxication and end their lives.
In addition, plastic in the ocean traps sunlight, producing a greenhouse effect at the surface, which reduces the amount of light and heat that travels deep into the ocean, affecting the marine ecosystem.
Plastic debris is now found in even the most remote corners of the oceans, seriously affecting the marine ecosystem. There are an estimated 150 million tons of plastic floating in the sea. About 8 million more are added each year. If we do not change our plastic consumption and management habits, by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the ocean.
Plastics fragment in the environment into smaller and smaller particles, called microplastics, which can be ingested or inhaled by humans. Microplastics can enter our bodies through food, especially seafood, or the air we breathe. Once inside, they can cause hormonal alterations, developmental disorders, reproductive abnormalities or cancer.
What can we do to stop this situation? From Brushboo we would like to emphasize that one of the first steps to be taken is to reduce both the production and use of single-use plastics such asFor example, water bottles, bags or straws, which account for almost half of the plastics that reach the sea.
Forget about plastic water bottles. Instead, opt for reusable bottles, such as, for example, our
thermos-bottle
a sustainable alternative to drink your beverages wherever you go, leaving plastics aside. 100% organic bamboo and stainless steel.
Plastic straws should also be discontinued. We suggest you to use our
pack of 4 reusable bamboo straws for home
for home.
And for parties or for restaurants and bars, we recommend you to try our wheat straws (pack of 100 straws). A small gesture, but a big one for the care of the environment.
It is also necessary to improve the collection and recycling of plastics that have already been generated to prevent them from ending up in the environment or in the sea.
Plastic is a very durable material and difficult to remove. Therefore, we must be aware of the impact it has on our planet and act responsibly. Only in this way can we protect the oceans and the life they harbor. Enter our eco online store where you will find the best sustainable alternatives to include in your daily life in order to care for and protect the environment against plastics. We are waiting for you!
For more information, questions or doubts you may have, please send us an e-mail to hello@brushboo.com.
