Earth Day is the world’s largest environmental movement! Earth Day started back in 1970 when protesters went to the streets en masse to demonstrate against industrial pollution and to raise awareness for healthy, sustainable living. It is nearly 50 years going and each year they highlight environmental and conservation problems that we need to address as a global community.
Care for Our Earth…
All Natural Spirit
Save our Forests…
Protect our Oceans…
Love all Animals…
Always be Kind…
The theme for this year is to End Plastic Pollution:
- Reduce – Consume what you need
- Refuse – Single Use Plastics (such as straws, bottles, plastic bags and cutlery)
- Reuse – Choose alternatives (such as glass, fabric and metal options)
- Recycle – PETE and HDPE (South Africa is very bad at recycling plastic! We don’t have any proper recycling or drop-off facilities!)
- Remove – If you see it laying around, remove it. Try to use new biodegradable plastics as well.
According to an article by the BBC:
– 8.3 billion metric tons (9.1 billion US tons) of virgin (non-recycled) plastic has been produced to date.
– Generating 6.3 billion metric tons (6.9 billion US tons) of plastic waste.
– 9% of that waste has been recycled.
– 12% has been incinerated.
– The remaining 79% (5.5 billion US tons) of plastic waste has accumulated in landfills and the natural environment.
– 12 billion metric tons (13.2 billion US tons) will enter landfills or the environment by 2050 if current production and waste management trends continue.
Plastic Pollution Primer and Action Toolkit PDF, Earth Day Network
The Earth Day Network has several resources to assist everybody with becoming less dependent on plastic products:
- A World without Plastic Pollution
- A Personal Journey to End Plastic Pollution, which has a Plastic Pollution Primer and Action Toolkit PDF to assist you (a very comprehensive 53 pages!).
Ocean plastic pollution and microscopic plastic particles (i.e., microplastics) are the biggest issues. Large plastic debri cause direct environmental damage and are a danger to wildlife. Both large and small plastics become microplastics, which pervade every inch of the environment and end up back in our own food and cause health problems!
The good news concerning microplastics is that there are many things you can do about the problem.
– Prevent the creation of microplastics by being careful not to toss plastic products in water ways, beaches or open spaces.
– Pick up trash -especially plastics- whenever you see it, especially in ponds, streams, rivers, beaches, when possible.
– Participate in organized clean-up activities as much as you can.
– Look up products on the Internet and choose not to buy products containing microbeads. Choose products that have natural exfoliators instead.
– Consider changing the way you wash your clothing to reduce the number of microfibers that are released. There are also bags and other devices you can use in your washing machine to collect the fibers.
– Consider purchasing items made of natural fibers, when possible.
– Do not wash off lint from your dryer down the drain. Dispose of it on the trash.
Plastic Pollution Primer and Action Toolkit PDF, Earth Day Network
All Natural Spirit 