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How to reduce the use of plastic?
In Nairobi, delegations from 175 countries met under the auspices of the UN to negotiate a global treaty to end plastic waste. The negotiations ended against a backdrop of disagreement between NGOs and representatives of the petrochemical industry, while the question of the fight against plastic remains crucial. – (franceinfo)
In Nairobi, delegations from 175 countries met under the auspices of the UN to negotiate the global treaty to end plastic waste. The negotiations ended against a backdrop of disagreement between NGOs and representatives of the petrochemical industry, while the question of the fight against plastic remains crucial.
A highly anticipated summit and yet disappointing for many. International negotiations against the proliferation of plastic waste ended on Sunday November 19 in Kenya. Environmental NGOs which defended the 75% reduction in plastic production by 2040 accuse certain countries of having blocked the discussions.
The stakes in these negotiations were high, because plastic, from petrochemicals, is everywhere. We explain to you why the fight against plastic is crucial for the environment.
- Why should we get rid of plastic?
Plastic is not biodegradable and therefore generates a huge amount of waste : it is the equivalent of a garbage truck which is dumped into the ocean every minute and in total 400 million tonnes of plastic end up in the ocean each year.
Another problem is that the majority of plastic is made from fossil fuels, such as oil. Its production is therefore very polluting.
Finally, this pollution disrupts biodiversity, because animals swallow plastic through the water or the food they consume. And a study from the University of Newcastle even estimates that humans ingest 5 grams of plastic per week through their diet.
- How to get rid of plastic?
On the side of governments and institutions, laws should be created against plastic and enforced, as advocated by Surfrider Europe, like the ban on the production of certain types of plastics. The European Union has already decided to ban products for which there are alternatives. Like straws, Q-tipsdisposable tableware…
States and institutions could also encourage eco-design, that is to say the production of products by thinking them from the extraction of raw materials until their destruction, to promote reusability, refillthe repair…
For their part, manufacturers could design products with as little plastic as possible, for example by limiting packaging.
They could also develop reuse solutions, such as deposit systems for glass, plastic packaging for catering, or even cosmetics.