PLASTIC CONSUME

The preservation of the environment is one of the most trending themes of recent years. The natural catastrophes we have witnessed tend to make us think that the Human hand, because of the inherent greed for money and power, can be fatal to our planet. More and more, the concern for the environment must be present in our minds as a priority. The commitment to a “green” education for the human being, who is by nature a creature of habits, is essential if we don’t want the coming generations to add even more to the degradation of planet Earth. In this sense, Baiga magazine intends to contribute by alerting and informing its readers about the problems associated with bad behaviors from an environmental point of view. It is through education that an individual action can make a difference, in the sense of joining efforts to save our planet from more environmental disasters. One of the main catalysts of these disasters is the unrestrained use of plastic.

Produced by Manuel de Almeida Salvador / Edited by Ricardo de Carvalho

Plastic is the raw material most used by industries in the manufacture of different goods. Its composition consists of synthetic polymers made from petroleum, taking about 100 years to decompose. The wide versatility the low cost of plastic are perennial factors that perpetuate its use, both by the diversified industries and by the consumers. The industry is able to produce low cost goods maximizing the profits and the consumers can have their daily issues taken care of, such as shopping bags, packaging which allows the preservation and transportation of food, among other uses. In this way, a cost-benefit relationship is established between producers and consumers. However, the environment is the one who ends up suffering from this relationship and, consequently, the human being, who is increasingly submerged in a plasticized world.
Since this is a very well-known topic in recent times, we are witnessing that which we could call a ‘’plastic garbage continent’’, which is floating in the ocean and damaging the entire maritime ecosystem. According to recently published studies, it is estimated that about 10,000 tons of plastic waste are dumped into the ocean each year and that by 2050 there will be more of this waste than marine fauna.

© Adrien Taylor

It is urgent that the Man begins to take an attitude focused on the regression or the ‘’non-progression’’ of this problem, which is not only an environmental but also a social one. In this sense, there already are some entities, brands and also individual personalities who begin to make the difference regarding more ethical practices towards the sustainability of the planet, namely in the fashion industry.
Creating a space within a company that devotes itself to thinking about good environmental sustainability strategies becomes as important as thinking about marketing strategies. With the growing awareness of the environmental sustainability issue, and since so far there aren’t many brands (due to the producer-consumer benefit relation mentioned above) adopting sustainable strategies such as company policy, it is now trendy and well regarded to have this kind of concerns.

© Dustan Woodhouse

According to the Business of Fashion website, brands such as H&M, Adidas, Stella McCartney and G-Star Raw are already acting on this field, aiming to turning ‘’garbage’’ into luxury. Banishing and recycling are the keywords which they are based on, whether by choosing alternative materials to carry products, or by using recycled plastic in the production of footwear and clothing.
In 2015, the Swedish brand H&M promised to triple the number of pieces made from fibers produced with plastic waste components by the end of that year.
The German brand Adidas partnered, in 2016, with an organization that is dedicated to ending the destruction of sea life in the oceans – Parley for the Oceans – committing to using the same fiber mentioned above in the manufacture of their garments and footwear, as well as abolishing the use of plastic bags in all of its 2900 stores.

© John Cameron

In 2017, Stella McCartney also partnered with the same organization, which includes artists, designers, musicians and scientists, who claim that much of the plastic waste ends up in the ocean, wrapping whales, turtles, and even inside some fish, damaging their internal organs.
Finally, the Dutch retailer G-Star Raw, through an agreement with Parley for the Oceans, has committed to launch a denim line made from recycled plastic.

As for Portugal, the government is preparing measures to reduce the consumption and use of plastic bags or packages, which may be accomplished through tax incentives or the application of taxes.

© Hermes Rivera

The measure will be implemented in 2019, and the possible tax incentives will be for companies that have activities related to the consumption of plastic, to make them use more sustainable materials. As for the fees, these are for the consumers (these measures are foreseen in the State Budget). Other solutions for the reduction of plastic consumption can be to keep signs in stores or sharing of utensils among coffee shops and bars, which can be reused.

© National Geographic

As for Brussels, the European Commission’s proposal foresees the prohibition of swabs, cutlery, plates, and straws, made from plastic. All these products account for 70% of maritime pollution, warns Brussels.

If the proposal is approved, Member States still have to collect 90% of disposable plastic beverage bottles by 2025, for example through deposit refund schemes.

© Ted Ed