Plastic. An enemy or a friend?

Plastic

AN ENEMY OR A FRIEND?

Text LAURA KAZIMIERSKA Photos KAROLA TAKES PHOTOS

Although it has been with us for only over a century, it has quickly dominated every area of our lives. Plastic is for some people the personification of all evil, for others salvation.

One thing is for sure, wherever you are today, take a look around and you will surely find something of the most durable material in the world.

A SHORT HISTORY The common name of plastic comes from plastic materials that are easy to model and take various shapes. Who would have thought that it was due to the growing popularity of the

Our human tendency to irresponsibly clean up al turned out to be wonderful, after ourselves can get us although not for making balls into trouble. but for imitating many fabrics We risk losing not only many and natural materials. The revspecies in the ocean but also olutionary discovery prompton land. ed scientists from around the world to look for cheaper and durable materials from which to make everyday objects, previously available only to the wealthy. The beginning of the 20th century, the mechanical revolution and scientific progress in the field of chemistry, facilitated the creation of new solutions and the first synthetic plastics found their way into industry. At the same time, the outbreak of World War II strengthened the use of such a resistant and durable material. The plastic craze lasted until the early 1960's when it was first spotted in the ocean. The enthusiasm of scientists quickly turned into the question of what consequences this indestructible material will have for our planet? Unfortunately, it was too late. Big concerns appreciated a huge drop in plastics production and transportation costs so much that it was impossible to withdraw the lucrative invention for the sake of the environment.

game of billiards, and at the same time a drastic decline in the population of elephants, whose precious ivory was used to make billiard balls. Searching for new solutions and materials was supposed to protect and facilitate life on our planet.

Natural plastics, the so-called polymers, can be found in plants and animal shells or skeletons. The first plastic produced at the end of the 19th century was of natural origin and was derived from cellulose ubiquitous in nature. The materiIS PLASTIC SO FANTASTIC?!? Considering the price, the variety of uses and durability, plastic as a material is one of the best inventions of the 20th century. It revolutionised the economy and life of each of us. It is mainly thanks to it that we have made technological progress in the last 50 years. Without it, there would be no medical equipment or even the beloved diving equipment.

Therefore, it is worth remembering that not all plastics are the same. And what bothers us and litters every inch of our planet are plastic packaging and the so-called disposable products. The problem with plastic today is that we went into raptures over the new material too quickly without thinking about the consequences. Cheap, flexible material has replaced virtually every aspect of functional living, from furniture and clothing to a toothbrush.

Many countries have started introducing laws to ban the production of plastic bags to show that the problem of environmental pollution can no longer be ignored. And so the plastic bag has become a modern symbol of the fight against plastic.

Plastic bags are made of non-renewable resources and are a major contributor to climate change. Most plastic bags are made of polypropylene, a material made from petroleum and natural gas. Greenhouse gases are produced during production, which exacerbates our current problem of climate

change. The packaging sector is responsible for almost half of the world's plastic.

Plastic bags are harmful to wildlife and marine life. Birds, land and sea animals, including turtles, often confuse plastic bags and other plastic materials with food. When they consume these plastics, their digestive systems become clogged, causing health infections and even suffocation. Animals can also easily become entangled in the plastic.

IT IS A NEVER-ENDING STORY Indonesia is a country of 17,000 islands, mostly surrounded by coral reefs, with a variety of underwater wildlife that cannot be found anywhere else in the world. Despite its unparalleled natural wealth, it is also a country that, along with China, is the greatest contributor to the pollution of the oceans.

Living on one of the small Indonesian islands that can be walked around in two hours, I quickly realized that walking on the beach has little to do with collecting seashells, but rather a collection of plastic items thrown by the sea. It happened everyday! Both on and below the surface of the water, there is evidence of human invention, for which I am ashamed and it is difficult for me to justify all our progress.

From plastic bags, packages and bottles, between which sea turtles and shoals of fish swing agile, to fishing nets left behind, which become a pointless fishing tool, destroying coral reefs and all other creatures on the way.

More and more often, while diving, I encounter the problem of coral reef pollution and instead of enjoying the beauty of nature, I tirelessly collect garbage in BCD pockets or specially designed mesh bags. During the rainy season, we often emerge from the sea of plastic packaging. Last year, despite the lack of tourists, we managed to collect over five tons of rubbish on our weekly beach cleanings, and this is just the tip of the iceberg. Plastic in the ocean also serves as a floating transport device that enables alien species to hitchhike to unknown parts of the world, threatening biodiversity. Global warming contributes to this process further by making once inaccessible areas like the Arctic friendly to the colonisation of invasive species that can be very harmful to local species.

Microplastics (plastic particles ranging from microscopic to 5 mm) that abandoned fishing gear and other plastic debris are among the greatest threats to the marine environment. As are they to the entire planet.

WHAT THE EYES CANNOT SEE...

The average person produces a quarter of a kilogram of plastic waste every day. No wonder first step in the right direction. However, Living away from nature, it is easy to forget the oceans are filling up one of the most effective options that where our trash ends its journey. It is also with waste! we could all do as members of this frageasy for us to blame the third world coun- ile ecosystem is to be responsible for our tries for the pollution of the ocean. The truth garbage. When we have the option, we should is, each of us contributes to the problem. And try to avoid buying products packed in plastic, the sooner we realise this, the easier it will be for us choose packaging that can be recycled, and bring your to make a change. And there are plenty of reasons! own bag when shopping, use a reusable bottle and, of course,

Plastic is a health hazard not only to sea creatures, but to all do not clutter. of us. Research confirms that our health suffers at every level of plastic products manufacturing. Chemical compounds in A NECESSARY EVIL plastic can contribute to infertility, diabetes, heart disease and The addiction to plastic worsens with each passing year. All all kinds of cancer. electronic devices require plastics. Life without plastic is also The microplastic found in the seafood and fish we consume life without cell phones, computers or the Internet. If it weren't is able to enter our body and disrupt the hormonal function. for plastic, it would not have been possible to write or read Plastic particles have been found in waters, sediments and this article. But that's not all, aluminum soda cans are lined even the deepest parts of the oceans. A study of over 700 spe- with plastic resin. Otherwise, the drink would have corroded cies from microscopic zooplankton to huge marine mammals within three days. The paper cups from which you drink your has shown that they possess microplastics. In addition, plastic coffee to go also hide a thin layer of plastic. Tea bags would particles have even been found in plants! not be possible without plastic either, as they are sealed with

How to protect yourself from consuming poisonous sub- polyethylene. Plastic packaging supports the safe distribustances? Limiting your consumption of fish and seafood is the tion of food over long distances and minimises waste, keep-

80 %

of microplastics come from land-based ing food fresh for much longer, sources such as bottles and is a barrier to bacteria. The and bags. amount of food packaged in plastic has increased dramatically since the pandemic. Plastic is the main part of most kitchen utensils. Plastics are also an important part of our medical technology, used to make glasses, dentures, in many different medical implants and other devices that help us stay alive and stay in good shape.

Without plastic, we would have been stuck in 1870, still using non-durable and dangerous varnish and rubber to insulate wires. But at least we wouldn't pollute the Earth with disposable coffee cups, water bottles, toothbrushes, and other plastic items. And plastic garbage would not affect thousands of marine and terrestrial species.

It is imperative to develop alternative plastics that are as light, durable and comfortable as conventional plastics. One of such solutions are plastics of plant origin, i.e. bioplastics made of corn starch or sugar cane.

But it also has its downsides. Huge capital investment, cultivation fields and specialised recycling points are necessary to prevent bioplastics from turning into environmentally damaging methane-generating plants, a gas much more harmful to the climate than carbon dioxide.

THE FUTURE DEPENDS ON US The truth is that plastic will be with us for the next millennia. And the only option to limit the use and cleanse our planet is to completely ban the production of packaging, straws or single-use bottles that can be easily replaced with another material. The textile industry also needs reform, but our appetite for possession must also decrease.

Governments draw huge amounts of money from large concerns that contribute to environmental pollution, so taking care of the environment is our responsibility, the consumers. Everyone is able to make a difference by choosing environmentally friendly products. If all of us did the same, we would live in a cleaner, more beautiful world.

It is therefore worth getting involved in actions promoting environmental protection, campaigns against plastic in social media, organising cleaning of beaches, forests or favourite diving sites. Replace everyday objects made of plastic with an ecological alternative. And also buy local and seasonal food products.

The last decade has shown a huge transformation in social consciousness, and as a result, many small businesses and start-ups have started to meet the growing demand for products that are not harmful to the environment. Although sometimes it is more expensive, it is worth supporting these brands in the name of protecting our planet.

Crowdfunding platforms such as Plane Heroes connect people from all over the world, creating an alternative form of income for local communities and cleaning organisers, promoting at the same time environmental care.

Pressure on government and local authorities is just as necessary. Research shows that bans on making plastic bags showed a 64% drop in their production! What follows? Reduction of the carbon footprint associated with the production of plastics compared to when there was no ban on these products.

As divers, we can also support organisations such as Project AWARE or Shark Guardian, organise underwater clean-ups or register abandoned fishing nets through the Global Ghost Gear initiative application.

In fact, we should all be involved. Making simple changes to your daily life is necessary before it is too late and we annihilate ocean life and even our own.