ADMIT it. We all live in a plastic world.
Uhm, not on how we interact as humans but how we utilize resources. More than ever, the world is consuming so much goods and comes with it our great amount of consumption of plastic products. Will we ever really be free from plastic? I doubt it.
Here's my take on why.
1. The Sachet Mentality
Convenience of anything in packets, economy packs, and bite size pieces are the trends nowadays. Shampoo, cooking oil, hair gels, toothpastes, lotions, you name it and it has a sachet kind. To get rid of sachets is to get rid of our mentality to buy or patronize products that come in these forms. I know it is hard but yes, that is the only way. If we do our part, maybe the plastic we see being dumped gets a whole lot lesser.
2. The Convenience of Our Plastic Frenemies
Plastic containers and packaging are more convenient than their glass, metal, and wood counterparts. It is also cheaper to produce and manufacture. Companies have switched to plastic in the past years to make their goods more handy, lightweight, and economical. The results? Our oceans, rivers, and drainage systems have become a repository of these modern-day relics. Even the highest mountains now contain remnants of human consumption as evidenced by the trash visitors left behind. So, let me ask you, can we contain this phenomenon? A long shot but it is still possible.
3. We are Plastic
Yes, I have blurted it out. We live in irony. We cry for a greener earth but collectively we never really care. Don't get me wrong but try to take a good look at the situation. Have we done enough? Barely. Have we fought hard for the environment? Not that much to create a lasting impact to reverse all negative effects of our previous actions.
It may be true that small actions eventually create ripples that turn to giant waves. However, I believe time is running out. So much more had to be done. Not just actions but changing mindsets drastically and re-calibrating behaviors of several generations. It is not enough to teach the young ones what to do when those they look up to are not doing what they are preaching.
This mission is exhausting, and I applaud individuals, groups, and institutions whose aim is to reset the world into a much better place. Their pleas are legitimate and timely it is just that we brush them off until another havoc occurs. It is not yet a lost cause. There is still hope for this humanity, slim but it is still doable.
The fight for an almost plastic-free world is daunting and it needs a collective effort from everyone. We are aware of the situation, we are not just too involved to take any action. I hope we finally do. Waiting for another disaster is also a disaster in the making.
Friends, memes to save the world are good. Sharing them is alright. Real world life application is best.
Let's start challenging ourselves, shall we?
