durability
The longevity of plastic is on the one hand an advantage, but on the other hand it is also a curse. An example of this is the shopping bag, which takes around ten to 20 years to break down into small particles in the sea. A Styrofoam cup takes 50 years, while a PET bottle takes 450 to 500 years. A fishing line is the sad leader at 600 years. Even compostable organic plastic bags take more than three years and should therefore not be disposed of in organic waste or compost.
Origin of microplastics
It is assumed that between 330,000 and 450,000 tons of microplastics are created in Germany every year. The main cause is abrasion from car tires, which accounts for around a third. This is followed by waste such as plastic residues in compost and organic waste, abrasion from asphalt (bitumen) and shoes and sports fields. Small particles in cosmetic products such as peelings and particles released by plastic fibers in clothing during washing also play a role.
Deadly for animals
On celebratory occasions such as weddings, anniversaries and birthdays, it is common to release balloons filled with helium. But this seemingly harmless tradition has devastating effects on birds and marine animals. Australian researchers conducted a study in which they examined over 1,700 dead birds. She discovered that one in three birds had plastic in their stomachs. Soft plastics such as those from balloons are particularly dangerous because they block the animals' gastrointestinal tract by default as hard plastic. Numerous Dutch cities and municipalities have now reacted and banned the release of balloons.
Plastic to-go
The frequency with which people drink coffee on the go has resulted in a major environmental impact. In Berlin alone, 20,000 cups are thrown away every hour, resulting in a total of 2.8 billion cups per year across Germany. To produce this cup, 1.5 billion liters of water are used and 3,000 tons of crude oil are used in the process. This production also generates a significant amount of CO2 emissions, namely 11,000 tons. Finally, the use of the cup also creates an enormous amount of waste, namely 40,000 tons.
Plastic in Europe
The European Union produces 26 million tons of plastic waste every year, with each European creating an average of 24 kilograms of it. Germany is in 4th place in the list of countries with the highest waste production, only Estonia, Luxembourg and Ireland use more plastic. However, Croatians, Bulgarians and Greeks generate the least amount of plastic waste. In order to reduce the consumption of plastic waste, the European Union will ban disposable plastic tableware such as plates, cutlery, straws, balloon sticks and cotton swabs from 2021.
