Plastic Pollution: Impact, Challenges, and Sustainable Solutions

Introduction

The environment and its issues have become an active part of state policies, and even everyday people's conversations. This is rooted in the reality that the environment regulates the lives of humans and other living beings, as it provides their needs and the foundations for their existence and development. Therefore,  all attempts and plans made to protect the environment from any developments, are parallel to the survival of humans and other creatures. (1) 

"The environment, in its broad sense, refers to the geography that organizes the life of living beings and provides the foundation for their existence, development, and the fulfillment of their needs. The living beings interact with nature and attempt to adapt to it” (2). 

While living creatures have the ability to adapt to the conditions brought on by new events, some scientists and cosmologists believe and state that the destruction to the environment, caused by pollution, has reached an irreversible stage, and our existence in these environments is heading towards an inevitable natural end (3). The selfish attitudes, short-sightedness and greed of individuals, companies and governments, and the sacrifice of public interests for their own private ones is the main cause of environmental pollution and global warming (4). 

“Plastic waste is one of the most dangerous environmental issues,  threatening life on land and marine life. While natural ecosystems already suffer from major issues like acid rain, agricultural degradation caused by pesticides, and chemical pollution. Countries have largely attempted to reduce their plastic production

Environmental pollution refers to those ecological changes and disruptions that take place in natural ecosystems. As a result, threats emerge that directly and indirectly harms all facets of life on earth (5). 

Types of Plastics used in Food Packaging Industry

The components of plastic used in the production of food and medicine containers vary. These components can be used alone or mixed with other ones. The most important of these components are:

1. Low-density polyethylene: Used in making most containers for hot food. It sticks together when heated and is commonly referred to as plastic containers.

2. High-density polyethylene: Used in household items, water pipes, and probes. It can also be used for storing sterilized foods. This component is distinguishable as it can prevent moisture and remain soft when frozen at temperatures below -5°C.

3. Polyethylene terephthalate: This type can withstand high temperatures up to 300°C, is impermeable to moisture and gasses, is transparent, and highly resistant to organic solvents. It's used for storing potable water, frozen meats, and other foods. Some water bottling plants prefer this type and use it instead of polyvinyl chloride.

4. Polyvinyl chloride: This type of plastic is unaffected by grease and is used in food container production. It has high moisture resistance, and its rigid type is used in making containers for edible oils, drinking water, concentrated fruit juices, fermented foods, olives, and many other items due to its high resistance to moisture, fats, and gasses.

5. Polycarbonate: This is a type of plastic made from bisphenol. It has strong resistance to breakage, chemicals, and weather. It's transparent and rigid, used in making household items, baby pacifiers and bottles. However, doubts about its suitability have recently emerged (6). 

Plastic pollution in United Nations Data

According to data from the United Nations and environmental organizations:

- About one million water bottles are bought every minute worldwide.

- The use of plastic bags reaches 5 trillion annually.

- Half of the plastic products are made for single use.

Currently, 300 million tons of plastic waste are produced annually (this amount equals the weight of humans on Earth).

Scientists believe that since the 1950s, humans have produced about 8.3 billion tons of plastic, 60% of which has been discarded into nature. 99% of produced plastic is made from chemicals derived from oil, natural gas, and coal. If this continues, by 2050, plastic production will account for 20% of oil-dependent industries (7).  Marine plastic pollution affects 800 species of animals through ingestion, starvation, suffocation, entanglement, and drowning. Plastic waste kills about one million seabirds and 100,000 fish and other animals annually. 

Waste from cities amounts to thousands or millions of tons of waste, and effectively getting rid of this waste is still a very complex problem. Often, residents burn their waste, producing gasses with several harmful components that affect the population, plants, and animals. Particularly, city waste contains several new types that didn't exist before, and the most dangerous of all is plastic and its emissions when burned (8). 

In the 1990s, plastic waste reached three times that of twenty years earlier, but at the beginning of the twenty-first century, plastic production increased compared to forty years before.

Main sources of environmental pollution by plastic in Kurdistan

Firstly, In the Kurdistan Region, the culture of picnicking and traveling to nature is common, especially during springs and summers. During these trips, disposable eating utensils such as plates, cutlery, glasses, tablecloths, water bottles, and drinking straws are discarded in nature in very large quantities, polluting the environment. Disposing of this waste becomes a great danger to the lives of animals and the environment. Secondly, Homes are a major source of this plastic waste. A family of four members throws away a large bag of empty water bottles and disposable tablecloths daily, in addition to shampoo bottles, cosmetics and cleaning products, children's toys, and even various household appliances. Thirdly, Second-hand markets in Kurdistan can be seen as a source of plastic, as many of the old plastic items in large bales are useless. Pishtiwan, one of the household goods shopkeepers in the Langa market, doesn't hide that one of the reasons for the high prices of these goods is that most of them are discarded and useless. "Every shipment we receive, if it's 80 kilos, about 20 to 25 kilos are for disposal." (9). 

Conclusion

Plastic is Cheap, Long-lasting, Easy to produce and Lightweight. All these characteristics that are known as plastic attributes are both its strengths and weaknesses. Plastic has direct and indirect effects on marine and terrestrial ecosystems, and at the same time, the microplastics consumed by fish and animals end up on human tables (10). 

Recommendations

If it's believed that big changes start with individuals (11), there are a set of guidelines that can reduce the likelihood of increasing plastic waste and environmental pollution:

• Reducing or eliminating the use of plastic bags and replacing them with cloth or paper bags.
• Using reusable water bottles in the water bottling industry.
• Not using plastic straws, which may seem simple but straws are one of the items that cannot be recycled. There is currently a campaign to reduce straws, and big companies like Starbucks and McDonald's are among the leading companies of this campaign.
• Kitchen utensils should not be plastic; this can be achieved by using plastic alternatives such as glass and other materials.
• Carefully selecting clothes and personal hygiene items, including toothpaste and cosmetics in general.

References

1. Naqshbandi, Azad Muhammad Amin Naqshbandi, Environmental Geography, 2017, p. 31

2. Naqshbandi, Azad Muhammad Amin, Ibid, p. 13

3. Barzanji, Siddiq Sheikh Mahmoud, Human Impact on Environmental Pollution, First Edition, 2001, p. 7

4. Naqshbandi, Azad Muhammad Amin, Global Warming and Its Impact on the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Roshnbiri Press, Erbil, 2008, p. 4

5. Barzanji, Siddiq Sheikh Mahmoud, Same previous source, p. 52

6. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332514012_alblastyk_wdrjt_tlwythh_alaghdhyt

7. (1) Plastic Pollution | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (unesco.org)

   (2) Plastic Pollution: A Global Danger Killing One Person Every Half Minute? (annabaa.org)

8. Abdul-Munim Balba', Environmental Pollution is a Global Problem Threatening Humans, Narin Press, 2013, p. 123

9. Researcher's interview with a second-hand market seller

10. Five Things You Can Do to End Plastic Pollution (worldbank.org)