Why Plastic Awareness Is Important in Saving Your Health and the Ecosystem

As remnants of plastic materials from items such as bags, containers, and water bottles are continuing to fill landfills at an ever increasing rate, more people are starting to wake up to the fact that plastic pollution can cause severe repercussions to not only the planet but their own health. What used to seem like no big deal is, in fact, now becoming a big deal for many, especially for those suffering from health implications due to plastic usage or plastic pollution. Because of this, many people and organizations around the world are starting to campaign for the world to learn how to become more aware of what plastic does to the environment and what the consequences of plastic usage are. These efforts are helping to save the planet, however, in order for the world to start consciously reducing plastic usage, there needs to be more awareness spread about how plastic affects our health and the environment at large. And while there is much work to be done around minimizing plastic usage and saving the planet, fortunately, some people, organizations, and businesses are taking extra measures to ensure they are not contributing to the carbon footprint and, therefore, helping our ecosystem to endure on. Furthermore, because plastic usage is so widespread and affects all areas of human health and the well being of the planet, taking the time to learn how to become more aware of plastic usage and how to contribute to the well-being of the planet is one of the most important things you can do to ensure you have optimal health and vitality moving forward.

Why Plastic Awareness Matters

Although using plastic here and there may not seem like a big deal, it definitely all adds up. In fact, the world is producing around 500 million plastic water bottles alone each year. This is not accounting for the fact that plastic is used in a multitude of other ways. Nearly everything you use has been packaged in plastic or uses some sort of plastic material to form its identity. Just look around your house and see how many plastic items you have laying around that you never noticed before. It’s used in nearly every food package, toy, container, household product, etc. that you can find.

What's more astounding is that a majority of all this plastic will eventually end up in a landfill, sitting there for over 400 years to degrade! If those numbers don’t impress you, dwell on this for a second: with all of this plastic roaming around, at least 91% of that plastic is not being recycled. So nearly everything you see packaged in plastic will never be reused. If over 91% of this plastic is not being put to good use then where is it going? If you guessed that it's compiling up on precious ecosystem space then you are correct. What’s worse than that, however, is not just the fact that it’s taking up space in a landfill. The worst part is that because it doesn’t easily degrade and decompose, it ends up polluting our airways and our sources of water, streaming off into nearby lakes, streams, and oceans.

Furthermore, because plastic ends up polluting the environment, it ends up polluting your body. Since human beings rely on water as a means of survival, any contamination from plastic can end up in your drinking water, even if high-end purification methods and techniques are utilized. Additionally, the air pollution that plastic causes from sitting in landfills can adversely affect your well-being and health, even causing mystery sickness that you can’t seem to find where the illness originated from. This is why plastic awareness matters. The more people understand how using and throwing away plastic can cause detrimental impacts on the environment and their health, the better chance more people can ban together to create a healthier planet and a healthier version of themselves.

How Plastic Awareness Can Save Your Health

Plastic awareness is key in saving our health and our planet. Yet, while you now know plastic pollution can adversely affect your health, you may wonder just how it does so. Here are some ways in which plastic can impact your well-being:

• Plastics can cause numerous health implications like cancer, diabetes, several organ malfunctions, impacts on eyes, skin, and other sensory organs, as well as cause birth defects in babies.
• Plastic can leach into food, especially if food is placed in plastic while it is still hot. As such, metabolic disorders, including obesity, and infertility can occur.
• Even low doses of plastic over a long period of time can cause inflammation in the body, genotoxicity, oxidative stress, apoptosis, necrosis, as well as an array of other health conditions linked to cardiovascular health, etc.

This is by far not an all-inclusive list as the implications on using plastic, especially for long durations of time, are extensive.

Companies that Support Plastic Awareness

While you may fear any health consequences you have acquired from plastic usage, there is hope. Your body is incredible at healing if you allow it some space to breathe. This means, do your best to find alternatives to plastic a majority of the time. Opt for glass or aluminum water bottles when you can, use glass containers for storing food, buy more wood or other material toys if you can. While it may feel overwhelming and stressful to cut out plastic entirely from your life, as it is everywhere you turn, the truth is that it doesn’t need to be. Every little bit you do to consciously reduce the amount of plastic you use in your life will not only help your health but will help the survival of the planet at large. It’s that one small step that each of us decides to take to a healthier world that will make the difference.

If you are looking for an alternative to the plastic water bottles you have been drinking from, you are in the right place. Buy the cleanest, purest, and most sustainable water packaged in (easily reusable and recycle) aluminum water cans today. Your body and the planet will thank you.