Every year on October 16th, the international community celebrates World Food Day. This day is meant to be a time to reflect on how far we’ve come in the fight against hunger and to recommit ourselves to the goal of ending it completely. But this World Food Day, let’s also take a moment to consider how our food choices impact the planet. In particular, let’s look at the environmental damage caused by our reliance on single-use plastics.
It’s no secret that our planet is in trouble. Climate change is real, and its effects are being felt all over the world. One of the biggest contributors to climate change is our throwaway culture, and nowhere is this more evident than in our use of single-use plastics.
When it comes to food, plastic is everywhere, from straws and coffee cup lids to packaging and takeaway containers. It’s estimated that 500 million plastic straws are used every day in America alone. That’s enough to fill 125 school buses! And what happens to all of those straws after we’re done with them? Most end up in landfills or in the ocean, where they’ll stay for centuries, leaching toxic chemicals into the environment.
The problem goes far beyond just straws, though; it’s all single-use plastics. In 2022, five trillion plastic bags will be used. That’s 160,000 every second. Each year, we create enough Bubble Wrap to cover the distance between the earth and the moon. It’s estimated that in 2021, 583 billion plastic bottles were produced.
If these trends continue, by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish.
On World Food Day, let’s pledge to do better for our planet. Let’s commit to ditching single-use plastics whenever possible, and opting for reusable alternatives instead. It might seem like a small change, but it can add up to a big difference for our planet.
You can do your part by choosing Bonnie Bio’s range of eco-conscious alternatives. All our products are made from plant-based materials that degrade to natural elements.
