Forewarned is forearmed. At least, that's what the well-known saying leads us to believe. Yet many smokers ignore the distasteful pictures and bold warnings as they pull out another cigarette from the pack. Smoking kills, but the way, we find out later.
With the same nonchalance of a seasoned smoker, we make our way to the supermarket every week to stock up on fresh vegetables. Vegetables that -in some cases- are grown in agricultural plastic, transported in heavy trucks and end up on the kitchen counter at home, in plastic bags. Guaranteed that your "healthy" vegetables have been exposed to microplastics and chemicals.
In a society where plastic packaging is the norm, we all contribute to the spread of microplastics whether we like it or not. We wash our synthetic clothes, tear disposable plastic packaging and wear out our tires by driving on the road. These are all unintentional causes of microplastic pollution, which makes it difficult to see the 'hopeful wood' through all those 'plastic trees'. High time to do something about it.
To give people some hope again, the second edition of the Impact Fair took place at the Utrecht Jaarbeurs in early April; an event where visitors learn how to make a positive difference in the world. For example, De Groene Garage demonstrated the smart tire pump to save many tons ofCO2 every year, i-did showed how to make new furniture from old textiles and the Plastic Soup Foundation showed the film Plastic People, which shows the frightening extent of our plastic pollution. Not to demotivate, but as an engine for change.
Whereas Elon Musk has bombarded himself as the enemy of virtually every Democrat, public servant and Tesla driver, the film "Plastic People" puts away the petroleum industry as the enemy of the consumer. Polluting the world by deliberately continuing to produce disposable plastic against all warnings is no different from the smoker who continues to smoke casually: it not only destroys yourself, but also harms others, around you.
So let's together reduce the demand for plastic products and start a plastic diet. Get your vegetables unpackaged at the market or at the farmer's, replace your PET bottle with a metal one, take a reusable bag with you when you go shopping and most of all encourage all your friends, neighbors and family members to join in. Because you don't make impact alone in an event hall in Utrecht, but together in the heart of society.
Are you tired of how much plastic ends up in the garbage when you unpack your shopping bag? Then sign up for free for the plastic diet from the Plastic Soup Foundation and get a week of daily tips and tricks to reduce your plastic waste mountain. Because only together can we ensure that the plastic tap is closed.
Rynaldo Koerhuis (1995) advises, sells and writes. For The Plastic Soup Foundation, he writes a blog twice a month on a current topic.
