Article by Nityashri Sankaran, Grade 11, Delhi Private School Sharjah

The photo my friend sent from Kerala after the floods this summer which showed the volumes of plastics washed to the shore is a true and pathetic sight of what we have made our oceans today due to the over consumption, discarding and littering of plastics.

Some plastic facts:

Plastic bags, which are made of polythene, causes pollution from manufacturing to disposal. Its manufacturing process is harmful to the environment and it remains toxic to the environment after you throw it away. Up to 80 percent of ocean plastic pollution enters the ocean from land. It takes 500 (or more) years for a plastic bag to degrade in a landfill. These bags don't break down completely but instead photo-degrade, becoming microplastics that absorb toxins and continue to pollute the environment. According to Waste Management, only 1 percent of plastic bags are returned for recycling. That means that the average family only recycles 15 bags a year; the rest end up in landfills or as litter. There are two million plastic bags in use each minute across the world, with the average time of use being a mere 12 minutes per bag. In some cases, it can take up to a thousand years for a bag to decompose. Plastic pollution is also responsible for the deaths of more than 1.1 million animals and seabirds each year.

The important Government discussions worldwide is about global warming, sustainability and green changes to adopt for our own good. With Dubai’s futuristic modern approach, it is a surprise where there is no ban yet on one-time used plastics, especially grocery bags, or even an additional charge for supplying plastic bags, which will encourage shoppers to get their own jute bags. Retail giant Carrefour had a campaign in July 2019 to reward any customer using their own reusable bag with a foldable canvas bag or a juco bag, made from environmentally-friendly fabrics, to use on subsequent shopping trips. Those using renewable bags will also be able to skip the queues and take advantage of a fast-track counter in store to pay for their goods. Other stores should be motivated to follow.

Each Individual has to do their bit starting from home. It could be as simple as using reusable water bottles, bringing reusable coffee cups or saying no to disposable plastic cutlery, straws etc. to regular use of reusable jute bags with no plastic for shopping. I regularly use Carrefour Jute bags to shop, which takes us through the fast lane at billing in addition to being easy to carry and a step towards going green. Start setting an example and inspire and motivate your friends to follow, and the chain reaction will have an impact.

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