I pledge to keep our oceans healthy by not purchasing products containing harmful plastic Microbeads.
GET INVOLVED WITH LOCAL LAWMAKERSIn the United States alone, California, Illinois, Colorado, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, and New Jersey have already taken steps to outlaw products containing microbeads. Currently under review are Oregon and Ohio. Internationally, Canada has pushed towards removing microbeads, as have Australia, EU countries ,The Netherlands, Austria, Luxembourg, Germany, and Belgium.
This is progress! Lawmakers are taking notice of the microbead. Be part of the voice of change, and contact your local government or authority. |
There are two major issues that are prevalent when it comes to microbeads. Those two issues are how to proceed with source control and methods to address the enormous environmental passives that were built over the last 60 years (Sul, & Costa, 2014). Source control has been talked about for a long time around the globe, but has yet to be instituted within the DNA of the actual plastic while the plastic is being manufactured. It all starts with the companies and the manufacturing plants that is the source of these plastic monsters. Source control has only been a priority for very close and restricted circles where the 5Rs: Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Rethink are the norm rather than the exception (Sul, & Costa, 2014). Those type of programs are highly established and enforced in first world countries, but places that are not yet that advanced are doing things we did 100 years ago in regards to polluting the environment.
Even in places like America we have to re-think our practices, especially when it comes to microplastics. Source control would have to integrate and rethink (choose other materials and techniques) and refuse (reduce the production of all single use plastic items) into society and the production sectors (Sul, & Costa, 2014). That is going to take a lot of work from the big companies that are primarily only worried about their bottom line. It all starts with the manufactures which is the source of these plastic toxins. It is going to take people like us blogging about it and becoming involved on a day to day basis until the problem is addressed properly. In recent times social media has become a real big area for regular people like us to have their voices heard. We need to figure out who these companies are that are destroying our environment for ourselves and future generations. Once we find out who they are we need to speak out against the wrong doing. We can do that through social media making our voices heard all around the civilized world. Specific actions targeted to primary and secondary sources of microplastics are required to control pellets and to stop large items from reaching the sea. Unfortunately, based on present trends, animals and humans will continue to be at risk and accidents will occur before these goals are achieved do (Sul, & Costa, 2014). That is unless we act now to save the planet and its eco-system for future generations. If we continue on the same course that we are on now it may be too late to save our planet for future generations. That is why immediate action is needed to combat these microplastics and to save our planet from corporate greed and corruption. That is why we started this website and is why we will continue to stand up and fight for our survival as a species. If we do not act soon, we fear our actions will become irreversible. The second way in which we can defeat these micoplastics is environmental passives. Microplastics cannot be taken from the sands or filtered out of seawater. We do not have the technology to do that yet and collecting all of the microparticles would not be a realistic goal either. Unfortunately, microplastics will continue their slow, intricate paths towards the bottom of the ocean and ultimately become buried in sand and mud for centuries. Rather than despair, scientists should propose solutions that can be considered by academia, society and industry (Sul, & Costa, 2014). We need to take these three industries and have complete collaboration between them researching and finding ways to combat this microplastic pollution problem. Each industries has their own work and contributions to make. There are a few areas that these industries can really attack to combat the microplastic problem that plaques us today: standardizing size definitions; establishing the relative importance of primary and secondary sources; rescuing information on pelagic plastics that is stored in plankton samples; adding microplastics as a routine survey variable in river basins and oceans; assessing microplastic pollution in the Antarctic and Arctic; creating and continuously improving experimental methods to quantify microplastics (Sul, & Costa, 2014). We need to create standardized information from research studies that are applicable to other industries involved in the usage of microplastics; if those industries collaborated with academia and focused their time and money in this direction, our future generations may not have the problems we have today. Unfortunately, this really hasn’t happened yet and that is because the sense of urgency has not been places of these industries to act. That takes people like us to stand up for what is right and have our voices heard. No matter what platform you use, every voice counts. The community must be guided by the public sector to search for local alternatives to excessive packaging, safely deposit their inevitable plastic rubbish, and make better and more informed choices as consumers (Sul, & Costa, 2014). This is going to take a lot of work from a multitude of people. There are going to be many parts that have to work together for solutions to actually be viable. It takes the community to start implementing these alternatives. We need to focus on our own choices as individual consumers. Those choices consist of not buying products that contains microplastics like microbeads. If consumers do not buy a product, its sales plummet, and in turn it will be removed from the shelf. These companies will then be forced to find an alternative. Never underestimate the power you have as a consumer. You can even goes as far as a boycott, and believe us, that will get a company’s attention in this day and age. Removing microbeads from society will also require the implementation of educational programs, the cooperation of urban and rural facilities, and persuasion through proper control of waste. State polices can be formed to direct the control of the sources of primary plastics and calculate environmental value losses by microplastic pollution (Sul, & Costa, 2014). If we start educating kids at an early age, they will grow up to be aware of the problem. That will create an infrastructure within a new generation whose main goal is not profit, but the environment. By doing so, a smart kid may find a cheaper alternative than what we currently have now. It only creates a win-win situation for the environment and company’s bottom line. We can come up with waste solutions and stimulate the economy by creating jobs in this field and many others. An argument about industrialization has always been that finding a clean solution will erase jobs from the market. We argue that it will create better jobs than the ones it erased. We have to get with the times and realize the old way of doing things is killing us and the planet. That brings us to the last part of how we can all help. A complete cradle-to-grave approach to plastics would reduce the amount of waste that reaches the sea and also help reduce our carbon footprint. Plastics are a branch of the oil and gas industry, and 8% of the oil produced is used in plastic production (Sul, & Costa, 2014). If we can convince the oil companies to find an alternative method that is viable and cheaper, we could help propel our future generations into a world that is clean and free of the microplastic toxins. Convincing these companies would help reduce our generation’s footprint and ensure that the future of this planet is priority number one not the oil company’s bottom line. Therefore, both sectors must meet to collaborate as soon as possible. In addition to the petrochemical and plastics molding units, industry as a whole must be prepared for the need to produce and use less plastic. Fiscal incentives for technologies that resolve environmental passives need to be established (Sul, & Costa, 2014). Unfortunately it is not a perfect world and it will take money to help save our planet, but there are ways we can get this done and make everyone happy. To incentivize these companies and give them a reason to work together to save the planet is something else that needs to be focused on. No one wants to lose money, so we need to come up with programs that will benefit both the companies and the environment. This is where the government needs to get involved: they have the money and authority to make these companies bend to their will. However, we need to think of this on a global level and get a coalition set up for environmentalist to save our planet from the destruction of mankind. As unfortunate as it is, money is a key driver in day to day decisions, even at the expense of the environment and future generations. This is why we need more than just our voices; we need our governments to act in collaboration with other governments to save our future. If everyone does their part, we can reach attainable goals and help save the planet for future generations to come. The outcomes of such rationales are expected to be far-reaching. First, coastal and marine habitats will regain their lost aesthetic values, ecological functions and services. Secondly, the risks posed to the marine biota will be reduced. Ultimately, these outcomes would create a less plastic-addicted and more nature-centered society in which the greatest values, based on science and experience (Sul, & Costa, 2014). Can you imagine actually living on this planet in harmony? If all of the industries got together, we could have this problem solved in the next decade we feel. However, if we keep on the same course and do not get all countries involved, we will never win this fight. It all starts here, and now that we have the conversation started, it's time to act! Follow Beat the Microbead to learn about additional ways you too can help. |
So many microbeads - such a small thing has such a massive effect. How can you help? Here are a few ways: Say NO to products containing microbeads! Q: How can I find out if the product I intend to purchase contains microbeads? A: You should also be on the lookout for words such as “polyethylene and polypropylene” on the packaging, according to the 1% for the Planet organization. Exfoliants, toothpastes, shampoos, and soaps are all products to double check. If it doesn’t outright say it on the packaging, you can download this handy app from Beat the Microbead! This will allow you to scan the barcode of the product in question, and find out then and there if it contains microbeads. SPREAD THE WORDThis website is designed to do just that. We need to spread the word about microbeads and the harm that comes from them. The more people that are aware, the fewer products containing the bead are purchased. Not to mention the more voices we have to speak against the problem! So, speak out; tell your friends, family, neighbors about microbeads!
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Current Microbead legislation help support local and federal changes.
PLEDGE TO PROTECT OUR ENVIRONMENT & BAN THE BEAD
References:
- do Sul, J. A. I., & Costa, M. F. (2014). The present and future of microplastic pollution in the marine environment. Environmental Pollution, 185, 352-364.