It’s Time For a Change
By: Jaci Sims
Tags: Plastics Market, Water Pollution, Eco Friendly, Sealife, Environmental Issues

Change is never easy, but in some cases it is necessary

Water pollution has become an environmental crisis! At its base level is the contamination of our Earth’s bodies of water. It is when manmade or unnatural pollutants come in contact with our lakes, rivers, oceans, aquifers, and even groundwater. It affects not only us as a human race, but the environment and wildlife as well. Creatures are becoming ill, swallowing plastics, and animal populations are starting to decrease at an alarming rate. Not to mention we are consuming these microplastics and chemicals even from water that we think is pure! Water pollution comes in several forms, but if there is one that we contribute to everyday it is plastic pollution. The use of single used plastics is a growing issue. The number of plastics being produced and used by plastic companies and big franchises is growing to increase their revenue. All they are concerned about is cash. We as people are also doing the bare minimum to address the issue. For example, there are not enough people recycling or trying to rid their usage of single used plastics. Not to mention, when disposing these plastics none of us take into consideration where they actually end up! We are more worried about what’s easier or more convenient for use. Bottom line, our earth is running out of clean water! Clean water is essential for life, and the problem I am discovering in most of my research is that us humans are over using the clean water we have left and abusing our earth’s natural waters. Many are unaware of just how much this global issue affects them and how significant it is. We are the only ones who can fix this environmental crisis. We must stop worrying about big franchises, money, and convenience, but rather about sustainability and health. If plastic companies, major franchises, and we as a society do not start to take note of our actions, plastics could quite frankly control our entire lives and determine our earth’s future.

So why is this environmental crisis so important? What is the need for change? Because it affects all of us, including our planet! What made me realize that plastic pollution was really an issue was the use of single-use plastics. After I conducted some place interviews I realized just how much they are used and how people dispose of them. It made me become aware and make sense of the fact that we as humans value the idea of convenience. I think this is something that we could possibly all try. If you were to just take about 15 minutes to sit exactly where you’re at, maybe it is a local coffee shop or a grocery store. How many plastics would you see being used, purchased, or thrown away? It is crazy to think that pollution isn’t something we take notice of easily, but rather something we must be reminded of.

What are Some Solutions?

The solutions that are available to begin working towards fixing this issue are simple and feasible. First and foremost plastic production companies could start producing water bottles with less plastic, such as the brand Aquafina did with their new product Eco-fina. Eco-fina is made of 50% less plastic than an average water bottle!

Next we could encourage franchises to lower the amount of plastics they use or make conscious eco-friendly alterations. For example, many Starbucks have rid their usage of straws and now provide cups with a drinking lid, as well as many local coffee shops have started to use reusable glassware cups. Lastly, us humans could make minor adjustments in our everyday lives that could make a world of a difference. Some examples include: using reusable utensils or containers, recycling as often as possible, and supporting brands that have been making eco-friendly decisions.

Despite how many proposed solutions I could provide there will still be people who may disagree with my perspective because they may feel it isn’t convenient enough. Many people who are busy probably don’t see the value in a refillable water bottle as much as the convenience of single-use plastics. They also may feel it is unrealistic to expect everyone to remember to recycle. Plastic production companies might feel that the proposed ideas will risk business and possibly put people out of work if we aim to rid the use of plastics. Then franchises might even suggest that they would be losing money by paying for expensive eco-friendly products. Each one may have a different excuse on why these solutions could cause potential problems. Nevertheless, no one said the journey to restoring our earth’s waters was going to be easy. It is going to take hard work, sacrifice, and everyone taking action to make a difference because the scary truth is that time is running out.

The 5-R Rule

During my research I found something that I feel could be very beneficial to all of us who may be at stake by reducing the use of plastics. It is a rule called the “5-R” rule. These fives R’s stand for:

High Five, Eco-friendly reminders are cool!

Reduce

Refuse

Reuse

Repair

Recycle

The rule basically provides us with reminders and tips on how to make eco-friendly decisions. First we must reduce our usage of plastics by finding alternatives. Then we must refuse to fall into the habit of using single-used plastic such as water bottles. If we do have to end up using single-use plastics we must then make the conscious effort to reuse that product as many times as possible. Next, we need to attempt to repair broken products before we decide to toss them out and buy a new one. Finally if all else fails and the item can no longer be reused we recycle it properly. This rule is easy and achievable for all us, but it starts with how much effort companies, franchises, and us chose to put into it. You can read more about this rule on this website!

Time to Take Action

A Clean Earth is A Happy Earth

It is about time that we all swallow our pride and take responsibility for our actions. We must throw the excuses out the door and start asking what we can do for our planet. We must start making things sensible again. Our actions are learned behaviors that we have become accustomed to. So why not rewire our brain? Why not change the way we think? We have the power to change our minds and even to influence others! If we just first take the time to pause and reflect on what it is we are choosing to do. Once we start to make sense of our actions, we will be able to make ethical decisions and conduct a plan for the lifestyle we are wanting to live. The journey to a sustainable planet isn’t a one way street, but instead a chain reaction. If we choose to start others will notice and want to follow. It’s that simple. Humans naturally want to fit in, so why not make becoming environmental a norm? So before you buy that case of plastic water bottles ask yourself, do you want to be a part of the problem or the solution?

December 3, 2020

By: Jaci Sims

Rhetoric of Environmental Action