“Going Green” Is More Than Just A Marketing Tool
It’s not just about “going green,” it’s about “living green.” There are so many things that a person can do to make a difference on this Earth. Recycling (plastic specifically) is probably one of the hotter topics when it comes to eco-consciousness. One issue that I want to focus on is the importance of reusable shopping bags.
I recently did a persuasive campaign in one of my classes that aimed to change people’s habits at the check out counter. Here are some facts: Americans use more than one million plastic bags every minute, the majority of which are not being recycled. Sitting in a landfill, a single plastic bag can take as long as 1,000 years to fully degrade. The ones that are thrown out as litter simply break down into small pieces and contaminate our soil and bodies of water.
Animals are falling victim to our carelessness as well. Sea creatures and land animals often mistakenly ingest or become entangled in bags that people so frivolously toss out. I think it’s important to remember that all these “free” single-use plastic bags actually come with a price. The production alone for plastic requires petroleum and often natural gas, both non-renewable resources. The pollution from the toxic chemicals used to make these bags is of course another issue.
Publix, Wal-Mart, many retail chains and even fashion designers offer perfect alternatives to the wasteful plastic bags we’re so used to. Check out the bookstore on campus, too. These reusable bags are made from eco-friendly materials, most are inexpensive and are designed to hold more than plastic.
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