It is well-known that the mass production of plastic negatively affects the Earth. This is due to the fact that most plastic is made to be used once and then thrown away, hence the term "single-use plastic." According to a public PDF from the United Nations Environment Programme, "The most common single-use plastics found in the environment are, in order of magnitude, cigarette butts, plastic drinking bottles, plastic bottle caps, food wrappers, plastic grocery bags, plastic lids, straws and stirrers, other types of plastic bags, and foam takeaway containers." This list of items accurately shows the large role that plastic plays in people's lives and the neglectful attitude that many people have regarding their own plastic use and waste. Although it may seem as if single-use plastics are an ingrained part of our lives, there are many sustainable alternatives to the items on the list. For example, plastic grocery bags can easily be replaced with reusable cloth bags, which are not very expensive and can be used repeatedly over many years. Plastic straws are another item that is detrimental to the environment but can easily be replaced with a more sustainable option. Many drinks can be consumed without straws, which is the easiest option. Metal straws are also available and can be used repeatedly when washed. Many cafes and coffee shops allow people to get drinks in their own tumblers and mugs, which helps reduce waste by a lot. According to the article, plastic water bottles and caps are also found to be huge polluters of the Earth. Reusable water bottles are an easy and sustainable alternative. To reduce the amount of food packaging and foam takeaway containers, the best option would be to shop locally, buy in bulk, and eat more home-cooked meals. Overall, ridding your lifestyle of single-use plastics may seem like an impossible task, but there are many products and small steps that can be taken to reduce one's plastic waste.

link to source: https://wedocs.unep.org/bitstream/handl … bility.pdf