One thing that my family, and many others can do to reduce their carbon footprint is to cut down on, or completely cut out their usage and consumption of plastic. As of recent, plastics used for packaging and coating are showing to have very negative effects on the human body, more specifically organ health and reproductive health. As most people know, plastic waste also contributes to a mass percentage of the world's pollution, specifically that in the sea. In fact, there is an entire collection of trash (mostly plastic) that has come together as a result of the tides, and it bigger than the state of Texas. I believe that if the population stopped buying single use and non-repurposable plastics, like toys or products with packaging, we could significantly cut down our general waste production and lower our carbon footprints.

I agree that decreasing plastic consumption would definitely be beneficial as 60-95% of the pollution in the ocean is comprised of plastic debris. Plastic has become one of the cheapest, most accessible resources in terms of manufacturing mass amounts of products and because of that is difficult to avoid. Ideally, people could buy more reusable items such as metal water bottles, reusable bags, and other repurposable tools to use in everyday life. However, for some people buying re-usable items is an extra cost many can't afford and will continue to purchase plastic goods and products with plastic due to its low cost and accessibility. I think it's important that we push for companies, the producers of plastic goods, to be held accountable for their plastic waste and disposal of waste in any way possible and encourage carbon offset programs.