Hello all,
Before I move on to talk more about legislations, it would be highly seasonal and appropriate to talk about Black Friday as the weekend sales come to an end with Cyber Monday.
Black Friday
Figure 13: The tweet that nicely summarises this post (Source: @squeezyjohn on Twitter)
Plastic toys and large electronic goods are among the most popular items promoted during Black Friday, and in their manufacturing process large amounts of plastic have been used. The largest problem lies in the excessive and wasteful behaviour that Black Friday encourages amid the rush to get items at a marked-down rate. These reduced prices are often compensated by the price paid by our oceans, forests and wildlife as the plastic that feeds our shopping habits becomes waste within a year or less, eventually contributing to our plastic ocean as succinctly stated in Figure 13.
No amount of recycling or incineration may ever stop the harmful effects from such excessive consumerism. Therefore, do we really need these plastic products? Does that need justify the environmental damage, mainly plastic pollution and vehicle air pollution in transportation? Using these thought processes, we would be doing much more with less.
Nice post! When it was Black Friday this definitely crossed my mind too. I think that the environmental damage enhanced by these events doesn't really get considered which is rather sad. Unfortunately, Christmas is coming up too, causing the so-called 'island of plastic' to enlarge further.
ReplyDeleteHello Bailey! Thank you so much for your comment :)
ReplyDeleteI must admit I felt quite embarrassed while online shopping this time, although I (only? oops) bought a one dress and a pair of new trainers. The excessive plastic packaging that came with my items was really quite appalling. I cannot imagine how much plastic other retailers have wasted on consumers who have decided not to pick up their items after ordering them online maybe after checking their bank balance, or the plastic packaging wasted on consumers who have decided to return their goods after tearing the packaging apart. I really hope they reuse them!
Retailers have been offering free delivery to maintain their competitiveness in this online shopping market, but that means we often do not know what goes behind this "free" charge. All that wasted packaging... I don't even truly know what happens in warehouses and third-party couriers. Do they unpackage and repackage things too? Oh no.
It is indeed convenient and great for many of our shopping habits, but it is cultivating a really really wasteful culture in all of us. And yes, Christmas is coming up again... it is indeed a great time of the year to celebrate with your family. I think what makes it more difficult is that (plastic) gifts are often desired by many young children, who often may not know or be able to comprehend the impacts of plastic on our Earth. As you get older, the focus of Christmas moves towards enjoying a hearty meal with your family, and not so much of excessive gifting anymore, ...at least for me.
Environmental consciousness in relation to plastic should start young!