The global plastic waste crisis is escalating—and the pandemic has something to do with it. National Geographic’s new photography exhibition Planet or Plastic? highlights the urgent need to reduce single-use plastic
By refusing straws for our drinks and bringing reusable bags for our supermarket groceries, we have made headway in the war against single-use plastic. An increasing number of governments including China—one of the world’s biggest users of plastic—have also announced varying degrees of bans on single-use plastic. (Singapore has yet to do the same, but it is working towards becoming a zero-waste nation by encouraging its residents to curb their consumptions habits.)
But believe it or not, the Covid-19 pandemic has derailed these efforts as plastic waste has soared, with one of the culprits being packaging and disposable cutleries from food deliveries and takeaway meals. It is time to get back on track for this is a double crisis we are facing, and there is an urgent need to address the plastic pollution problem—and the over 8 billion kilograms that end up in the ocean every year.
(Related : 5 Eco-Friendly Chairs Made With Upcycled Plastic)