Sea of microplastic🌊
On 2020/07/01, retail stores nationwide, such as convenience stores and supermarkets, will be obliged to charge for plastic shopping bags with the aim of reducing disposable plastics. While it is important to reduce fossil fuels that emit carbon dioxide, which causes a climate crisis, this microplastic problem, which pollutes the ocean, is also serious. The World Economic Forum (Davos Conference) estimates that in 2016, at least 8 million tonnes of plastic will be spilled into the sea each year worldwide.
Recently, a large amount of plastic waste has been found in the bodies of whales washed up on the beaches of Asian countries. Microplastics may also be detected in the bodies of fish and seabirds.
Although the long-term effects on living things, including humans, have not yet been clarified, microplastics adsorb harmful substances and are taken up by fish and shellfish, and in many animals including humans in the food chain. There are concerns that it will have an adverse effect.
Japan has the second highest amount of disposable plastic waste per capita after the United States. Depending on the corona, the use of My Bag and My Bottle may be withheld, and it seems that the amount used may not be reduced as expected. I hope that this problem will be improved in the future, taking advantage of the charge for plastic shopping bags. I also wanted to find a lifestyle that produces as little plastic waste as possible.