The indian government has issued an order banning single-use plastic items from July 1. The manufacture, import, storage, distribution, sale and use of these low-use, high-waste plastics will be banned across india from the 1st. What will happen if we stop using plastic which has become an important part of our life? Can we live without plastic?

Construction, transportation, furniture, household appliances, televisions, bed sheets, clothing, and countless other forms of plastic have become part of our daily lives. This means that life without plastic is not possible. But think how our lives would change if we suddenly had no access to plastic and it would help to find a new sustainable alternative.
Plastics in medicine

Whereas, going plastic-free in hospitals is disastrous. "Imagine if a dialysis unit in a hospital could run without plastic," says Sharon George, a senior lecturer in the Department of Environmental Sustainability and Green technology at Keele university in the UK. In hospitals, plastics are used in many things, such as gloves, tubes for collecting patient samples, and needles. In some surgeries, disposable instruments are used instead of reusable surgical instruments. Some surgeons argue that hospitals have too many single-use plastics. However, most plastic medical devices are now necessary, without which there will be casualties. Everyday plastic use items are also becoming important for health protection. Condoms and contraceptives are listed by the World health Organization as essential medical supplies. Similarly, masks, including plastic-based surgical masks, respirators, and reusable cloth masks have slowed the spread of the coronavirus.

What is the solution?
Chemicals added during the production of plastic can affect the endocrine system of the human body. Such chemicals are found in phthalates used to soften plastics. These are often found in beauty products. Some phthalates affect testosterone production in men and reduce sperm count. Similarly, it affects estrogen production in women and affects fertility.

Bioplastics, the alternative plastics made from grinding cornstarch, are not an environmentally sound alternative, researchers say. So, replacing plastic with something else will not solve our problems. Instead, we need to decide on the use of plastics only in the areas where we actually need them, i.e. food and medicine.

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Plastics

Sindujaa D N

30/06/2022 12:22 PM