How is Plas-Pak Contributing to the Ocean’s Conservation?

Each year, plastic waste kills about 1 million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals.

An alarming number of marine creatures die as a result of plastic pollution on a global scale. Whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, and sea lions are all included in this category. According to the United Nations, marine trash affects at least 800 species internationally, and up to 80% of that litter is plastic. Furthermore, it has been discovered that fish, seabirds, sea turtles, and marine animals can become entangled in or consume plastic trash, resulting in asphyxia, malnutrition, or drowning.

By 2050, the amount of plastic waste in the oceans will surpass fish.

In January 2016, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation warned that unless global action is taken, plastic waste could dominate fish in the oceans by 2050. Research has noted that plastics manufacturing has expanded twentyfold since 1964, reaching 311 million tonnes in 2014. Moreover, it is predicted to nearly double in the next two decades and roughly quadruple by 2050. 

Australians consume an average of 130kg of plastic per person annually. Less than 12% of this is recycled.

Approximately 130,000 tonnes of plastic will enter our streams and oceans. Plastic is an exceedingly versatile material that is designed to last a long time. Once carelessly discarded, it can damage beaches, threaten marine life, and possibly harm human health. Scientists believe that 95% of the ocean remains unexplored, and 91% of ocean organisms remain unclassified. Thus, if we continue to consume plastic at this rate, we ultimately obstruct our chances of discovering new species.

Plastic is being reportedly found in one of every three fish gathered for human consumption. All of our waters are now poisoned, and even the ice in the Arctic is contaminated. Furthermore, there is no question that our earth is being suffocated by plastic. Unfortunately, recycling the plastic that we consume will not quickly reverse the effects of ocean pollution. Instead, extensive efforts must be made by society.

We at Plas-Pak WA Pty Ltd are fully aware that each individual contributes to conserving our seas and the rest of our environment. Furthermore, we recognize that we could not continue to conduct business as usual and contribute to these appalling statistics.

We highly believe that small steps add up to significant and impactful results.

Furthermore, we pledge to the following: 

  • Craft packaging that is both more resource-efficient and recyclable than the current standards.

Plastic is well regarded as a versatile, pliable, long-lasting, low-cost material that companies can mass-produce in large quantities. Furthermore, containers and packaging account for a significant amount of the waste found in the water. Packaging is a product used to wrap or protect food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. On the other hand, containers and packaging are employed in the shipment, storage, and protection of items. Resource-efficient or sustainable packaging will essentially help reduce carbon footprint. This type of packaging uses environmentally friendly solutions because standard packaging materials such as plastic, paper, and cardboard consume significant energy. Furthermore, eco-friendly packaging is beneficial for the environment because it is composed of recycled waste material.

  • Increase the amount of wasted packaging that is recovered and recycled from households and other non-residential sources.

Packaging is an inescapable aspect of daily life as it comes with virtually every product we purchase.  Overall, recycling will considerably aid in preventing pollution, the lowering of energy required to extract new raw materials, and the reduction of greenhouse gases. Recyclable packaging refers to materials that can be reused, usually after being processed.

  • Implement measures to decrease the occurrence and consequences of littering.

Litter is defined as any item or product that individuals leave in places where it does not belong. Moreover, it can have devastating environmental implications. For one thing, toxic substances can leach out of the litter and harm neighbouring soil and water bodies. Furthermore, these poisons can proceed to enter the human body through the food chain. Litter is also costly in terms of cleanup and health care costs. Therefore, we can reduce litter and work toward a cleaner environment by implementing measures to reduce the occurrence and repercussions of littering.

Why should we save our oceans? 

Our ocean delivers numerous benefits to our planet and all of its inhabitants. Firstly, the ocean generates more than half of the world’s oxygen and absorbs 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere. The ocean is also in charge of regulating the climate. It carries heat from the equator to the poles, regulating our temperature and weather patterns.  Not only that, but the ocean provides us with the food we consume every day. It supports 80 per cent of the planet’s biodiversity and is the world’s greatest ecosystem. Most importantly, oceans produce 70 per cent of the oxygen that humans breathe. Putting everything into consideration, it will be impossible to maintain human health and existence if we do not act now. Ultimately, humanity will be unable to survive if our oceans are not protected. It goes without saying that we must all make concerted efforts to conserve our oceans.