Earth Day Is All About Cutting Down on Plastic Waste

Environmentalists are calling for action against supermarkets’ excessive usage of plastic packaging in observance of Earth Day. Former EPA regional administrator turned activist Judith Enck draws attention to the alarming practice of overwrapping fruits, vegetables, and infant food in plastic.

Less than 10% of plastic is recycled, according to Enck, but cardboard, metal, and glass are recycled at higher rates. Millions of tons of plastic waste enter the ocean each year, endangering the health of people and the world.

Earth Day demands that immediate action be taken to reduce plastic pollution as the world’s plastic output keeps growing. International negotiators are gathering in Ottawa to write a convention intended to reduce plastic waste.

Enck advises customers to make tiny changes, including utilizing reusable bags and choosing goods with less packaging. She cites the necessity for robust state or federal packaging regulations as justification for her support of legislative action aimed at reducing the usage of plastic.

Positively, Enck notes that there has been growth in the beverage and home products aisles, where there are more options available as alternatives to plastic packaging. Nonetheless, she emphasizes how crucial comprehensive laws are to bringing about significant changes in the sector.

The pressing need to reconsider plastic consumption and adopt sustainable alternatives for the sake of the environment and future generations is still in the forefront of public discourse as Earth Day approaches.