The WWF estimates that around 80 million tons of plastic waste are floating in the world’s oceans. According to the Heinrich Böll Foundation, 30% of them float on the open sea, but only a fraction of them on the surface. Almost 34% of the garbage collects on the seabed and around 27% floats on the coasts. The numbers are alarming, but the consumption of plastic packaging continues to rise.
- Plastic microparticles are in food, drinking water and the air
- WWF study: Humans ingest 5 grams of microplastics per week
The Germans consume that alone in plastic
The Federal Statistical Office destiny states that Germans buy an average of 37 new plastic bags per year. However, these are only plastic bags with a wall thickness of less than 15 micrometers, which are exempt from the plastic bag ban, which has been in effect since January 1st, 2022. In 2020, 3.05 billion of these were consumed in Germany alone.
Many animals mistake plastic in the sea for food, leading them to frequently ingest deadly objects or toxins. To change that, the federal government has committed to reducing all forms of marine pollution by 2025, including a ban on many single-use plastic products.
For measures in the field of food packaging, e.g. B. through deposit, recycling or promotion of reusable, the food industry is also involved and makes appropriate contributions. source
Among other things, the 17 sustainability goals of the United Nations are used as standards for this. They are also available on the Internet under the term “The glorious 17’ and are considered the Sustainable Development Goals.
During the Corona Pandemic, Germans collected more plastic than before, but at the same time produced more plastic. While private households collected 78 kilograms of packaging waste in 2020, the value in 2019 was 6 kilograms less. At the same time, however, the Germans also produced almost 40 kilograms of plastic packaging waste, as Statista reports.
What are the problems with recycling plastic?
Not all plastic can currently be recycled, which is why companies are working on their own solutions. In research, too, there are attempts to either produce plastic in such a way that it is less harmful or that it can be broken down more easily.
But one focus is consumer behavior, because plastic must be properly disposed of after use. Even though 99% of plastic is already collected and recycled in Germany, there are aspects that need to be taken into account if you want to evaluate this data correctly.
- Much of the plastic ends up in incinerators
- Microplastics do not only come from the abrasion of tires
- Bags, bottles or boxes mean that microplastics are almost everywhere today
- Plasticizers and flame retardants are released from plastics in the sea
- Every year, Germans leave around 16.4 billion plastic bottles in nature
- Around 3 billion disposable cups remain in nature – only in Germany
- Increasing trend in the export of German packaging waste abroad
- Malaysia is a bigger buyer of our plastic waste
- Plastic (parts) in the construction sector have the longest useful and lifespan at 35 years
- Ecoterra is based on the blockchain and promotes the recycling of valuable materials
Our drinking water is also contaminated with microplastics, but there are often still no suitable measuring methods to determine the microplastic content in mineral water or drinking water. However, the uptake of microplastics through the air is a bigger problem, it seems at the moment.
However, it should be noted that it is not yet possible to analyze in a scientifically sound manner what dangers microplastics pose, where we eat them, in what quantities and what damage the small particles cause. However, the WWF has determined that we consume 1 credit card per week of plastic.
To change that, we need to stop millions of tons of plastic waste from ending up in nature every year, and Ecoterra, a blockchain project, is committed to that goal. Ecoterra is a platform for the recycling of valuable materials and is therefore considered impact investing, a sustainable form of investment.
Getting loud in Germany Consumer Center The following types of plastic are most commonly used:
- Polyethylene (LDAP, HD-PE): e.g. B. in bags, yoghurt pots, margarine pots
- Polypropylene (PP): in cooking bags, reusable boxes, yoghurt pots
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET): in bottles, films, textile fibers
- Polystyrene (PS): in home insulation, electrical appliances, switches
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC): in cable insulation or floor coverings
- Polyurethane (PUR): in foams or devices
- Polycarbonate (PC): in goggles and visors
More exciting facts about the recycling of plastic waste
The “Pacific Garbage Patch” is 1.6 million square kilometers in size and is therefore 3x the size of France or almost 5x the size of Germany. The floating garbage island stretches from the west coast of North America to Japan and is about 1.6 million square kilometers in size. The garbage accumulates there through an extensive system of currents called eddies. source
It is estimated that by 2050 there will be around 850-950 million tonnes of pollution in our oceans. This is based on the estimate that there are currently 150 million tons of plastic in the world’s oceans and that at least 9.1 million tons are added every year. It should also be noted that this figure is said to be increasing by 5% annually.
While polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) and silicone (SI) have so far been considered harmless, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polytetrafluoroethylene/Teflon (PTFE) can release pollutants in small quantities or under unfavorable conditions. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate and metals with plastic contain substances of concern. source
Ecoterra raises awareness of recycling recyclable materials and raw materials and rewards users with additional carbon credits aimed at reducing carbon emissions. Anyone who would like to get involved in the project can do so through pre-sale, as the utility token is currently available there at a particularly low price. This gives investors access to the platform, where additional functions and areas are available.
Among other things, there is also an area where retailers can buy plastic waste. This means that even more plastic gets into the cycle for reuse. The companies in the industry can use Ecoterra to encourage their customers to recycle more and thus have more liquidity for their business models.
All in all is Ecoterra a sensible project that offers numerous areas to make consumers in this country even more aware of recycling. It thus ensures a higher proportion of recyclable materials that are reused and do not end up in waste incineration plants.
Conclusion: No matter what area of our lives we look at, plastic is everywhere. The material has a number of important properties that we need, for example to keep food fresh or to make tires. But for a real change, what is needed above all is a holistic rethinking of the resources and the way in which the plastic is used after it has actually been used.
As an investment with added value Ecoterra has already proven its worth and investors are accepting the pre-sale offer very well. The low prices make the risk of loss manageable and at the same time give the opportunity for high growth and above-average returns.
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About the author: Stefanie Herrnberger works as a freelance speaker and editor. Her many years of professional experience in the areas of blockchain, cryptocurrencies and NFT offer her the perfect background to report on current news and developments on decentralized and central financial markets. Stefanie has been investing in cryptocurrencies herself for several years and therefore understands the challenges and opportunities for crypto traders. Publications: https://de.cryptonews.com/editors/stefanie-herrnberger https://blockchain-technologie.digital/ https://www.facebook.com/groups/cryptonewsde/
