Plastic
It is evident that single use plastics have exponentially become more popular in the recent years due to affordable costs and convenience. Despite the profit margins, these plastics are not sustainable for the environment and can serve as a potential threat to future generations. According to Biological University, “It takes 500 (or more) years for a plastic bag to degrade in a landfill. Unfortunately the bags don't break down completely but instead photo-degrade, becoming microplastics that absorb toxins and continue to pollute the environment.” As one of the most prominent plastic producers and polluters around the world, China has started to consider alternative approaches to reduce their impact on the environment.
Hainan
At the start of 2020, China’s government deliberately determined that they wanted to eliminate single use plastics as much as they were capable of. To achieve this goal, China decided to test out the logistics of this concept and do a trial run on an island off the coast called Hainan. The government chose Hainan for this experiment because it is the smallest province in China, and they could avoid putting the majority of the country at risk in case of failure. Starting in February, Hainan started manufacturing biodegradable plastic for items like utensils, straws, bags, bowls, packaging, etc. Part of this initiative included removing disposable plastic and microbeads from everyday life.
Progress
Fast forwarding several months later, on December 1st, an official ban on non-biodegradable was placed on Hainan, China after the experiment was seen as a success. Following this executive decision, residents of Hainan have started to voice their concerns and opinions on the new lifestyle that has been enforced upon them. Vegetable seller, Wang Ling, said, "Caring for the environment is good for all of us, but my business costs will grow as the cost of the biodegradable plastic bags I prepare for my customers every day will at least double for the time being. I hope the bags will become cheaper in the near future." Despite her economic concerns, the vice governor, Mao Chaofeng, reassured citizens that the government is working to generate more raw materials and make sure that this is a smooth transition. Forbes magazine also provides useful insight and writes, “Single-use and non-degradable plastic bags will be banned in major Chinese cities by the end of 2020 and across the country by 2022. In addition, single-use straws will be banned by the end of 2020.” After this experiment, China has become more optimistic about creating a more environmentally friendly planet and eliminating non-biodegradable products.
If you are interested in reducing your impact on the environment, the articles down below provide some simple solutions and easy adjustments to your everyday lifestyle that you can make!
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/10-ways-reduce-plastic-pollution
https://www.oceanicsociety.org/blog/1720/7-ways-to-reduce-ocean-plastic-pollution-today
http://www.greeneducationfoundation.org/nationalgreenweeksub/waste-reduction-tips/tips-to-us e-less-plastic.html
SOURCES
https://www.biologicaldiversity.org/programs/population_and_sustainability/sustainability/plastic _bag_facts.html
https://www.forbes.com/sites/trevornace/2020/01/20/china-to-ban-all-single-use-plastics/?sh=31 cc30c97293
https://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/china-hainan-plastic-ban/
https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202012/02/WS5fc6e558a31024ad0ba99327.html
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