While there are countries in certain parts of the world that are well acquainted with carrying out ‘environment-friendly’ measures and applying rules and regulations on its industries concerning the carrying out of enviro-friendly practices – the majority of the world’s countries aren’t keeping up with these practices.
Food for Thought
In 2012 at the GAIA-organized Zero-Waste Altermeeting event which took place in Florence – factors that contribute most to global warming and that compromise the environment were listed and evaluated. Among them was the practice of over-production which results in excessive waste; single-use product packaging items that accumulate, are transformed into huge piles of debris that eventually lands up in seas, rivers and the like.
Here are three important facts about single use packaging:
1. The contents are usually only 70% of the total packaging
While a cream tube might look stylish and easy to use – only a small portion thereof is used for actually containing the product. With objects such as the tube, the cap and other mechanics which contribute to the dispensing of the contents – the bottle or tube for the most part, goes unutilized. This is especially true if the bottle or tube will only be used once.
2. Squeeze tubes cannot be refilled
Squeeze tubes are synonymous with ointments and products of that nature. There are two types of tubes: one tube which if squeezed, stays in the shape or form to which it was squeezed. The second type is the slightly more durable tube which retains its original shape once after being squeezed. Neither of these tubes can be refilled nor reused due to the incapability of cleaning and sterilizing the inside. Which means that they must be thrown away once after being used as they cannot be refilled with another substance or used for other purposes.
3. Single Use Packaging is Amazingly Inexpensive
Single use packaging such as squeeze tubes are very affordable. These are made and sold in large quantities - which contributes to the quadrupling of the harmful effects on the environment since these cannot be reused or passed on for other uses.
A Conclusion with a Solution
While most developing countries are conscious of the harmful effects of unmonitored industrialization, putting systems in place in order to tackle the harm proves to be a feat that may take longer than what is expected. Until then, using and distributing reusable or refillable packaging items that barely make it to the eco-system seems to be the one plausible practice that can be implemented in third and second world countries.
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