The documentary Albatross took shape in 2008 after a discussion between Chris Jordan and his friend Manuel Maqueda about the issue of ocean plastic pollution. They studied about young albatrosses dying of indigestion after eating plastic. They recorded what they witnessed in Midway Island in the north of the Pacific Ocean. They worked for more than four hundred hours and the footages were made into a film showcasing the plight of the species. The documentary was released in 2017.
Albatross projected the devastating effect of plastic on marine ecosystems. It was found that nine in ten birds have traces of plastic debris in them. It helped in understanding the drawbacks of our lifestyle and the severity of the problem.
Picture Credit : Google
People in the south coast of Spain woke up to a huge dead sperm whale on a March morning in 2013. After careful examination, it was found out that the whale had died of severe indigestion. About 17 kilograms of plastic was found inside its body which had led to its death.
Most of us love packaged chips. Let us now take a look at the journey of its packaging. These attractive packages are made of a kind of polypropylene known as BOPP.
Commonly known as PU, polyurethane is a polymer that is used to make cushions and mattresses. It is also used as enamel for paints. Though it provides us a comfortable night’s sleep without disturbances, it disturbs our environment. Sad, but true.
Most babies are fed using feeding bottles. A plastic called polycarbonate is used to make feeding bottles because it is strong, durable and heat resistant to an extent. It can be sterilized easily and would not soak up odours. When it was first introduced, it was commonly accepted as a suitable substitute for glass and ceramic. Polycarbonate is preferred for making the inner linings of food containers and reusable plastic bottles as well.
Polyethylene bags have multiple applications in our daily life. Though we use polyethylene products at least five times a day, they are not entirely safe.