It is no secret that over the past few years, the environment has become increasingly endangered with the ever-present threat of climate change, the obscene amount of plastic and other garbage that fill the oceans, and general mistreatment of the planet by the species that should be taking care of it. While the environment has always been important, recent activists, such as Greta Thunberg, have thrust these issues into the spotlight of the media, drawing much needed attention to the dire circumstances that the world is hurtling towards. Recent acts that have helped with these problems are the promoted popularity of metal straws which decrease the amount of plastic straws polluting the ocean, an increase in reusable Hydro flasks that decrease the amount of plastic water bottles being used, and even mason jars or other reusable objects being used to store food. While all of these small changes in everyday life have helped with overwhelming environmental problems, mainly the amount of plastic in the ocean, it is simply not enough to curve the damage that has already been done.
In order to truly help protect the planet’s precious ecosystems and the general way of life, bigger steps need to be taken by those who are the main producers of the problem. This specifically applies to the corporations and companies that are still using the non-recyclable, environmentally hazardous packaging. If more companies used environmentally friendly packaging, they would be able to decrease all of the mentioned problems through a switch that will benefit not only current generations, but the future ones as well. Not only that, this change will promote a better way of living and will help preserve the world for those future generations to explore and treasure for many years to come.
A switch to environmentally friendly packaging would help in a similar way to the metal straws, Hydro flasks, and other reusable materials but on a much larger scale. Where one person may decrease usage of plastic water bottles through a reusable one, the simple packaging of household products used on a daily basis would help the environment even more. With the amount of products that people consume and purchase on a daily basis, the amount of waste that piles up in landfills or pollutes the ocean is shocking and unacceptable. Imagine those mounds of garbage being recycles, remade into other products and sold to manufacturers instead of becoming large piles of junk that will only harm the environment.
With less of these harmful materials permeating the store shelves, the less will go into the ocean, killing and severely injuring innocent animals and clearing up the water so the wonders of the ocean can be enjoyed simply as nature, without the pollution of humans clouding the view.
The future of the planet lies in the hands of the upcoming and future generations. It is our duty to ensure that we provide a world in the best possible condition for them instead of leaving them a dangerous mess that will take years, possibly even decades, to even remotely reverse. Now, companies switching to environmentally friendly packaging will not get rid of every piece of plastic in the ocean or piece of trash in the landfill but, the important thing is, it is a start. Without as much waste building up, there is more time to focus on the problems already present.
Corporations and companies may find the adjustment hard and possibly expensive but it will be worth it. After all, with the amount of products being recycled increasing, the more manufacturers will buy, stimulating the economy. If the economy is doing well, so are the businesses in that economy. Therefore, in the end, even if it takes hard work and time, this switch will have ultimately profitable affects, both environmentally and economically.
In the modern age, large corporations and companies are a main part of life. If some, or even all switched to environmentally friendly packaging, they would have a huge effect on promoting the future of our world, guaranteeing a planet that we will be happy to leave behind for the next generations to take care of and protect.
Essay by: Jenna Frazier
Marana High School
