Packaging waste can be found in every ocean in the world. The waste created from the packaging is creating many negative impacts on the animals in oceans. The packaging is causing pollution and damaging the environment that many species live in. However, there are multiple ways humans can help reduce the amount of packaging waste in the oceans. For example, humans can use reusable items daily instead of buying a container or they can look for ways to reuse their products instead of throwing them in the garbage. Packaging waste can be reduced from the world’s oceans if humans contribute to helping the prevention.
Packaging waste can cause many negative effects on animals living in the oceans. Packaging that can’t be used will eventually end up as litter in the oceans. Once the litter is in the ocean, it may sink to the bottom or continue to float in the ocean. As the many species that live in the ocean swim, they may come into contact with that litter. If the litter is large enough, it may get stuck on the animal, the animal may try to eat it, or the animal may breathe it in. For example, if the litter becomes stuck around the animals’ neck, the animal won’t be able to get it off and will become at risk of getting stuck on something else due to the litter. A second example is that if the litter is small and an animal eats it, the litter may not be able to be digested and may cause the animal to become sick. Finally, a third example is that if the animal doesn’t see the plastic and inhales it, it may become stuck in its nose and they may not be able to free it. Packaging waste can have a second negative effect on animals by causing pollution. The pollution will affect the animals by causing the water in the oceans to become unhealthy for them to live in. However, if the water becomes unhealthy, it will lead to many animals suffering because there won’t be any other areas for them to live in. So, packaging waste in the world’s oceans can cause many negative impacts on the animals living in them.
Humans can contribute to the reduction of packaging waste throughout the oceans in many ways. One way they can contribute is by using reusable items. They can carry around items like bags, water bottles, and reusable coffee cups. For example, if humans buy a coffee daily, they will receive a plastic coffee cup every day. They won’t be able to reuse the cup and each day they will throw it away, which will cause more packaging waste in the oceans. However, if they carry a reusable coffee cup every day, they will be able to put their coffee in that daily and not have any extra packaging to discard. Humans should look for ways to reuse the extra packaging or they should try to find an alternative like a reusable cup for that product. If they are unable to reuse their packaging, they should recycle all of the products that are recyclable. Recycling the packaging will allow it to be reused instead of throwing it away. A second way humans can contribute to the reduction of packaging waste is by buying individual products instead of pre-packaged products. Some products like vegetables provide the option to buy them individually or in a plastic package. Humans should choose the individual packaging so they won’t have any extra packaging they don’t need. However, if the product has packaging in both options, they should choose the option with less packaging so they will contribute as little as possible to package waste. So, the contributions from humans to help prevent packaging waste can have a significant impact on the world’s oceans.
Humans can do many things to help reduce the amount of packaging waste throughout the world’s oceans. Humans can use reusable items instead of discarding items every day and recycle the items they are unable to reuse. Also, they can buy products with the smallest amount of packaging to help decrease the amount they discard each day. However, if humans do not reduce the amount of packaging waste in the oceans, it will negatively impact the animals. The pollution will increase in the ocean causing it to become unhealthy for animals to live in. Also, the litter in the oceans from the packaging will become dangerous for animals. It can become attached to some of the animals while they are swimming or they may try to consume it and become sick from it being indigestible. Humans can contribute in many ways to help reduce the amount of packaging waste in the world’s oceans and increase many animals health that live in the ocean.
Essay by: Kayla LaPier
SUNY Plattsburgh