PLASTIC NEVER DIES

The plastic you use today never really goes away. Plastics can take anywhere from 20 to 500 years to decompose, depending on the material and structure. A plastic bottle made from PET takes around 450 years to decompose. Even your great-grandchildren’s great-grandchildren could find the plastic you threw out long ago.

When plastic eventually breaks down, it never fully disappears; it just gets smaller and smaller but doesn’t biodegrade completely for thousands of years. When it takes such a long time to disappear, the damage is already done to the environment. Plastic trash can release harmful chemicals into soil and water, or break into tiny bits (microplastics) that animals, fish and birds eat.

Humans also consume microplastics – we might ingest them while eating seafood, breathe them in through the air, or consume food with trace amounts of its plastic packaging. Studies have shown microplastics significantly damage cells in the human body, leading to serious health effects, including cancers, lung disease, and birth defects.

Plastic never dies, it kills. Say no to plastic and save lives – including your own.