We’ve teamed up with our friends at EARTHDAY.ORG to share some information about the problem with plastics and how we can all do our part to protect the planet.
Plastics are everywhere, and that’s because 9.1 billion tons have been produced in the U.S. since plastic was first introduced back in the 1950s.
In 2022, over 440 million tons of plastics were produced globally, and that is set to triple by 2060. The vast majority of all plastic ever produced has never been recycled, but instead is either dumped into landfills or makes its way into our oceans – where it has famously created not one, but five floating garbage patches. There are now an estimated 170 trillion pieces of plastic blighting our oceans, killing marine wildlife, and washing back onto our beaches.
What is even more startling is new research suggesting that our soil now contains more microplastics than our seas. These tiny plastic particles, invisible to the naked eye, attract other toxins and pollutants, helping to pollute the land where we live, play, and grow our food.
New research is discovering that human health is being impacted by these microplastics and the additive chemicals that we are all involuntarily ingesting and inhaling. But it seems that babies are uniquely susceptible to consuming more than any other demographic because of the unique nature of their developmental stages – namely teething on plastic and crawling in household dust which contains microplastics.
Plastic truly is the problem that just doesn’t stop giving! That’s why buying sustainable toys, like Make It Cute playhouses, is a good alternative. Made from 100% recyclable materials, these lovely playhouses are proof that toys can be both beautifully designed and environmentally friendly.
EARTHDAY.ORG is working hard to counter the scourge of plastics, which is why the official Theme for Earth Day 2024 is Planet vs. Plastics. If you want to get involved, there are several things you can do.
Sign the Global Plastics Petition, demanding a 60% reduction in plastic production by 2040. The petition also calls on world leaders to ban the export and incineration of plastic waste, demands that plastic producers shoulder the cost of environmental and health costs, and funds public awareness campaigns to reinforce the importance of ending plastics.
2024 marks the 5-year anniversary of EARTHDAY.ORG’s Great Global Cleanup campaign which is an ongoing effort to pick up trash from around the world and give people the opportunity to make a difference in their own communities. Since 2019, millions of people have participated, proving that local efforts can have a global impact.
Sustainability and protecting planet Earth are essential to Make It Cute. This year Make It Cute is thrilled to partner with EARTHDAY.ORG in support of the Great Global Cleanup campaign, by mobilizing their families, friends and network of partners to host their own cleanups in their communities. Make It Cute has a goal of facilitating 100 nationwide cleanups!
This Earth Day, on April 22, please join EARTHDAY.ORG, Make It Cute, and more than 1 billion people working towards a plastic-free world by signing up for a cleanup event in your area on our Global Cleanup Map or if you cannot find one near you – why not host one? There’s a great EARTHDAY.ORG Cleanup Toolkit you can use as a guide.
If you can’t make it to a cleanup, consider reducing single-use plastics in your day-to-day life and share your efforts on social media using the #PlasticDetox hashtag. Reject single-use plastic bags and bottles, purchase clothes from sustainable clothing brands that don’t use synthetic textiles made from plastic materials like polyester, opt for vintage or organic clothes rather than fast fashion to help cut down on microfiber pollution. Over time, these small changes will become instinctive, and you will have developed a strong green muscle memory.
Every single one of us can play our part in making conscious decisions that are kinder to the planet and every living creature that calls it home. Visit the Planet vs. Plastics page for more information on ways to create a better world and whatever you do - don’t give up!