Investigate a product with a negative impact:

Question

1. Name the product (2)
2. Find a clear picture of the product (2)
3. What negative impact does the product
have? (5)
4. Can this product be substituted with
something else that is positive?

Answer 1

1. Name the product:

• Plastic Bottled Water
• Single-Use Plastic Straws

2. Find a clear picture of the product:

• For Plastic Bottled Water: Image of Plastic Bottled Water
• For Single-Use Plastic Straws: Image of Single-Use Plastic Straws (Note: Please replace the example URLs with actual links to images.)

3. What negative impact does the product have?

Plastic Bottled Water:

1. Environmental Pollution: Single-use plastic bottles contribute significantly to litter, polluting oceans and landscapes. Most bottles are not recycled and take hundreds of years to decompose.
2. Resource Depletion: The production of plastic bottles consumes fossil fuels and significant amounts of water, straining local water supplies.
3. Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Manufacturing and transporting bottled water results in high levels of carbon emissions, contributing to climate change.
4. Microplastic Contamination: Bottled water can contain microplastics, which can pose health risks when ingested.
5. Impact on Marine Life: Plastic waste in oceans harms marine animals, which can mistake plastic for food, leading to injuries, poisoning, or death.

Single-Use Plastic Straws:

1. Environmental Pollution: Like other plastics, they contribute to the vast accumulation of plastic waste in landfills and oceans.
2. Marine Life Dangers: Straws are frequently ingested by marine animals, leading to injury or death, particularly for sea turtles.
3. Non-Biodegradability: Plastic straws do not decompose, persisting in the environment for centuries.
4. Resource Intensive: The production of plastic straws uses petroleum, further depleting non-renewable resources.
5. Aesthetic and Hygiene Issues: They contribute to the unsightly appearance of littered landscapes, impacting tourism and local ecosystems.

4. Can this product be substituted with something else that is positive?

• Plastic Bottled Water Substitutes:

  • Reusable Water Bottles: Made from stainless steel, glass, or BPA-free plastic. Encouraging refilling reduces waste and promotes sustainability.
  • Filtered Tap Water: Utilizing home filtration systems provides clean drinking water without the need for plastic bottles.

• Single-Use Plastic Straws Substitutes:

  • Reusable Straws: Options made from stainless steel, silicone, or bamboo. They can be washed and reused multiple times, significantly reducing plastic waste.
  • Paper Straws: A biodegradable option available for single-use needs, which breaks down more quickly than plastic and poses less harm to wildlife.

By promoting these alternatives, we can mitigate the negative impacts associated with single-use plastics and foster an environmentally friendly approach to consumption.