#Bubble wrap staples full

These fibers, fragments, and microbeads of plastic are often stored in the guts of marine animals.

#Bubble wrap staples full

Most of us have seen the video above which went viral or read similar headlines about whales and dolphins washing up on beaches with their bellies full of plastics.īut what about the animals that don’t make headlines – for instance, the fish many of us consume? They, too, are subject to plastic pollution.Īccording to scientists, there are tiny particles of plastic in the shellfish and fish we consume. No matter how much we attempt to minimize the plastic we use in our homes, we must be aware that plastic continues to pollute the environment where it affects animals. Either way, it enters into the food chain and therefore ends up on our plates or in our drinking water. Once there, it pollutes the soil, water and injures or is ingested by animals. While we may try to protect ourselves by avoiding plastic water bottles, just consider that the other plastics we dispose of like bubble wrap ultimately wind up in landfills or the ocean. These chemicals are now found in nearly all of us.Įxposure to plastic chemicals can lead to birth defects, some cancers, and other serious health conditions. We’ve taken for granted that plastic is both convenient and safe for use, but research is showing us that plastic is not safe for humans.įor instance, the chemicals that create the plastic containers and materials we use can leach into the food and beverage products we consume. Plastic is made from harmful or even toxic chemicals.

What’s more, previous incarnations of plastic bubble wrap (manufactured before 2008) were made from a polymer film that is regarded as “ biologically toxic” to the environment.Īlthough more producers are turning away from this toxic material, the main issue remains: not only is traditional bubble wrap hazardous to the environment, it takes up significant space and an unforeseeable amount of time in landfills. Find out why you should stay away from them in this article (under the section “Beware of “oxo-degradable” or “oxo-biodegradable””). Unless they are actually 100% plant-based, it’s highly probable that those are “oxo-biodegradable” plastics, being marketed as a “green” alternative.īut the reality is that those “oxo-degradable” plastics are actually even worse than regular plastics. On that note: don’t be fooled by so-called “biodegradable” or “eco-friendly” plastics. Polythene, being a petroleum-based plastic, is not biodegradable, let alone compostable. Which is essentially the same thing as suggesting “bury it in your backyard”. The council suggested she keep it for a potential future move, or to “wrap vases”.Īlternatively, she was told, she could throw it in her household trash, which would then be taken to landfill. Laura Freeman from the Dailymail actually asked her local council in the UK (which doesn’t recycle bubble wrap) what she’s supposed to do with the absurd amounts of bubble wrap after redecorating her place. Plastic bubble wrap is produced from polythene, and although it is technically recyclable, the sad reality is that most councils and communities don’t accept it and won’t recycle it. Once the bubbles are popped – and don’t pretend you haven’t done that – the wrap is no longer effective for protecting items that are shipped, so it must be discarded.Īnd that’s where the problem lies. It seems that every individual as well as manufacturers have either shipped or received products laden with plastic bubble wrap.Īlthough bubble wrap can theoretically be reused for future mailings, it’s inconvenient to store owing to its bulky design.īesides, let’s be honest, we all know what usually happens: Since it was first produced in 1957 in New Jersey, plastic bubble wrap has been used to package an immense range of products that include pharmaceutical drugs, household appliances, glassware, dishes, toys, artwork, perfume, lampshades, and countless more. Many commercial retailers are turning to biodegradable packaging solutions for their products.Īs demand increases for these eco-friendlier solutions, plastic bubble wrap may ultimately become a thing of the past.

It’s typically produced to be transparent, it’s cheap, and it works well to protect items in the mail.īut it’s important to note that there are smarter (non-plastic) alternatives that are equally effective. You Might Also Like… The scope of the plastic packaging problemĪccording to National Geographic, this is the shocking reality about plastic packaging:įor decades, plastic bubble wrap has been the go-to choice for packaging materials for shipping.