There has been an intensive invasion of the plastic bags into the global market since 1977 and they have become an essential part of the human everyday life. People want their living conditions to be convenient, time- and moneysaving and therefore, do not even notice, that the price of their comfort and luxury are much higher, than they might imagine. Global warming and climate change are the results of the entire complex of human activities and each little detail or mistake can eventually play a significant role in these processes. One is aware of the water, air and soil pollution and when taking a closer look at the mountain of garbage, the most visible materials are those of plastic.
The use of plastic bags has become popular due to such characteristic of this product, as cheap price, convenience, being small and light. Some people claim it to be extremely comfortable, they do not even have to think or spend any time on looking for a bag to carry the products. They rely on the vendors, who readily give them the one-use bags even without additional charge, because their price can be included in the price of the products. It sounds quite appealing and 500 billion and a trillion such bags are annually consumed all over the world (Afzal, Ali, Ali, Shaikh, 545). Thus, most customers and employers consider plastic bags to be a reliable way of delivering goods home.
Although the advantages of plastic bags have been largely appreciated and people are still using them every day, their harmfulness and disadvantages are to be emphasized now. Polyethylene is a non-renewable resource, and it takes years for it to break down. Therefore, the plastic bags mainly provide the visible pollution in the world. Their light weight leads at the same time to the being easily carried by wind and escaping from the landfills and rubbish bins. As a result, cattle, sheep and other animals ingest these bags, that is extremely harmful for their digestive systems. “Plastic bags also wash into rivers, threatening aquatic wildlife or blocking drains and causing floods that may damage people’s homes and crops” (Braun & Traore, 864). African countries have faced a problem, when plastic bags retain the rainwater, which eventually becomes a breeding ground for different insects, including mosquitos and this condition increases the chances of malaria spread. Short- and long-term damage of the plastic bags is obvious and one needs to find the alternative material to substitute them.
As for the the values, which get protected and provided by the use of plastic bags, it has to do with individual comfort, freedom of choice and in the developing countries it has been associated with global economic growth. Women report using of plastic bags as a way of self-identification, they do not want to use the old-fashioned traditional baskets or reusable bags, but want to “be modern”. Usage of plastic bags in such countries is considered to be a step forward towards civilization (Braun & Traore, 876). Freedom of consumer choice is the most important value to support the spread of plastic bags in the entire planet.
At the same time much more important and significant moral and ethical values are disregarded in the process of the extensive use of plastic bags. People’s responsibility for the natural resources, livestock and their children’s health are the issues, which must be raised nowadays. Illnesses and fatalities caused by the plastic bags, found even more than 300 kilometers offshore prove the fact, that they have become a major cause of the visual pollution in the environment (Afzal, Ali, Ali, Shaikh, 546). The shared values in this respect are the individual human rights, such as freedom of choice, self-identification and determination, but the nature of these rights is different. On the one hand, people want to set a convenient lifestyle, opt for more comfortable things in life and on the other hand, they want to live in a clean city, drink high-quality water and milk.
A number of different strategies have been applied by the countries to prevent from the further pollution and harm of the plastic bags. Ireland is famous for its being first to introduce the tax on plastic bags and later the government of Europe has presented a 15 Euro tax on plastic bags, that has eventually led to the 90% reduction in consumption of this item (Afzal, Ali, Ali, Shaikh, 546). Also „the Malian government adopted a law banning the production, importation, possession, sale, and use of nonbiodegradable plastic bags” (Braun & Traore, 870). Reusable bags have been suggested as the main alternative to the usage of plastic bags and has been widely used all over the world.
Works cited
Afzal, Sarwat; Ali, Imdad; Ali, Irfan; Shaikh, Suman Gangwani Faryal. “Consumption of
Plastic bags and its impact on Environment”. International Journal of Asian Social Science 2(4), 2012: 544-549. Web. 25 Apr. 2016.
Braun, Yvonne; Traore, Sylla. “Plastic bags, pollution, and identity: Women and the
Gendering of Globalization and Environmental Responsibility in Mali”. Gender & Society 29(6), 2015: 863-887. Web. 25 April. 2016.
