Jainism and Buddhism preach and believe in respecting living beings that include not only human beings or animals, but plants, insects, water, forests, creatures of the sea and water, and everything that grow. This is the science part of the environment which is balanced by all living creatures including air, water, forests. It is ecological science as it could be verified by observation, experiment, and reason. Every tiny creature, plant, water, air, and insect, plays an important role in the maintenance of the ecological balance, and the argument can be proved (Clowney and Mosto). This essay delineates environmental and ethical issues with particular emphasize on recycling of expanded polystyrene and its interpretation based on religious philosophy.
The ethics of the environmental science is that no one should create disequilibrium in the ecological set up by his action. We should not cut trees, wipe out forests, pollute the air and water, overfish, kill animals, and do such acts as can disturb the ecological balance Clowney and Mosto). We should create wastes as less as possible, and every effort should be made to recycle the wastes as these adversely affect the ecology and the environment. Polystyrene is one of the most extensively used plastics. It is transparent that can be colored with the help of colorants. It is hard and solid at room temperature. That is why; it is excellent as packaging material. It can be easily used to package peanuts, CD and DVD cases. It can also be used as trays, tumblers, lids, bottles, trays, and other disposable cutlery. These are all different forms of packaging (EPS Packaging Group; 'Polystyrene'.).
The need to recycle wastes and other substances that cause ecological imbalances cannot be overemphasized. EPS or expanded polystyrene is a case in point. Expanded polystyrene (EPS) that is a synthetic aromatic polymer manufactured from monomer styrene and can be in foamed or solid. It should not be recycled as it is an insignificant barrier to water vapor and oxygen. EPS also has a low melting point, and if heated above 100 degrees it becomes liquid which if cooled becomes rigid again. Its utilization is a topic for debate. It could be found in abundance in foam form along shores and waterways (EPS Packaging Group; 'Polystyrene'.). Moreover, it is biodegradable and inadequate recycling followed by dumping of residual waste can pose a threat to soil and contaminate it. Consequently, it can disturb natural ecological system existing in the soil. More so, the consumption of energy utilized in the process of recycling is also a cause of concern. Traditionally, energy is produced using fossil fuels including coal, crude oil and so forth. The power generation plants emit such pollutants including sulfur oxides, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that give rise to global warming. The increased temperature of our earth system is a threat for many species including trees and living things inside the earth (EPA).
In short, ethical behavior with respect to the environment is required not only for individuals, or groups, but also from states and those who are at the helm of affairs of the society or nation. The policy decision has a bearing upon the activities of humans who indulge in acts that are immediately beneficial. Human beings have a responsibility towards their offspring who are likely to be seriously affected by the thoughtless acts of the people of the present generation. They owe to the future generation to keep the earth inhabitable. Hence, expanded polystyrene should not be recycled as a packaging material in future
Work Cited
Clowney, David, and Patricia Mosto. 'Earthcare.' Google Books. N.p., 2015. Web. 19 June 2015. <https://books.google.ca/books?id=gOUTdFT46QYC&printsec=frontcover&source=gbs_ge_summary_r&cad=0#v=onepage&q&f=false>
EPA, 'Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions'. Epa.gov. N.p., 2015. Web. 19 June 2015. <http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ghgemissions/sources.html>
EPS Packaging Group, ‘Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) and the Environment’. N.p., 2008. Web. 19 June 2015. < http://www.eps.co.uk/pdfs/eps_and_the_environment.pdf>
Kore-system 'Expanded Polystyrene (EPS) and Its Impact on the Environment'. N.p., 2015. Web. 19 June 2015. < http://www.kore-system.com/blog/bid/75102/Expanded-Polystyrene-EPS-and-its-Impact-on-the-Environment>
'Polystyrene.' Wikipedia, N.p., 2015. Web. 19 June 2015. <https://en.wikipedia.org/?title=Polystyrene>
