The End of Plastic Has Officially Arrived

Plastic pollution is an increasing problem across the globe. With the EU's latest initiative to reduce plastic waste, it's clear there's a growing movement to cut down on plastic pollution.

It has been estimated that by 2021, humans will annually use as many as half a trillion plastic bottles. Our consumption and the production of single-use plastics is out of control, with over 8 million tons of plastic entering the world’s oceans every year. This growing problem threatens Earth’s ecosystems in a dire way, choking natural habitats and harming wildlife that come across it.

In a recent move to curb plastic waste, the EU has launched an effort to ensure that all packaging throughout Europe is reusable or recyclable by the year 2030.

Nearly 200 countries signed a United Nations resolution to eliminate plastic pollution in the ocean.

As a part of this growing effort, the EU is assessing ways in which single-use plastics might be taxed. There have even been suggestions that, going forward, this could be a significant form of budget support.

These various efforts to reduce and eliminate plastic pollution are still in their early stages. However, such initiatives — and their ability to inspire further action — are essential in cleaning up our oceans and preventing a future in which planet Earth is but a mere landfill.