Plastic Cups Are Ruining Our Oceans. These Cups Are The Reply.

*This publish is sponsored by our associates at Shamrock Cups. The knowledge and opinions offered are listed below are all ours.

It’s exhausting to think about a world with out plastic. It’s fairly actually in every single place and utilized in nearly every thing from meals storage and packaging, to issues like bicycle helmets, toys, cell telephones, computer systems to creating vehicles, constructing supplies for houses, business fishing gear and a lot extra. What was as soon as thought-about a technological advance, air pollution from plastic is now a worldwide disaster taking a severe toll on each ocean and waterway on our planet.

In keeping with the EPA, plastic is so extremely indestructible that “each little bit of plastic ever made nonetheless exists.” It could take lots of to 1000’s of years to interrupt down. That is what makes it so environment friendly and on the similar time extremely harmful. Every year 8 to 9 million tons of plastic finds its approach into the world’s oceans and it’s been reported that by the 12 months 2050 the quantity of plastic within the sea will outnumber the quantity of fish. One of many largest concentrations of plastic air pollution might be discovered swirling within the Pacific Ocean. Named the Nice Pacific Rubbish patch, this huge space of swirling plastic air pollution is exponentially rising. It’s now greater than twice the scale of Texas and estimated to weigh 87,000 tons, full of greater than 1.8 trillion items of plastic. (2)

It’s when the plastic like these from plastic cups breaks down into a lot smaller items from waves, warmth and solar publicity when it turns into a good larger challenge. These tiny plastic bits and items known as “microplastics” aren’t filtered out by wastewater remedies. They’re washing up on seashores and have even been found in rain in distant mountain areas just like the Nice Pyrenees of France. Microplastics are being absorbed and by chance ingested by sea life when they’re mistaken for meals. They’ve been found contained in the brains of crabs, the stomachs of fish and birds and different mammals usually inflicting demise, hunger and struggling. Microplastics have even been proven to change endocrine perform and wholesome improvement in fish and different aquatic life. Scientists know for positive that microplastics are dangerous to marine life and ecosystems, however aren’t sure what the true affect might be on people fairly but. However it received’t be lengthy earlier than we discover out. These bits of plastic air pollution are such an issue {that a} current research performed on the College of Newcastle in Australia discovered that almost all of us are ingesting the equal weight in plastic as a bank card every week. 

One of the crucial devastating sources of plastic air pollution is single supply plastics like the luggage, forks, straws and cups like that we’d get at a quick meals restaurant. And that plastic cup you threw into the rubbish after a fast informal lunch on the go isn’t simply harmlessly sitting in a landfill. Even for those who don’t reside close to the ocean, that plastic to-go cup you threw out right now will ultimately launch dangerous contaminants and toxins that seep into our ingesting water that makes its approach into rivers, lakes, streams, oceans, ingesting water and into our meals from land or sea.

Disturbing Plastic Truth: Solely 9% of all plastic is recycled worldwide. Of the one trillion plastic baggage which can be used annually globally,  lower than 5 % are recycled.

What Can Assist Clear up The Plastic Downside?

One of many largest sources of plastic air pollution is single use plastics just like the plastic cups, lids and straws allotted from quick meals eating places and handy shops. And with over 500 billion plastic cups used yearly an eco-friendly different could make a big effect within the well being of our oceans. 

An organization known as Shamrock Cups has an revolutionary resolution that they consider can get rid of the necessity for single-use plastic cups and positively change the best way we take our drinks to go endlessly. They’ve invented the Shamrock Cup – a paper cup with a foldable built-in lid formed similar to a four-leaf clover. It’s sort of genius. 100% recyclable and biodegradable, these cups actually have a slot for a straw (paper solely in fact!). Shamrock Cups supply the comfort of plastic or styrofoam, with out all of the nasty damaging environmental results.

How Does A Shamrock Cup Work?

To make use of a Shamrock Cup, merely pinch the perimeters of the rim, fold inward, press down, and your Shamrock Cup is able to go! For each Shamrock Cup used meaning one much less piece of plastic within the ocean. And never solely is the necessity for plastic cups eradicated however so is the necessity for single-use plastic lids. 

What Can We Do To Assist?

Plastic air pollution on land and in our oceans goes to wish a couple of resolution to sort out it. Not solely will it revolve round our particular person habits and actions, however it can additionally require a change in enterprise practices and the enactment of presidency insurance policies.  For those who’re feeling helpless, there are small however highly effective actions you possibly can take to make a distinction. Small modifications can result in huge outcomes. Right here’s easy methods to assist:

• Refuse single-use plastics as a lot as attainable 

Anytime you’re supplied single-use plastics that you do not want simply say no. This consists of plastic cups, lids, straws, plastic baggage, containers, and takeout utensils. This implies much less plastic floating within the ocean.

• Each time attainable carry your individual reusable tote baggage, water bottles and utensils. 

Whereas we all know this isn’t at all times attainable or mainstream but, an superior product like Shamrock Cups is an revolutionary resolution that may fill the hole for companies that want to supply an environmentally pleasant however handy take-away resolution.

• Converse Up And Let Your Voice Be Heard!

It’s the previous energy of the purse. Let the fast-food firms and the companies the place you’re spending cash know that utilizing single-use plastics isn’t okay. If firms really feel their backside line is being affected as a result of their prospects disapprove of their enterprise practices they’ll make certain to make a change. So subsequent time you refuse that plastic cup additionally let that fast-food place or enterprise know Shamrock Cups are a approach higher resolution

• Inform The EPA To Ban Plastic Lids

Impactful change requires authorities motion. Because it’s the Environmental Safety Company’s job to make guidelines to guard the atmosphere, it’s time they acquired concerned. Drop them an email,  send them a Facebook message, call them on the phone or write them an old fashioned letter. Inform the EPA that you really want them to put in writing guidelines to ban plastic cups and lids in order that they by no means have an opportunity to achieve the ocean. Recommend compostable, ocean-friendly options like Shamrock Cups as a approach higher resolution.

Need To Assist Battle Plastic Air pollution In Our Oceans? Shamrock Cups Wants You To Assist Unfold The Phrase!

With a Shamrock Cup there’s no excuse for any single-use plastic cup or lid for use within the quick meals business anymore.

To be taught extra about Shamrock Cups and to hitch the petetion to assist get rid of over 100 million kilos of plastic waste yearly go to  http://shamrockcupsinc.com/help-us-change-the-world-with-shamrock-cups/