RESPONSIBLE

REDESIGNING
(ACTIVITY-4)

Science PBL (TERM-2)

2020
By: Aarav Verma 8A
 17
SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMEN
T GOALS
 INTRODUCTION
(PLASTIC AS A FRIEND & AS A FOE AND
WHAT IS PLASTIC POLLUTION?)
We all know that plastic has helped everyone in all walks of life and
has been very popular because of its physical properties. It is now
used by most of the world’s population and is used for many
purposes like-
-It is used in the manufacturing of various applications like furniture,
toys, crockery, automobiles, etc
-It is also used in the packaging of these applications to give them
support and protection.
-Resources of plastic like plastic bags are used for carrying things
and applications.
So, we can say that we all are almost dependent on it. But, besides
being helpful and popular, it also has an evil disguise.
Usage of plastic has become very destructive for the environment
and for every single living being on this planet. The manufacturing
of plastic involves potentially harmful chemicals, making it very
harmful and toxic for the humans and wildlife. It is also a non-
biodegradable material and has a slow decomposition. They can
also pollute the soil and make it infertile. It is also very harmful for
the aquatic life. Disposition of plastic in waterbodies is sometimes
mistaken for food by the aquatic animals, so the consumption of the
microplastics (when plastics decompose, they break down into
these smaller pieces) can even kill them.
So, plastic is both a friend and a foe in our lives. Now, lets us see
what is plastic pollution, how can we prevent it and what are
alternatives that can be used in place of plastic and its resources
◦What is plastic pollution
Plastic pollution is the accumulation of plastic objects
and particles in the Earth’s environment that majorly affects
the wildlife, wildlife habitat, aquatic life and
humans. Excessive use & disposition of plastic and its
resources and slow decomposition in landfills are the main
causes of plastic pollution.​
Plastics that act as pollutants are categorized into micro-debris,
meso-debris or macro-debris, based on their size.​
The main reason behind the plastic pollution is
the dependence of humans on plastics and its resources
and overuse of it. Because of its durability, inexpensiveness
and other properties, the production of plastics around the
world has been increased. But the increasing dependence
on plastics have made the people blind. They can’t look
around and see that the environment as well as the animals
and birds living in our surroundings are getting adversely
affected by usage of plastics. That’s why many countries have
step up and started various movements to reduce the usage of
plastic. ​
Some countries like Italy, Bangladesh, Kenya and South
Africa have already banned the usage of plastics. But still
other countries like Pakistan are ignoring this raising problem
and thus, the circumstances there are getting worse.
- Ways to prevent plastic pollution
There are many ways by which we can prevent plastic
pollution and save our environment:
◦ Avoid using single-use plastic and also reduced the usage of
plastic and its resources.
◦ Rather than disposing off plastic in waterbodies or on
streets & roads, dispose it off in recycle bin for the recycling
of plastic
◦ Use alternatives of plastic and its resources like jute bags,
paper bags, bottles made of metal, steel and other
materials, etcetra
◦ Reuse the used resources of plastic and make new things
out of it like for PLASTIC BOTTLES- Birdfeeder can be made
out of it, Pencil Cases can be made out of it, Can be reused
as Decorations and keeping things and giving them support,
etc and for PLASTIC BAGS- Can be reused for covering
fragile items, can be reused as a case for paint brushes,
paint bottles and rollers, etc
◦ If you see plastic waste anywhere littered, clean it up and
make the street, road or beach clean.
◦ Usage of plastic bags (a major resource of plastic) and
its harmful effects
Whether it is about transporting goods or packaging different
application and goods, plastic bags have helped us in all these
situations. Most people, use in their everyday lives, and slowly
have become a boon for them. It is used in carrying goods like
foods, products, ice, magazines, chemicals, waste, grocery,
appliances, etc and is also a common form of packaging goods.
Because of their flexibility and durability, the people have started
even choosing it over paper and jute bags. So, they have become
very beneficial and helpful for us in our day-to-day lives
But, they are also very harmful for the environment, as well as for
the humans, wildlife, wildlife habitat and aquatic life and its
habitat. Many animals like cows mistaken them as food and might
even consume it, which becomes very devastating and toxic for
those animals. Also, they have a very slow decomposition and are
made up of plastic (a non-biodegradable material), so it can effect
the soil and insects & small animals living inside the soil (becomes
harmful for them too). Although being helpful in our lives, we
should stop or reduce the usage of these plastic bags because they
majorly effect the environment and are very toxic to the nature.
And their many ways by which we can reduce their usage. So, let’s
see one of those by which we can reduce the usage of plastic bags.
◦ USING ALTERNATIVES OF PLASTIC BAGS (A WAY TO REDUCE THE USAGE OF
PLASTIC AND PLASTIC BAGS)
Plastic bags have become a boon in our lives. But it is also a curse to the environment, as well as to the humans
and animals & birds living in the surrounding. So, everyone should reduce the usage of plastic and there is one
such way by which we can reduce the usage of plastic and plastic bags & that is- USING ALTERNATIVES OF
PLASTIC AND PLASTIC BAGS.
So, in place of plastic bags, we can use other alternatives of these like PAPER BAGS, JUTE BAGS, COTTON,
COMPOSTABLE BAGS, BAGS MADE UP OF ORGANIC WASTE, OILS AND STARCH (EnviGreen Edible Bags-
FOUNDER OF EnviGreen: ASHWATH HEGDE), BAGS MADE UP OF RECYCLED PLASTIC, LEATHER BAGS, RUBBER
BAGS, SILICONE FOOD BAGS, etc. The benefits of using these bags are
- These materials are biodegradable. (except silicone, which does not degrade easily, but is a good alternative)
- They don’t break down into harmful small pieces which might be harmful for animals and birds.
- These are easy to carry, easy-to-use, durable, strong and cheap in price.
Although not being as flexible, durable and versatile as plastic, by the usage of these materials, we can save our
environment from the harmful effects of plastic and also reduce the usage of plastic and its resources.
POLYPROPYLENE BAGS (Non-woven and reusable bags) are also a good replacement for plastic bags because of
their strength, toughness and durability.
Alternatives of PLASTIC BAGS:

PAPER BAGS JUTE BAGS LEATHER

BAGS

POLYPROPYLENE BAGS
RUBBER BAGS SILICONE FOOD BAGS (NON-WOVEN)
◦ RELATING THE USAGE OF PLASTICS TO THE SDG’S
(SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS)
- GOAL NO. 12- Responsible Consumption and Production
I would relate usage of plastic to Goal No. 12 because I think that excessive use and production of
plastic also effects the animals and birds living in our surroundings. So, if we reduce the usage of
plastic and its resources, we can save the environment as well as the birds and animals. Animals
who mistaken the microplastic pieces as food and consume that, that will be prevented and also
there will be a responsible & prevented production & use of plastic, saving all the living beings and
the environment too.

- GOAL NO. 3- Good Health and Well-being

I would relate the usage of plastic to Goal No. 3 because I think the excessive use of plastic also
effects the health and the lives of the living beings. The animals can even die if they consume these
harmful microplastic pieces as they contain toxic chemicals. Also, the greenhouse gases that are
produced when plastic breaks down are also harmful for the humans and can cause them cancer and
other major diseases. They can even cause respiratory problems and other disorders to the humans.
This means that plastic has become very destructive for the environment as well as for the living
beings on this planet and the life of every single living being is in danger because of this. So, if we
all reduce the usage of plastic and its resources, we can save million of lives including the lives of
humans, animals, birds and even aquatic animals (that I’ll discuss about in the next goal). Also. If
we start using alternatives of plastic & its resources and recycle plastic, there will be less emitted
gases and plastic pollution will be prevented. By this, every living being will live a good and
healthy life and there will be an improvement in their well-being.
- GOAL NO. 14- Life Below Water
I would relate the usage of plastic to Goal no. 14
because most of the plastic is dumped and disposed off
in waterbodies like oceans, seas, etc. This adversely
effect the plants and animals living inside water.
Because of the continuous disposition of plastic and its
resources in waterbodies, the plastic breaks into
innumerable microplastic pieces. These might be
consumed by the aquatic animals like fishes, whales,
etc and because of the consumption, they can even die.
By seeing all this, we can also say that plastic is also
destructing life inside water. So, rather than disposing
plastic off in waterbodies, if we would dispose it off in
recycle bins and also reduce the usage of plastic, the
lives of the animals and plants living inside the water
will be saved. There will be less pollution underwater
and the consumption of the microplastic pieces by the
animals inside water will also be prevented. By this, the
life below water will be saved and maintained.
REFERENCES
◦ Google
https://www.google.com/
◦ Microsoft Bing
https://www.bing.com/ I wish to thank all the teachers who
have given us such a beautiful and an
◦ Wikipedia
interesting topic to work upon-
https://www.wikipedia.org/ NIRMALA MA’AM, PRANAMIKA
◦ YouTube MA’AM, ANURADHA MA’AM AND
BHAVNA MA’AM.
https://www.youtube.com/ Thank you so much Teachers for your
◦ BBC guidance & support and also for
encouraging this topic and bringing it in
https://www.bbc.com/
bright light.
◦ Wion
https://www.wionews.com/
◦ United Nations website
https://www.un.org/en/