By Ify Onyekwere
Plastic is a durable, light weight and inexpensive material used in packaging items. It was a solution developed in early times but the mismanagement of the solution is now a major problem humanity is facing.
It becomes disturbing as study has shown that by 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans.
NatureNews, in a conversation with Folashade Adeboyejo, a Natural Resource Manager explained that brand owners have the responsibility to redesign their products in the most sustainable manner.
She opines that the way planet earth is treated with plastic waste is the way it will treats humans.
Counties like Italy, China, Bangladesh and even some countries in Africa like Rwanda, Kenya, the Congo, and South Africa have gone ahead to ban disposable plastic.
This is solely because plastic has threatened the safety and health of wildlife, aquatic life and humans, thereby making them embrace eco-friendly alternatives.
On how sustainability packaging is thriving in Nigeria, Miss Adegboyejo explained that the country is doing little towards it as those who are paying attention to sustainable packaging are mainly new starts ups who need to be supported.
Over the years, when it comes to sanitation of environment, most people tend to burn plastics waste in a bid to reduce the litters. This singular act was totally condemned by the Natural Resource Manager.
“No to burning of plastic because in the production of plastics, there are some addictives.
“Some of these are really dangerous to health. There are different categories of plastics and once you use plastics, you are supposed to use it again because it has been sold out to you. Don’t collect a plastic that you can’t use more than once,” she buttressed.
In highly commercial cities like Lagos, there is a growing production of plastics as plastics are used in packaging drinks, foods, essential goods and sold in traffic and stores for convenience.
However, Miss Adeboyejo explained that brand owners are after their profit but the society has the power to push brand owners to do the right thing by embracing eco-friendly alternatives.