La amenza de los plásticos

The threath of plastics

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Plastics are already a real threat to the planet's biodiversity; they directly or indirectly affect the development of responsible tourism. This is a consequence of their high polluting power over the wide variety of living beings on the planet and the natural patterns that shape it.

Today, we live surrounded by plastic objects that in previous centuries were not necessary for daily life. Plastic, due to its molecular characteristics, has a great resistance to environmental degradation and bio-degradation, which accounts for a complex situation that was not considered at the time of its creation.

As it is known, plastics have excellent properties of use such as: easy to work and mold, low production costs, they are usually waterproof, good electrical insulating properties, acceptable acoustic insulation, resistant to corrosion and to certain chemical factors. However, many of these real advantages become disadvantages when they are discarded.

A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY

The invention of plastic arose in 1860 in the quest for a solution to the manufacture of billiard balls, thus replacing natural ivory, a material that was used for this purpose at the time. Later, in 1909, Belgian-born American chemist Leo Hendrik Baekeland synthesized a polymer of high commercial value from phenol and formaldehyde that was recognized under the name of Bakelite and was the first totally synthetic plastic in history.

This discovery gave rise to a set of synthetic resins that eventually sparked off what has been called "The Plastic Age".

This led to the use of plastic in a variety of colors and shapes, thus becoming very popular in the course of the 20th century, and eventually replacing other materials of domestic, industrial and commercial nature. Together with the discovery of Giant Molecules or Macromolecules, this gave way to the full-fledged development of the chemical industry in this sector and the real solution to many human needs.

IMPACT ON SOCIETY AND THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY

On the other hand, the current impacts of plastics on society and in particular on tourism are very high, given the public and environmental nuisance they represent when they are not recycled after use.

For tourism this negative factor goes against the interest of achieving responsible tourism that conserves as much biodiversity as possible. Many international tourism chains have taken measures not to utilize single-use products made of this material; they have also provided for the non-use of plastic bags by replacing them with those made using biodegradable technologies.

Several countries have adopted decisions and legislation to make the non-use of plastic bags mandatory. The European Union is the standard bearer for the non-use of plastic items such as plastic cutlery, plates, straws, drink shakers and others. Canada has also taken serious steps in this direction.

Plastics have gone from being a major real solution to an irrefutable ecological nightmare. This is not a mirage, it is a reality that we illustrate with the following data:

Some plastics can be so strong that it's estimated they can remain stable for 400 years before degrading.

It is estimated that approximately 70% of the plastics produced in the last 65 years, which is equivalent to billions of tons, are found in landfills and in the oceans.

Plastics and synthetic materials in general are the two types of solid waste that end up in the sea the most and are directly responsible for most of the problems suffered by sea animals and birds.

Over 200 different species have suffered or died from being entangled in or ingested plastic debris including turtles, seals, sea lions, polar bears, whales, various types of fish and sea birds. It has been found that in many cases this waste now makes up about a quarter of their diet.

Plastic waste is also found on beaches, from the most populated areas to the most remote and unpopulated ones.

It is estimated that 3 to 5 billion plastic bags of different types and uses are produced annually worldwide, which are otherwise derived from oil, as is known, is a non-renewable energy source.

In certain areas of the oceans, so-called Plastic Islands have been created which are estimated to cover thousands of square kilometers. They are characterized by very high concentrations and other trapped waste. It is considered that 80% of this polluting waste comes from coastal areas and 20% from ships sailing across the oceans.

TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTIONS AND ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

The main challenge at the moment is to generalize the so-called biodegradable plastics, which come from renewable sources such as bananas, cassava, legumes, cellulose and others with the possibility of decomposing in a short period of time in the presence of microorganisms, serving also as organic fertilizer for plants.

For the harmful plastics from oil there are technologies that must be multiplied for their recycling by mechanical means without contaminating the environment. There are also other sources of recycling by chemical and energy routes.

All the recycling processes contribute to create sources of work in their different stages of the process and as a final result they provide a market with a new final product among which there are pipes, household goods, footwear, industrial parts and others.

In Europe, Asia and the United States of America there are various experiences in this regard. In Latin America, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Peru are examples of the recycling of plastics produced from oil.

However, unfortunately, it is estimated that only in the world today about 15% of the possible is recovered. A good part of the rest goes to the sea, which is why some scientists suggest that at the current rate, in the year 2050 there will be more plastics in the oceans than fish.

The survival of many species and the best intentions of tourism are threatened. But together, and with a unanimous view to saving the planet, we can put the brakes on the current situation.