Reduce: Save your life! [3.2 REDUCE]

DOCUMENTARY OBJECTIVE

WRITTEN NARRATIVE PROPOSAL

Our topic is important because single-use products are certainly practical but, due to the causes they cause through the production and distribution chain and as waste, they represent a serious threat to the environment and human health. According to the United Nations Environment Program (Unep), “The burning of plastic waste outdoors, the consumption of plastic-contaminated seafood and the creation of harmful microplastics are just some of the reasons why SUPPs should be phased out”. And the elimination of pollution from plastic products is an important component of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

In our opinion, to improve the situation, they should choose reusable alternatives, transform the ”single use” into ”multipurpose” and design products taking into account the circularity and the end of life. Daring to prioritize reusable products is not only critical to environmental health, it can also be cost-effective. Businesses that allow consumers to carry their own bags, glasses or containers can contain costs related to supply and storage to SUPPs, while they can avoid consuming extra customers for groceries or containers. Shopping bags made of cotton and non-woven polypropylene are increasingly common, as are reusable and portable bottles, cups and tableware made of plastic and stainless steel. Reusability is also increasingly practicable for personal hygiene products, through products such as silicone menstrual cups and washable nappies.

This can be seen from the information emerging from the water footprint which indicates how the consumer or producer influences the use of fresh water.  It is a volumetric measure of water consumption and pollution.  Therefore, it does not measure the severity of the impact at the local level, but provides an indication of the space-time sustainability of the water resource used for anthropogenic purposes. The more a product is reused, the lower its environmental impact. When consumers cannot avoid SUPPs, they need to mitigate their environmental impact by reusing them when possible instead of disposing of them immediately.

INTERVIEWS CATALOG

PAPER EDITING WITH ORIGINAL IMAGES

The symbol of water footprint

Using cages on some parts of the river or stream can help reduce amount of garbage that ends up in water ecosistems

Trash on the beach

MANY THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION!

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