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<\/figure>\nThanks to fast fashion, same-day shipping, and deliberate obsolescence, we expect items to be delivered swiftly but do not expect them to last—adding the emerging throwaway culture. The solution to this problematic culture is to establish a circular economy. We must move beyond a single-use attitude, and all products—particularly plastics, metals, and textiles—should be developed with the intention of being recovered and recycled. Household names like L’Oréal, Mars, Marks & Spencer, and The Coca-Cola Company agree and are now working towards using 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging by 2025 or earlier. <\/p>\n
The media and social media have been flooded with recommendations on how to reduce waste, what to recycle and where to recycle it, and how to repurpose your garbage. Single-use plastic has been banned by government regulation, and businesses appear to be making an attempt to minimize the quantity of disposable packaging and plastics they use and sell. Is this a huge step towards a more waste-conscious world, or is this all merely for show? <\/p>\n
My mom used to wash and reuse plastic bags and food containers diligently when I was a kid. I recall being slightly embarrassed by this, but she had grown up in a time when everything had a value and throwing things away was considered unpatriotic. Fast-forward 25 years and I am a member of the throwaway culture. And not proudly, I might add. Although I wash out and reuse my plastic Tupperware and bags, this small gesture, is simply not enough to say that I am not a contributor to this global crisis. <\/p>\n