What is Plastic waste?

How does plastic affect the environment ?

Plastic pollution exacts a severe toll on the environment across various fronts. Millions of tons of plastic find their way into oceans annually, posing threats to marine life through ingestion and entanglement. The breakdown of plastics into microscopic particles, known as microplastics, further contaminates water, soil, and air, permeating the food chain. Improper disposal contributes to land pollution, with the toxic additives in plastics posing risks to soil, plants, and animals. Compounded by their non-biodegradable nature, plastics persist for centuries, worsening the global waste crisis. Ecosystems suffer disruption, biodiversity is compromised, and habitats are altered due to plastic pollution

How long does plastic take to decompose?

Plastic can take up from hundreds to thousands of years to decompose, depending on the type of plastic and environmental conditions. A single piece of plastic can see generations before it will start to decompose. Even then plastic life does not come to an end, it never fully disappears; it just gets smaller and smaller.

What are the environmental impacts of plastic waste?

Environmental impacts include pollution of oceans and ecosystems, harm to wildlife, destroy natural habitats, and the release of harmful chemicals during production and degradation. Plastic waste can have the power to reduce ecosystems ability to adapt to climate change, directly affecting millions of people's livelihoods, food production capabilities and social well-being. 

How does plastic pollution affect marine life?

Roughly 1 to 2 million tons of plastic end up in the ocean. Marine life has a high expectancy rate to ingest or get entangled in plastic, leading to injury or death. Plastic pollution poses a severe threat to marine life, manifesting through various detrimental impacts. Marine animals often mistake plastic particles for food, leading to ingestion-related issues such as digestive blockages and malnutrition, with potential fatal consequences. Entanglement in discarded plastic items, like fishing gear, causes injuries and amputations in species such as seals and sea birds. Plastic debris can also harm vital habitats like coral reefs and seagrasses, disrupting ecosystems. Moreover, the release of toxic chemicals from plastics into the water can have adverse effects on the reproductive and immune systems of aquatic organisms. Plastic pollution also disrupts ecosystems and eventually enters the human food chain cycle 

Microplastics, tiny particles resulting from the breakdown of larger plastic items or intentionally manufactured at a microscopic scale, play a pivotal role in environmental pollution. Widely distributed across oceans, rivers, soil, and air, microplastics pose a threat to aquatic life as they are ingested by various organisms, causing physical harm and facilitating the transfer of toxic substances. Their ability to accumulate in the tissues of organisms leads to bioaccumulation, particularly in higher trophic levels, with potential implications for human health through the consumption of contaminated seafood. Beyond aquatic environments, microplastics have been found in soil and air, suggesting broader ecological impacts. As carriers of pollutants, microplastics contribute to the transport of harmful substances. Their durability and persistence in the environment raise concerns about long-term ecological disruption. Addressing microplastic pollution involves comprehensive research, technological solutions for removal, and strategies to reduce overall plastic usage.

How does plastic waste affect human health?

Are there innovations or technologies addressing the plastic waste problem?

Look no further! At Cassava Bags Australia we are always innovating and advancing our technology, improving our biodegradable products, as the initiative to clean up ocean plastic. Our ongoing research aims to be the  sustainable solution for this ongoing problem 

Cassava Bags Australia is focused on addressing the issue of plastics and its adverse affects it has on our health and environment. Without removing the positives of plastic products, we are researching new ways to imitate these utilities by developing new natural bio resins to take its place.