Many Russians are sure that the problem of landfills can be solved by abolishing single-use packaging in supermarkets, - these are the results of a survey by the Levada Center. Nevertheless, more than half of those surveyed use plastic bags to carry purchases from the store to their homes. However, every sixth Russian has already refused to use plastic containers and packaging.

47.4% of Russians believe that reducing single-use packaging in stores will help solve the problem of landfills. However, almost the same number of respondents (46%) do not agree with this, according to a survey by the Levada Center. The survey, which was conducted by the company on the order of Greenpeace Russia at the end of October, was attended by 1.6 thousand people across the entire territory of the Russian Federation.

To the question What do you usually store groceries in?, the majority of Russians ( 64,7% ) reported that use for shopping plastic bags. Almost quarter of respondents put food in their bag or backpack, A 5% respondents are specially purchased reusable bag at checkout.

About a third of Russians are ready to abandon plastic containers and packaging if convenient system to use reusable alternatives. 24.4% of respondents are ready to give up single-use containers only in the event of a state ban on plastic, and 13.3% are not ready to give up single-use plastic containers at all. However, 12.3% of respondents are ready to do this, provided that supermarkets and Catering will give a discount on the purchase of food and drinks in their container. And 16.6% of Russians have already completely abandoned single-use plastic.

Recall that the main fight against plastic bags in the country is carried out by environmentalists. Greenpeace Russia urges retailers to stop giving away bags for free or to abandon single-use plastic altogether. In 2017 to the production ban plastic bags called on the Presidential Council for Human Rights in a report on issues related to ensuring the rights of the population to health protection and a favorable environment in the disposal of consumer waste.

At the end of October, the Azbuka Vkusa supermarket chain refused to distribute plastic bags for free, now visitors can buy them for 5 rubles. Earlier, the distribution of free plastic bags was stopped by the largest chains Auchan, Vkusvill and Spar. According to Azbuka Vkusa, a week after the introduction of a fee for disposable bags, their consumption decreased by almost three times. The Auchan chain, which abandoned free plastic bags in November 2017, claims a two-fold drop in demand for them.

In addition to bags, there is a lot of excess packaging in stores, which goes to landfill as soon as the product is taken out of it, Greenpeace Russia emphasizes: “We believe that such a wasteful policy of supermarkets is the reason for the multiplication of landfills, which are already running out of space.” “It was important for us to understand whether people see a connection between packaging and the speed of filling landfills,” Irina Vlasova from Greenpeace Russia told Kommersant. “Secondly, are they ready to use reusable containers, bags, bags in supermarkets, and, if so, under what conditions. Answers to these questions, including - this is a request to retailers. People are ready to change, it remains for the business to follow the customers.”

Plastic waste has become a real epidemic both on land and in the oceans. What can one person do in this global problem?

These seemingly simple actions will help reduce the amount that enters our environment.

1. Avoid buying items wrapped in plastic. Buy food in glass jars, not plastic, and detergents in boxes, not bottles. Not only are you reducing the plastic you use, but you are also sending a strong message to the manufacturers of those products whose plastic packaging does not suit you.

2. Use cloth shopping bags. Keep reusable bags somewhere in your car or on your nightstand next to your keys so you don't forget them before you go shopping. Using ordinary shopping bags is the easiest, but effective method avoid plastic in routine matters.

3. Don't buy water in plastic bottles. Replace it with a reusable flask or thermos. Plastic bottles are one of the five most common types of litter found on beaches. Because bottled water is much more expensive than regular tap water, you'll also save money and avoid the potential dangers of plastic toxins leaching out of your drink.

Get in the habit of carrying your own spoon that fits easily into your purse or backpack. Then at work or in a cafe you can have a snack with yogurt and dessert without plastic cutlery.

4. Avoid plastic toys. No dinosaur or robot can compare to a toy made from natural materials.

5. Recycling. Think of new ways to use old items instead of throwing them away or buying new ones. For example, glass jars can easily replace plastic boxes. Our rubric "" will suggest some interesting ideas.

6. Order coffee in a regular cup, avoid disposable plastic cups. If there is a cooler at work, discard the plastic cup, use your regular mug.

7. Ditch the plastic straw for your cocktail, if you figure it out, it serves as a decoration and is simply not needed. Plastic straws are one of the 10 most common things that end up in the world's oceans.

8. Wear natural, non-synthetic clothing. Using and washing clothes made from fabrics such as polyester, which are made from plastic, causes the fibers to flake off. Thus, tiny microplastics from our clothes end up in waterways.

9. Avoid disposable plastic utensils. Do not be too lazy to take a "tourist's set" with you to a picnic - light, convenient kitchen utensils, this is a more convenient and economical option.

10. Don't throw away electrical equipment. Try to repair or upgrade your devices rather than buying new ones. Sell ​​gadgets and computer parts, or find a place to recycle them.

Alexander Ivannikov
Environmental policy specialist, expert of the Zero Waste project of the Russian Greenpeace

1. Bags are made from oil

Packages are made from different types plastic, which is obtained from hydrocarbons: for example, oil or natural gas. Every year, 6% of the produced oil is spent on the production of plastic - the same amount is needed for the entire world aviation. If no action is taken now, then by 2050 the production of polymers will leave 20% of all oil. Plastic will be responsible for 15% of the annual greenhouse gas emissions that lead to climate change.

2. Plastic bags do not decompose for hundreds of years

It takes an average of 12 minutes to bring groceries in a bag from the store home. After that, he goes to the trash can or to a bag with bags, but sooner or later he still ends up in a landfill. It will take another 400 years for the package to disappear from the face of the earth. This means that it takes 17.5 million times longer to decompose than it is used.

3. Biodegradable bags are also not an option.

There are two types of biodegradable bags: oxo-degradable and bags made from natural polymers or proteins.

• Oxo-degradable due to added substances quickly break down into microparticles. But these particles are small fragments of the same harmful plastic that continues its long life.
• Bags made from corn and potato starch, soy and cellulose, which decompose into water, carbon dioxide, inorganic compounds and biomass when composted, do not result in the formation of toxic waste. But for the processing of such packages, special conditions are needed. Unfortunately, they are not yet available on an industrial scale in Russia.

4. Packages are almost never recycled

Plastic bags are very thin and difficult to separate from other waste. As a result, only one bag out of 200 goes to plastic recycling in the world. The rest are left hanging on trees, swimming in the ocean or lying in a landfill, causing damage to nature. Over time, the bags break down into micro-plastic particles that migrate in nature and end up in animal food - and in our food too: according to research National University Incheon, most brands of salt sold around the world contain microplastic particles.

5. Animals accept bags for food.

In the water, transparent plastic bags are very similar to jellyfish and other living creatures. That's why Marine life often mistake the packages for food and die. According to the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture UK, plastic bags

The popularity of plastic, which began to rise in the 1950s, continues to increase. For all the time, 8.2 billion tons of this material have been manufactured. And there are no signs of a reduction in production: by 2050, another 12 billion tons will be produced. We are surrounded by products that have become one of the main problems for nature and human health.

Shocking statistics may prompt you to stop using it for good. Of course, it is impossible to eliminate all plastic from our lives, but it is easy to switch to reusable bottles and paper bags.

Plastic acts on the body like hormones

Bisphenol A (BPA) has been used in the plastics industry since the 1960s. This substance is found in plastic packaging, utensils and inner linings of jars and lids, and therefore often comes into direct contact with food products. According to studies, bisphenol A interacts with estrogen receptors and contributes to endocrine system disorders such as female and male infertility, early puberty, breast and prostate cancer, and polycystic ovary syndrome.

Hormonal changes

As an endocrine disruptor, bisphenol A affects the endocrine system and alters the levels of hormones that regulate metabolism. There is evidence that BPA contributes to the development of obesity both in utero and later in life.

The use of plastic containers to store and heat food in microwave ovens can pose a health risk to infants. Some substances in food colors, preservatives, and packaging materials can interfere with hormones, affecting the growth and development of a child. Parents are strongly advised to avoid heating food and drinks in microwave ovens and washing plastic containers in dishwashers.

Thyroid dysfunction

BPA affects the hormones that regulate the body's energy balance. In November 2016, data was published linking bisphenol A to the autoimmune disease Hashimoto's. Lab tests showed BPA levels exceeded in 52% of people with increased level thyroid antibodies. High levels of BPA triggered an autoimmune attack in them.

Plastic causes birth defects and miscarriages

Facts set negative impact bisphenol A on the reproductive organs of women. The substance damages chromosomes, contributes to birth defects and miscarriages. Monkeys exposed to BPA in utero have experienced reproductive abnormalities that increase the risk of having offspring with Down syndrome, and even preterm birth.

BPA raises blood pressure

Drinking drinks from containers containing plastic can increase blood pressure. During clinical trials, volunteers were offered the same drink stored in glass and plastic bottles. After 2 hours, the researchers measured the blood pressure and the concentration of bisphenol A in the urine. BPA levels and systolic blood pressure were lower in the group drinking from glass bottles.

Plastic increases the risk of diabetes

A report published by the American Society of Endocrinology confirmed that endocrine-disrupting chemicals like BPA may increase the risk of developing diabetes. Long-term epidemiological and other studies have proven their association with type 2 diabetes.

Effects on the digestive and cardiovascular systems

Plastic negatively affects the metabolism of amino acids. BPA causes irritable bowel syndrome, a constellation of diseases that includes ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Bisphenol A increases the concentration of compounds that lead to colon inflammation.

In addition, this compound causes arrhythmia (abnormal heartbeat) and atherosclerosis (accumulation of deposits on the walls of the arteries).

Are BPA substitutes harmless?

As much as one would like to believe that replacing BPA will solve all the problems associated with it, it is not. A study of more than 450 BPA-free foods that were microwaved, dishwasher-safe, and exposed to sunlight found that more than 95% of them released chemicals that act like estrogen and bisphenol A.

BPA substitutes are not well understood and may produce a similar effect. For example, containers with bisphenol C are not labeled, but in the body this substance behaves like bisphenol A.

Experts recommend using non-toxic stainless steel containers with airtight silicone lids. Compared to plastic, silicone lasts longer, tolerates cooling and heating better, is odorless, resistant to pollution, does not cause allergies and does not have pores where pathogenic microbes accumulate.

Birth defects of the reproductive system

Rodent studies have shown that prenatal exposure to certain phthalates and other chemical substances contained in the plastic disrupts the normal development of the male reproductive organs, causing undescended and abnormal testicles. Phthalates are also associated with hypospadias, a downward displacement of the urethral opening.

Decreased brain growth and the development of Alzheimer's disease

According to the results of experiments, phthalates affect the brain. The researchers found that the offspring of female rats fed diets containing these substances during pregnancy significantly reduced the number of neurons and synapses in the medial prefrontal cortex. This part of the brain is responsible for memory, decision making, error detection, etc.

Plastic promotes the formation of toxic proteins. The brains of people with Alzheimer's disease are riddled with plastic deposits. This should be noted by all who show symptoms of confusion or impaired thinking.

How does plastic enter the human body?

The transition of BPA into food is facilitated by heating products in plastic packaging in microwave oven. This is especially true for fatty foods such as meat and cheese. In this case, chemicals are released 55 times faster. For heating, it is better to use glassware that is not covered with a lid.

According to studies, water is contaminated in 93% of plastic containers. On average, 1 liter contains 10.4 plastic particles. This is twice their concentration in tap water. The source of 65% of the particles is the container itself, including the lid. For the same reason, plastic containers cannot be reused. Switching to reusable double-walled stainless steel bottles will keep drinks cold for up to 24 hours or hot up to 12 hours.

Regardless of the cleanliness of the house, a person consumes more than 100 microparticles of plastic at each meal. How do they get into food? The smallest fragments of upholstery and synthetic fabrics are mixed with dust, and then fall into a plate. Scientists have come to the conclusion that on average a person eats up to 68 thousand potentially dangerous fibers per year.

Environmental pollution and climate change

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) containers are 100% recyclable. However, even in highly developed countries, only 23% of recyclables are recycled. According to statistics, 1 million plastic containers are sold every minute in the world, and by 2021 this number will increase by 20%. Environment suffers from decaying plastic. Special additives that purportedly break down plastic bags and PET bottles don't work in landfills or compost pits.

The most common types of plastics, when exposed to sunlight, emit the greenhouse gases methane and ethylene. Scientists are concerned about the scale of plastic and waste production, because over time they can increase greenhouse gas emissions and affect climate change.

Death of animals and coral reefs

Nearly 700 species of marine animals are affected by litter, most of which is plastic. Everyone is harmed - from plankton and fish to seabirds. According to Greenpeace, all known species sea ​​turtles, 54% of marine mammal species and 56% of seabird species suffer from entanglement in plastic nets and ropes or ingestion of debris. Already 58% of seals and sea lions have been affected, as well as whales, dolphins and manatees.

In 2010, 80% of seabirds had plastic in their stomachs. When it blocks the esophagus or fills the stomach, it leads to malnutrition, starvation, and death.

Coral reefs are home to 25% of all marine animals, and the lives of 275 million people directly depend on their well-being. Climate change-struggling reefs now have a new enemy: plastic. Researchers have calculated that there are 11.1 billion plastic items in corals. plastic trash deprives reefs of the oxygen and light they need, and releases toxins that encourage bacteria and viruses to attack them.

Today, the world is celebrating World No Plastic Bag Day. People refuse to use bags, clean up and recycle the collected polyethylene.

In many countries, not only are plastic bags recycled, but measures are being taken to reduce their use. In the European Union, on April 16, 2014, a directive was adopted to reduce the amount of plastic bags by 50% by 2017 and by 80% by 2019. In some places, in particular, in Los Angeles and San Francisco introduced a ban on their sale. Many cities are imposing additional taxes to reduce the consumption of plastic bags.

Greenpece decided to tell you why you should stop buying regular plastic bags for at least one day.

1. The average lifespan of a package is 20 minutes, and death and decay is 400 years. Probably, it can decompose much longer, because plastic was created not so long ago and humanity can only guess about the lifespan of its invention.

2. Plastic packaging and plastic bags, in particular, are the cause of the death of marine animals and birds. According to the latest data, about 100,000 marine animals and a million birds die every year. With plastic, we kill all those animals that we usually love to touch so much: whales, dolphins, turtles, seals. Scientists have proven that 80% of seabirds cannot distinguish plastic from their prey.

3. The amount of plastic waste is increasing every year due to the fact that more and more goods are wrapped for sale. In the last five years alone, there has been a 25% increase in plastic packaging compared to previous years. As population grows, so will plastic waste.

4. Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls can attach to plastic fragments. Then they enter the food chain through the representatives of marine fauna, which swallow pieces of plastic.

5. So-called biodegradable bags will not save the world. Most often, they just break up into small pieces of plastic, which decompose for hundreds of years and have all the same properties. Carry a reusable cloth bag with you!

6. The price of a package is not only a few rubles or cents at the checkout. Plastic for bags is made from oil, the extraction of which is very often accompanied by spills that are detrimental to plants, animals and people. Thousands of Russians have already been affected by oil extraction. Now in Russia, Gazprom is undertaking an extremely dangerous project to extract oil in the Arctic, citing its lack of it.