EVERY year on March 15, the global consumer movement commemorates the World Consumer Rights Day to raise global consciousness about consumer rights and needs. The day is dedicated to showcasing consumers’ power and rights in ensuring an equal, safe and sustainable marketplace for all.
The theme for the World Consumer Rights Day this year is: ‘Tackle Plastic Pollution’. Plastic contamination is one of the most important problems confronting the world. All the wonderful new innovations made with plastic use the material because of its low cost and durability, but the harsh truth is that plastic is negatively impacting our environment by filling landfills, causing problems for animals, and polluting our planet.
Plastic takes a long time to degrade, and only nine per cent of plastic has been recycled and 12pc has been incinerated since processing began in the 1950s. Approximately, 79pc of the 8.3 billion metric tonnes generated is currently sitting in landfills or littering our lands, oceans and waterways.
Furthermore, the process of incineration releases poisonous chemicals into the atmosphere, which is akin to adding salt to injury. For that reason, it is estimated that if significant innovations and changes in policy and behaviour are not made, the influx of plastic materials into the oceans is expected to increase manifold by 2040.
Similarly, consumers play a vital role in influencing the marketplace, so raising voice for the plastic crisis is an important step toward combating plastic pollution.
Being good citizens, it is our collective responsibility to work together in highlighting, addressing and tackling plastic pollution as well as mobilising businesses and governments to ensure a healthy world by avoiding the use of plastic in everyday life.
Ainy Zehra
Karachi
Published in Dawn, March 15th, 2021
