We are blessed beyond belief to be able to enjoy our beautiful coastline on a daily basis. Nature can be found in its purest form, virtually untouched, untamed and raw just a short journey from our doorstep. And so we spend time playing and exploring this wondrous gift. Unfortunately, however, we are also destroying it, little by little, through our actions and our daily choices.
One of those choices is the use of plastic which has become such an integral part of our daily lives that many times we don’t realize we are using it. It is used to package most items for resale and transport as it provides an inexpensive means of protection from damage or assists in the ease of carrying. Plastic is convenient. Plastic is easy. Plastic is readily available. Plastic has become an accepted and expected norm.
What is slowly being realized is how detrimental this insidious use of plastic in our everyday lives has become. It is estimated that at least 50% of the plastic we use is used one time before being thrown away but this same item takes 500-1000 years to degrade.* In the interim it poses many dangers to our oceans and wildlife. It is estimated by scientists that every square mile of ocean contains about 46,000 pieces of floating plastic and these pieces of plastic debris act like a sponge, soaking up toxic chemicals in a high concentration. Some of the compounds found have been PCBs and DDE which are highly poisonous to marine animals who frequently consume these particles. **
We can make a difference but we need your help. The average American family takes home 1500 shopping bags a year and less than 5% are recycled.*** We are asking you to join us in reducing this number by choosing to not use a bag if not truly needed or to use a reusable bag for your purchases. Each time you shop with us and choose not to use a plastic bag you have the opportunity to enter for a chance to win a gift certificate to the store. We draw the first week of each month from all the previous month’s entries.
Will you join us in saving the plastic trees?
*ecowatch.com
**http://www.inspirationgreen.com/plastic-bag-stats.html#sthash.qtAavRzP.dpuf
*** http://www.nrdc.org/media/2008/080109.asp