Study shows: hidden plastic is a challenge for environmental protection
It is largely known that our planet is suffering from the increase in environmental pollution. And in this, plastic waste plays a major role. But unlike what is popularly believed, packaging and bottles are not the only villains. Hidden plastic in hygiene products such as feminine hygiene products and wet wipes makes up a great share of environmental pollution, as a study in 2019 confirms.
To approach the topic in a scientific way, the NGO Zero Waste Europe analyzed the influence of single-use menstruation products, wet wipes and diapers on the increase in environmental pollution in the course of an extensive study last year. The results paint a clear picture of the problem of hygiene products containing plastic.
The analysis shows that the waste produced by the hygiene products examined in the 28 EU-member states* equals approx. 7.8 million tons. This corresponds to 15.3 kg per citizen per annum. In 2017 in the EU-28* countries alone, approx. 68 billion wet wipes were consumed which corresponds to 511,000 tons. Thus every EU-citizen used 130 wet wipes on average.
Wet wipes and their disposal remain a challenge for countries all over Europe: In Valencia 1.5 tons of solid waste, mainly comprising wet wipes, is removed from waste waters every day. In Great Britain, wet wipes carelessly flushed down the toilet make up 75 percent of the materials which block the pipes of the waste water systems. This has an economic impact as well since the residue has to be removed at great cost and involving a considerable need for staff. Beaches too bear the brunt: 6.2 percent of the waste found on the beaches in Great Britain comes from carelessly disposed of hygiene products. The cost to clean up the coasts amounts to around 1.1 million pounds a year. In addition, according to a study 5 percent of the floating waste in the Mediterranean stems from single-use hygiene products.
The market for wet wipes will continue to grow in the years to come since they are practical companions in our everyday lives. But improperly disposed of hygiene products, which pollute our environment for numerous years as a result of the microplastic they contain, should not be the result. It is up to each and every one of us to dispose of these products in the proper way and find alternatives which do not harm our environment.
And these alternatives are already available: with wet wipes which contain the sustainable specialty fibers of the VEOCEL™ brand from the Upper-Austrian Lenzing AG, consumers can make a wise choice today. The fiber is made of the sustainable raw material, wood, and is thus completely biodegradable.
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