If you’re viewing this, there’s a strong chance you’re using a product that’s primarily made of plastic. Plastic is useful for some things, but it also finds its way into throwaway and sometimes edible products. Plastic is ubiquitous in today’s society, thanks to its durability and ease of manufacture. For single-use plastics, it has become the go-to material. It has crept into our lives. Non-biodegradable man-made plastic products abound in our daily lives, damaging our environment in the process. It’s used to keep food fresh, make toys, and package just about everything. When looking at or utilising an object, hidden plastics are not immediately obvious. Numerous items we use in our everyday lives are jam packed with microplastic that is hard to distinguish. The device evaluating the adverse effect of plastic on aquatic life is perhaps the most well-known, the average of a garbage truck filled with plastic enters the ocean every moment adding up to 8 million tonnes each year and killing up to 1 million sea creatures.

It’s the onslaught of plastic, and knowledge is power. Joining the battle against plastics can take the shape of a public declaration or minor changes to our daily routine that can nonetheless make a major effect. Plastic has crept into a variety of unexpected places. After looking at the list of daily goods that include plastic, you will indeed be astounded.

•Coffee cups: the demand of coffee cafes has exploded in recent years. According to a 2011 research, 2.5 million throwaway coffee cups are consumed in the UK each year, equating to 3000 tonnes of coffee cups. Polyethylene is used to assist prevent leaks and guarantee liquid does not soak into the paper disposable coffee cup.

•Exfoliants: The exfoliants we use to wash our faces are packed with microbeads that aid in the removal of debris. These microbeads are washed down a drain with water and are extremely difficult to separate out, contributing to the ever-growing volume of microplastics.

•Toothpaste: The whitening toothpaste that we all use to brighten our smiles is full of tiny microplastic beads that aid in cleaning the teeth.

•Sponges: sponges do not appear to be made out of plastic, and they are comprised of two types of material: the yellow half is polyester, and the green half is polyurethane, both of which are non-recyclable

•Clothes: Did you realise that the 80% of clothing is made of plastic? Plastics include nylon, polyester, and spandex. Polyester fibres pollute waterways when they are washed

•Salt: Because the ocean includes a lot of microplastics and a majority of salt originates from the sea, it’s no surprise that they eventually end up in the salt. Many of the particles are so minute and translucent that they are impossible to distinguish from Salt.

•Tea bags: Many tea bags are made from a combination of plastic and paper. This is designed to make the tea bags more resilient, dissolve more slowly in hot water, seal individual tea bags, and retain the leaves mostly in tea bag.

•Aluminium cans: despite being recyclable, they have a plastic coating on the interior to prevent the metal from corroding owing to the acid in the drink.

•Cigarette butts: cigarettes have a plastic liner to prevent them from burning too nearly to the fingertips

•Produce stickers: Buying fruits and vegetables from a local supermarket would not need the use of plastic, yet it does. Produce stickers are composed of plastic and adhere to the boxes.

•Glitters: cosmetic using micro plastic beads have mainly been taken down. These little particles of plastic were making their way into the river, posing a serious threat to the ecology. Glitter, which can be seen in store aisles all over the planet, is also microplastic that cannot be recycled.

•Chewing gum: it may come as a surprise, but chewing gum contributes to plastic pollution. Polyethylene, which is used to produce plastic bottles and shopping bags, is found in the foundation of chewing gum. Polyisobutylene, a rubber used to create tyre inner tubes, is also included in some.

•Biodegradable cutlery: these cannot be recycled because it is made of a combination of plastic and cornstarch.

•Wrapping paper :Any gleaming and dazzling wrapping paper is almost certainly made of plastic and cannot be recycled completely.

•Disposable wipes: Made by weaving together cotton and polyester. Adding polyester make the white stronger, but it means that the whites are not biodegradable.

The best method to avoid plastic is to verify with the manufacturer of your chosen brand and get a plastic-free one. To eliminate the usage of single-use plastic, begin by choosing alternatives. Only then will we be able to rid the earth of plastic.