The impact of microplastic pollution on my life

As people are becoming more aware of the excessive plastic waste problem, the Korean government has begun implementing a few policies in stages to cut back on plastic use. First, grocery stores were forbidden from providing free plastic bags to shoppers. After that, the government placed an outright ban on the use of plastic bags at supermarkets, with only a few exceptions. Also, it recently banned providing packing tape to customers at supermarkets' DIY packing stations because it eventually ended up as plastic waste. Since 2018, plastic cups can only be used for take-out drinks in all cafes in South Korea. It's against the rules to provide takeaway cups to in-store customers.

Despite the measures, the severity of microplastic pollution seems to keep getting worse. It's moved beyond the oceans and into our daily surroundings. It seems that most of us are carelessly making plastic waste every day. Researchers reported that bottled water often contains microplastic fibers. I was shocked by the fact that even our clothes shed numerous plastic fibers when we wash them. Whenever I drink water and do laundry, I'm worried about microplastic particles that I possibly drink and also create.

Such worries encourage me to go greener in everyday life by taking small actions. I used to be a neat freak, so I washed my clothes frequently. Now that I know the microfibers from synthetic clothes are one of the biggest sources of microplastic pollution, I wash my sweatsuits less, and I'll never buy another fleece jacket. Because of fleece's fuzzy structure, up to millions of fibers easily come off in each wash. When I buy take-out foods, I say no to disposable forks and chopsticks. If I happen to get plastic utensils, I wash and reuse them. I always carry my shopping bag to grocery stores.

However, being environmentally conscious often robs me of convenience. I used to put food ingredients in a plastic bag when I stored them in the fridge. Nowadays, I'm trying to use reusable containers more, but it's a hassle to wash them every time. As it's already demanding to keep a balance between my work, study, and life, I don't want to waste my time and energy. That's why I'm easily tempted to turn to disposable plastic bags.

The other day, I went to a Starbucks store and ordered a java chip frappuccino, expecting to get a fresh burst of sweetness. Sweet ice-blended beverages are my go-to when I want to recharge when I'm stressed out. I hadn't had a cold drink at Starbucks for a long time, so I didn't expect them to give me a paper straw. After taking a sip of frappuccino with that straw, I immediately frowned because it ruined the taste. I couldn't help but regret not having gone to other cafes where plastic straws are available. Nevertheless, my conscience has prevented me from getting a drink with a plastic straw at another cafe. From that day on, rather than trying some place where plastic straws are allowed, I've just stopped buying any ice-blended beverages. (Yeah, perhaps it's the best option. I have to lose some weight, haha.)

It's a good thing that I began to care how to live eco-friendly, but adopting a green lifestyle is never easy. Sometimes it's just not compatible with a hectic life in modern society. For now, I want to take a few small steps toward going green, and then I'll push myself harder little by little.