In many countries, plastic containers have become more common than ever and are used by many food and drink companies. Do you think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?

Using

plastic

containers

for various cooking products has become ubiquitous in recent decades. Though

this

has potential drawbacks for the environment, I believe it does not outweigh the benefits to businesses and individuals. The environmental cost of

the

Correct article usage

apply

show examples

disposable

plastic

packages is massive. Before plastics, foods and drinks were typically put into biodegradable, eco-friendly paper or cardboard. The arrival of plastics has impacted the environment on two major fronts.

Firstly

, the

plastic

itself is a fossil fuel byproduct that requires crude oil for its production and later transportation. The emissions from fossil fuels are often cited as the chief contributor to the hastening of climate change.

Moreover

, the bag themselves either find their way to landfills, polluting previously pristine land, or end up in the ocean, forming ‘land masses’ that are injurious to marine life.

Nonetheless

, the concomitant problems of

plastic

containers

listed above do not override their usefulness. For companies, using

plastic

containers

is cheap and allows for uniform consistency.

This

is the reason why they have been adopted by companies ranging from fast food giants like McDonald’s to local grocery chains. These savings are

then

passed on to the consumer who enjoys cheaper prices and the many conveniences of the

plastic

packet. They are less likely to rip open and spill compared with paper and most families make use of them afterwards for leftover food. If

plastic

containers

for food items were banned not only would people lose these conveniences but many companies would have to radically alter their packaging, and potentially, products themselves. In conclusion, the environmental impact of

plastic

containers

does little to undermine their value for both corporations and the average customer. It is

instead

important to explore innovations to make plastics more environmentally friendly.