Furoshiki & Environmental Impact
Recently furoshiki has been drawing attention as eco goods. Here is the explanation how the favorable impacts can be made by using furoshiki.
The plastic shopping bags we use at shopping in retail stores like supermarkets are made of materials such as polyolefin, and there is concern about the negative impact on the environment. Ethylene, which is a raw material for polyolefin, is made by refining petroleum. Annually, 60 million to 100 million barrels of oil is spent on plastic bag manufacturing in the world. Therefore, you can save oil that is the raw material by not using plastic bags.
When incinerating the discarded polyolefin, carbon dioxide (CO2), which is a greenhouse gas, is emitted. If you do not use plastic shopping bags, bags that are thrown away as waste will naturally decrease and the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by incineration can be reduced as well.
Table of contents
Plastics destroying nature:
Plastics also affect human:
Furoshiki rediscovered:
Author:
Plastics destroying nature:
It is said that 500 billion to 3 trillion plastic bags are distributed worldwide annually. And 1 in 3 consumers is estimated to dump plastic bag as it becomes unnecessary. What makes the plastic bag problem more serious is that the discarded plastic remains semipermanently in nature.
It is said that precious natural creatures such as sea turtles and dolphins are mistakenly swallowing for food and are dying. Even if they did not die, a lot of plastic bags were discovered from the stomachs of many natural creatures, and the harm has spread not only to the sea but also to the land animals.
When an incident such as a decrease in a certain species occurs, it will impact the ecosystem one after another like the domino effect. It is the plastic bag that human beings easily pulled the trigger for the sake of convenience and profitability.
Plastics also affect human:
It’s not only the nature that plastic bags are affecting. Plastic allows toxins enter the food chain and it affects humans who are positioned at the top of the food chain. Since we are living by taking the blessings of nature, it should be the natural outcome in a sense that hurting nature can also hurt human beings ourselves. We should have noticed it much earlier, but it will be too late if we do not do what we can do from now on.
The reason behind the spread of plastic bags is the intention of business operators to increase sales by handing plastic bags to consumers and providing convenience when checking out for shopping. It was free generally in the past. However, it is natural to pass on the cost to the product price as it is the business, and consumers have been bearing the costs without realising it.
Furoshiki rediscovered:
Due to rising environmental awareness, measures such as banning plastic bags, taxation and self-restraint have been taken by administrative legislation and voluntary efforts of businesses and consumers.
Thereat, furoshiki is attracting attention again. One of the factors that furoshiki disappeared from Japan’s everyday life was the arrival of plastic bags. Therefore, efforts to reduce plastic shopping bags lead to the restoration of furoshiki.
The wonderful aspect of furoshiki is not only to replace plastic shopping bags. Furoshiki needs techniques to wrap objects. It is very easy to learn and anyone can do it, but these craftworks by hands excitingly stimulate creativity and lead to people’s cultivation of ecological thoughts. It influences on the brain by not only the theory but also creative experience of exercising hands.
People who have become eco-friendly by using furoshiki will start making environmentally friendly actions not only in plastic shopping bags but in all scenes of living. The increase of such people will eventually lead to the power to change administration and society as a whole.
Author: Takuya Nagata. Amazon Profile
Follow @nagatackleNovel writer, Creator. Graduated from UCA, the UK’s university. Discussed Japanese minimalism in the senior thesis. Founder of “MINIЯISM” (minirism), the art movement that contributes to the development of societies, such as ecology and lifestyle. Covered various fields as a writer in different parts of Europe, and later launched the knowledge hub “The Minimalist.”
Once travelled to Brazil and trained football at CFZ do Rio (Centro de Futebol Zico Sociedade Esportiva) in Rio de Janeiro. Played soccer for the Urawa Reds (Urawa Red Diamonds), one of the biggest football clubs in Japan, and toured Europe. Retired at a young age and voyaged alone to England. Established careers as journalist, football coach, consultant, etc. across Europe such as Spain. Knowledgeable in creative and technology fields as well. The founder of “Propulsive Football” (PROBALL), the world’s first-ever competitive mixed football, facilitating diversity and spirit for equal participation in society.
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