By: Neerja Caprihan
They are everywhere.
They exist around us in a gazillion small and big ways – in the clothes we wear, the shoes we sport, the transport we use, the roads we walk on, the utensils we eat in, the bottles we drink from, the medicines we eat, the cosmetics we use, the colors we decorate with, the home we live in and practically all objects of daily use.
They are present on the land we inhabit and in the air we breathe. They are present even in the food that we eat as well as the water we drink. Little wonder then that they are now found inside our body and organs and tissues as well.
They have reached as far as the penguins in Antarctica1. Now that is an ironic, literal example of far-reaching consequences indeed.
Microplastics. That’s what we are talking about.
Here’s a synopsis2 of what they are all about. Given the rampant way in which they have invaded our lives and the slow harm they cause, they have been attracting much attention of late. They are routinely a key topic in every other article on nature, food, science, well-being, sustainability and pollution these days. Human dependence on various articles that erode to give rise to microplastics gradually, means that they can never truly be phased out. This infographic3 gives a quick idea of the frightening ways in which they percolate through, and permeate the ecosystem.
But awareness itself is a step in the right direction, as it takes us that much closer to reduction, if not eradication. It leads us to make conscious decisions and smart choices that can all have a cumulative effect towards controlling our use of and reliance on their sources.
Many investors want their portfolios to reflect their values. Interactive Advisors offers Socially Responsible Investing portfolios that let you exclude companies or industries based on environmental, social, or governance criteria you choose. If you haven’t explored them yet, take a look at how they work today.
It is never too late to create a positive impact by aligning your investments with what you care about. The resulting contentment will be real and palpable. And the smile won’t be plastic either.
PHOTO CREDIT: https://www.shutterstock.com/g/LanaVisualLab
VIA SHUTTERSTOCK
FOOTNOTES AND SOURCES
1 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969721027698
2 https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/story/everything-you-should-know-about-microplastics
3https://www.usgs.gov/media/images/microplastics-sources-pathways-and-fate-conceptual-diagram
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