Among other essential materials in daily life, there are plastic and paper. As such, it is quite evident that they present themselves in totally different purposes. At the same time, their impacts to the environment drastically differ, hence raising a huge question: which of the two can be considered to be more sustainable?
The Case for Paper
Paper is usually considered a more eco-friendly option because it is biodegradable. Paper comes from renewable sources such as trees, and its decomposition is very fast, causing minimal harm to wildlife. The negative side of paper production includes deforestation and high water consumption.
The Plastic Predicament
Plastic is indeed a material that, while possessing great strength and wide applicability in many items, has become a word that nobody wants to hear unless it is in relation to being eco-friendly. Plastic, more especially non-biodegradable plastic, really is a serious matter because it takes hundreds of years to break down; thereby, it has been piling up in oceans, harming marine life and the environment at large. Furthermore, plastic is primarily manufactured from fossil fuels, which is another major contributor to carbon emissions that harm our earth.
The Middle Ground: Responsible Usage
The debate is not about plastic or paper but about adopting sustainable practices. Recycling, reducing usage, and looking into alternatives like biodegradable plastics or reusable cloth bags can help reduce the environmental impact.
