A team of scientists in India have highlighted the devastating environmental consequences of pandemic-related waste in a new report
It may come as no surprise that the pandemic has had devastating environmental impact. However, a new study has highlighted just how extensive the impacts are.
The study found that as a demand for digital retail therapy and takeaway food delivery services have increased. This has, in turn, created a coinciding increase in the demand for plastic packaging materials.
For example, the researchers found that one plastic packaging company in Spain saw sales grow by 40% during the pandemic. Meanwhile, the US saw demand for plastic grocery packaging rise by 14%.
Pollution due to PPEs and biomedical waste
The study also raised the concerns over the disposal of medical waste such as single-use masks, wipes, sanitisers and gloves.
A Covid-driven explosion in demand for PPE would “definitely lead to an abrupt surge in the use of plastics,” the report noted.
Researchers have already been recording this trend in action. At one point during the pandemic, Wuhan was producing an additional 240 tons of medical waste per day.
The report also found that an increased use of hand soaps, sanitiser and other cleaning products could be doing irreversible damage to the environment. This could pose a “serious issue in the future,” the report noted.
