People have started relying too much on online food delivery services which has led to a surge in plastic waste and packaging pollution. In my views, one of the main causes of this environmental problem is obviously the extra layers of packaging which is done to keep the food items safe. Various food brands use multiple types of packaging and each of them has separate demerits. For instance, Aluminium foil is mostly used by brands as it keeps the food warm for longer durations. These Al foils are not properly disposed or reused due to which they become a soure of widespread pollution. Some companies utilize mesh nets to deliver vegeatables and fruits. People casually throw them away without thinking of the consequences. Such mesh packagings get stuck in the water bodies, eventually causing the death of various fish species. The cultery, napkins and sauces have to be packed in separate plastic bags which ultimately add to more plastic waste.
However, such problems can be mitigated by proper awareness of population. NGOs and big companies should run campaigns to aware the public about harmful effects of plastic. People should be asked to manage their waste before throwing it, as those disposable boxes made up of styrofoam take years to degrade. Meanwhile, brands should promote biodegradable paper-based packagings. Individuals should follow the RRR rule i.e Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Lastly, people should prefer dining out instead of ordering it home as it will require less packaging and hence less production of waste.
In conclusion, most of the plastic waste and environmental pollution is because of unnecessary packaging of food to keep it warm and safe for delivery purposes. So, powerful authorities should spread public awareness to keep the planet clean and safe.