Don’t cut the corners of milk, curd, or other packets

Every year, tons of plastic waste pollute our oceans and landfills. Once hailed as a brilliant invention, plastic has rapidly evolved into one of the most pressing environmental challenges of our time. Alarming reports suggest that if we don’t change our ways, the figure could rise to 60 tons per minute by 2050. This crisis is affecting humans and wildlife alike.

One memory that struck me was seeing how ocean creatures, like turtles and fish, get entangled in plastic bags or fishing nets. They often die with their bellies full of plastic, mistaking it for food. This harmful material eventually enters our food chain, affecting us too. The plastic crisis might seem overwhelming, but I firmly believe that we can turn the tide if we act now and take meaningful steps—starting at home.

Small pieces of plastic can be harmful

One seemingly insignificant habit in every household is cutting the tiny corners of milk, curd, or oil packets. I used to do this without a second thought until I realized how harmful this small piece of plastic could be. Every time we cut that corner, it often gets lost, ending up in garbage bins or water sources. Animals, especially cows or marine creatures, can unknowingly consume these pieces, and it’s heart-wrenching to think that something so small could cause so much harm.

The scale of this issue became clear to me when I read that an average household uses around 2-3 milk or curd packets a day. That means millions of these tiny plastic cutouts are adding to the already vast plastic pollution problem. What’s worse is that these small pieces are almost impossible to recycle and can turn into microplastics, which break down further and wreak havoc on our ecosystems.

Tiny plastic pieces are not recyclable

In the words of Kripa Ramachandran, an independent researcher on municipal solid waste and waste workers – “Milk packets are made of low-density polyethylene (LDPE), which is a subclass of plastics. To be recycled, this type of plastic has to be compressed at a high temperature and in a certain shape; otherwise, it adds no value. If such pieces do not reach the recycling units, it disintegrate into microplastics, that is, less than five millimeters in length, like the size of microbeads used in gels and toothpaste. Rain and wind carry these smaller fragments into drainage systems, which could lead to clogging. These can even enter water bodies, and as a result, marine organisms may mistakenly consume them.” So this explains what happens to these small fragments of plastic that do not make it to recycling units. 

It was a tweet from Tejaswini Ananthkumar that finally woke me up to this reality. She shared how opening milk packets without cutting those small corners could prevent around 50 lakh pieces of plastic from entering our waste systems. That realization hit home for me, and from that day on, I stopped cutting corners—literally!

Don’t cut the corners

To avoid contributing to this problem, I now open my milk and curd packets horizontally, making sure that no small plastic pieces are separated. It’s a small shift, but it can make a big impact if more of us do it. Keeping the entire packet intact ensures that it can be sent for recycling in one piece, reducing the chances of microplastic contamination.

This small step is my way of contributing to sustainability, caring for animals, and protecting our planet. It’s time for all of us to pause, reflect, and make these tiny but significant changes. If we’re mindful of even the smallest pieces of plastic, we can help prevent further harm to the environment and wildlife.

Let’s make it a habit—don’t cut corners, and together we can help create a more sustainable, compassionate world.

To sum up, This post is part of my Earth series on Conscious living with sustainable practices, to spread more awareness. It’s Sustainable September, so join me for more such ways and tips and become part of my Conscious and sustainable living ideas. Visit my blog, make yourself conscious of being more concerned for our environment, and alter your lifestyle. Let’s be conscious of our living and learn ways to conserve nature. Nurture Nature. Check out my other posts on sustainable conscious living, which is a step towards a healthier planet. Which covers easy ways to save water and energy, conservation at the home level, a little bit to heal Mother Earth, and much more. This post is a part of Cause-a-Chatter by Blogchatter.

Being Eco-Friendly is not a choice, make it a habit.

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