Plastic Culture: From Australia to East Asia
When you realize sustainability isn't a universal value
It’s Amazing How Everyday Habits Can Be So Different Here.
I came from Melbourne, Australia—where I was used to an almost obsessive waste separation system. Separate bins for organic waste, plastic, cardboard, and glass. I felt deep guilt if I accidentally threw a milk carton into the wrong bin.
Supermarkets encourage you in every possible way to bring a reusable shopping bag. Signs remind you that you’re either part of the solution or part of the problem. And suddenly, here I am in Southeast Asia, where single-use plastic is everywhere.
In supermarkets, every single piece of fruit or vegetable is wrapped in its own plastic, and then they all go into another large plastic bag. The layers of plastic are overwhelming.
"Plastic?" they ask as a reflex, handing me yet another bag.
"No, thank you," I always reply.
A confused look. They don’t understand why anyone would refuse something designed to make life easier.
Sometimes, I feel like an alien with my reusable bag in a world of disposable plastic. But it makes me wonder—does my obsessive recycling even matter when the rest of the world isn’t prioritizing it?
I understand that plastic is a cheap and practical solution, especially in developing countries.
I remember a conversation with my older brother, who shared an interesting perspective:
"It’s great that we recycle at home, but real change has to come from the big corporations."
The ones that pollute on a global scale, causing irreversible damage. Not me, using a plastic bag instead of a tote.
I believe that, like any global shift, this will take years—maybe generations. The fact that some countries have made environmental responsibility a top priority is inspiring.
Maybe we can only hope that others will get there too—once they’ve tackled the more urgent problems they’re facing.
In the meantime, I’ll keep saying "No, thank you" to plastic bags and sticking to my values, even if I’m just a drop in the ocean. Because maybe, in the end, every big change starts with those tiny drops.
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