How Your Inflatable Is Bad For The Environment And What To Do About It

You’ve probably been on vacation this year already, or at least have one planned. It’s the norm to buy a giant rubber ring or lilo for use in the pool or sea, but these things are terrible for the environment. This doesn't mean you shouldn’t buy one - but you should be careful about how you dispose of one once you’re done with it. This is the main issue affecting the environment, as hundreds are discarded at resorts. 

But what are you expected to do about your lilo or inflatable? If you’ve used it on a special occasion like your honeymoon or hen party, you could send it to a company that will turn it into a special memory for you, such as a bag. These companies have helped save 100 tonnes of material from landfill so far. For example, one customer was proposed to on an inflatable flamingo, and asked the company to turn it into a bag.

"Unconscious consumerism" is a huge problem for the environment, and could be to blame for the rise in skip bin hire. A lot of what people are buying is cheap and therefore breaking quickly, with a need to be replaced over and over again. People aren't thinking carefully about their purchases, whether it’s fast fashion they are buying or other stuff they don’t really need. Recycling is good, but oftentimes, it’s still not as environmentally friendly as could be. Upcycling is great - making things you or others will use out of things you no longer want can make them useful again and stop there from being so much waste in the world. 

Why Are Plastic Inflatables So Bad For The Environment? 

Plastic inflatables are made from flexible PVC, which, according to the British Plastics Federation is a durable and long-lasting material. It’s designed to last a long time, but PVC is almost never collected from households for recycling. Many people end up buying a new one every time they go away, because what they are buying has no real value to them. This is why it’s so common to find punctured inflatables left on the beach. The impact on the environment is terrible because the waste either goes to landfill or goes into the sea, and fossil fuels are used in their production and transportation. If the inflatables get into the sea they will be broken down into pieces and eventually harm wildlife. Lots of sea life is washing up on the shore dead with plastic in the stomach. They can also get tangled up. When these things get into the ocean, it’s a death sentence to the wildlife. 

Here’s a quick rundown of what you can do in the future to avoid your inflatables and other plastics having such an impact on the environment:

• *  Try to use your inflatable for multiple trips
• *  Never abandon your inflatable on the beach
• *  Turn your inflatable into something meaningful once it’s broken, such as a bag 
• *  If you can, avoid buying plastic and go for alternatives instead