The use of plastic bags has risen many fold in past decade. To educate people about its harmful effects, International Plastic Bag Free Day is celebrated on July 3 every year. 

This day was first celebrated by an NGO in Brussels called Zero waste Europe. 

The world gets together to eliminate the use of single-use plastic in our lives. We know how harmful is plastic.It takes decades to get disposed which is very harmful for our environment. They are dangerous for all living beings be they on land or oceans. This day is a small step towards ending the use of plastic and getting rid of all threats imposed to the civilization due to excessive dependency on plastic products in recent times.

Countries joined hands and came together to make this a global announcement. Awareness is created world wide to replace the plastic with more Eco-friendly products which are bio-degradable in nature. 

Harmful effects of plastic. 

1. Plastic takes hundreds of years to disintegrate.
2. It is cheap to make but it is extremely costly to clean the environment.
3. Plastic is the cause of pollution in seas and oceans which is extremely harmful for marine life.

1. Besides plastic bag, there is a wide usage of plastic cups, plates, straws, etc, which make life easy for someone, but causes life threatening situation for birds and animals.

1. Most trash consists of plastic products and the animals, especially cows eat them, which is affecting their life. 
2. Plastic has entered the food chain through animals and it is very intoxicating for them. It also affects reproduction in animals. 

1. The medical products like masks, gloves etc used during the pandemic have added to the trouble. 

How can we save the environment:

We must act now to save our environment from the damaging and disastrous effects of Plastic. Some countries like China , UK, Taiwan, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Kenya have applied a ban on plastic usage. An approximate of 69 countries have imposed some sort of ban on plastic, according to a report by the UN. In India, Sikkim was the first  state to impose a ban on plastic in 1998. 

Some small steps by the citizens can help in reducing the usage and hence gradually eliminating plastic from our lives.

1. Start using paper or cloth bag when going to market to buy groceries etc.
2. Don't feel ashamed to carry bags from home.

1. Reduce use of plastic bottles. Instead carry steel, glass or copper bottles with you. 
2. This will help in reduction of plastic use along with stop the spread of virus nowadays. So it gives double benefit.

1. Don't use plastic forks, straw and spoon. Bamboo is now being used to manufacture cutlery which is not as expensive as cost to environment where we and future generations have to live.
2. Avoid use of single use plastic. Recycle products shall be encouraged. 

So, to conclude, Small steps are still progress and anyways better then stopping and quitting. Lets take the pledge to save our environment and all living beings. Remember, humans spread the pollution and not the animals and birds. So to co-exist, make it a friendly place in habitat for all.