A Plastic World
When plastic products hit the mainstream in the 1950s, it was a miracle material, able to be molded into any shape, light weight, impermeable, and cheap to produce. It made lives more convenient and introduced the idea of disposability. In a span of only 70 years, plastic has become a part of almost every aspect in our daily lives
Think of all the plastic you use in a day, from when you wake up to when you go to sleep…
toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper wraps, shampoo, soap, face wash, q-tips, lotion, deodorant, hairbrushes, hair dryers, make up, clothes, coffee bags, food containers, beverage containers, baby bottles, diapers, wipes, pens, markers, binders, folders, wrappers, packaging materials, take out containers, to go cups, candy wrappers, snack bags, water bottles, grocery bags, tea bags, zip top bags, plates, plastic utensils, cell phones, toys, cleaners, laundry detergents, hand soap, sponges…. and so much more.
Plastic. Is. Everywhere.
So what’s the problem?
Most always made with fossil fuels like crude oil, plastic is created through chemical synthesis, transforming organic materials like petroleum into an easily moldable compound. Different processes yield different results, but the problem is the same: using non-renewable resources to make non-biodegradable products, the creation and use of which greatly contributes to pollution, climate change and many environmental issues.
Plastic products take nearly forever to decompose, breaking down in the environment into smaller and smaller pieces, called micro plastics, which release harmful elements most commonly labeled “toxins.” These little pieces of plastic make their way into our water, the ocean, the soil and our food chain. Fish and other animals mistake them for food and resources. You can find a plethora of articles detailing wildlife deaths - whales, birds, even camels - due to ingesting our plastic waste. Our waste has infiltrated every part of the planet.
Over 350 million tons of new plastic is produced each year, and the figures are only going up. Nearly half of this plastic is intended for single use - a quick useful life, and nearly forever waste life.
So now what?
So we know how it’s made, how it lasts, and it’s impact on the planet beyond our convenience...maybe plastic is not the problem? Maybe it is how we dispose of our waste? While only around 10% of plastic is recycled, and considering the worldwide crisis over where to send all the waste, recycling is only a partial fix. Many plastic products can’t be recycled, or are too difficult and costly to recycle.
Learning to recycle well is essential; supporting recycling efforts is a must. But it is not the only answer.
With more humans entering the global scene every day, the average person is estimated to create 102 tons of garbage in a lifetime - that’s 7 pounds per day. With over 7 billion people to consider, that’s a lot of trash. Too much trash to be reused; we need another solution.
So what can we do?
Use less plastic. Create less waste.
Sound difficult?
It really isn’t. By taking several easy steps, trying some new things and building some new habits, you can cut down on your waste and plastic consumption dramatically.
How?
Start by noticing
Pay attention to what you put in your garbage can - what do you throw away? The usual culprits are plastic packaging, paper towels, disposable food storage, and the like.
Keep an eye on your grocery cart - what do you usually buy? Water bottles, soft drinks, individually packaged snacks… how much of it is wrapped in plastic?
Look around you - what makes up most of the litter you see? Plastic shopping bag, bottles, cups…we see lots of this when we are walking or driving in our day to day life.
Choose a category
Pick something easy to tackle first - I recommend cutting out plastic shopping bags or water bottles first; neither of these requires a lifestyle change, just a new habit of taking reusable bags or bottles with you.
Practice the art of refusing - get in the habit of saying “no thanks” to plastic straws, disposable cutlery, sauce packets and other convenience items. Bring your own reusable straws and utensils by purchasing or assembling a set.
Choose an item you notice filling up your trash cans and try out reusable alternatives or different products. If you find yourself tossing lots of ziplock storage bags, start using containers or jars, or reusable storage bags. Throwing away lots of paper towels? Put some cloths on the counter and break the habit.
Try out some plastic-free alternatives
Take a look in your bathroom - you can easily and effectively replace lots of plastic by switching to bars: shampoo bars, conditioner bars, soap bars, lotion bars. Buy a bamboo toothbrush and give it a try. Check out the many new toothpaste and mouthwash tablets on the market. Try out deodorant in cardboard tubes, or silk dental floss in glass jars.
Try some easy recipes in the kitchen - besides purchasing items in glass jars, which are endlessly recyclable and reusable, instead of plastic, give some easy recipes a go. Bread machines can take as little as 5 minutes of your time, providing you with fresh, delicious bread without the plastic bag. Quick and easy cookie recipes or mug cakes are great, even for kids to bake. Homemade yogurt and ricotta are simple and require little effort… trust me, I don’t like cooking!
Simplify your cleaning products - I used to have a closet full of plastic bottled cleaning products, but you can literally clean just about everything with around 8 ingredients. Get some vinegar, baking soda and Castile soap, and you have the power to clean without all the plastic waste (or chemicals, for that matter). Read more about plastic-free cleaning here.
Make choices one day at a time
Take it step by step - stay motivated by viewing these changes as a process. Every little change helps; it’s a lot more helpful to have many people using a bit less plastic than one person living perfectly zero waste. Each step you take away from single-use plastic has a positive effect on the environment and a ripple effect on those around you.
Build habits - remember that while habits are sometimes hard to break, if you keep trying, they become second nature. Create new habits of taking your water bottle with you, keeping your reusable bags in your car, and trying out new routines that eliminate single-use plastic. Listen to my 3 minute commentary on plastic bags and creating new habits. Keep the mantra going: “if at first you don't succeed, try, try again”- or in this case, go back to your car for the bags.
Connect with others - there are many of us who now recognize the need to reduce single-use plastic consumption, and many who are banding together to encourage each other to continue the journey. Find groups on social media, in your community; talk to your coworkers, friends and family. By linking up, you can find out about new products, motivate each other, and share ideas.
With an awareness of how plastic has become tied to every part of life, and that nearly half of all plastic created is designed to be quickly thrown away, it is clear that step by step, we need to change our habits to preserve and protect our world. It doesn’t have to require any huge lifestyle changes, just small adjustments that make a big impact.
What changes can you make?
#SmallSteps #NewHabits #GreatChange