Each year, around 300 million tons of plastic is globally produced and an estimated 18 billion pounds of plastic ends up in the ocean. The consumption of plastic is continually rising, and if we don't stop and look at our actions—what we are doing, what we are buying, what we are using—we will be swimming in it, not just marine life.
Most of what surrounds us in our every day lives is made of plastic, yet we don't realize it. Things like toothbrushes, hair brushes, coffee cups, pens, grocery bags, to-go containers, utensils, and straws are all made of plastic. 40% of the 300 million tons of plastic that is produced each year is used in packaging every day goods such as food, toys, and bathroom products. It is used once to encase something, and then discarded.
90% of children's toys are made of plastic nowadays rather than sustainable materials like wood. Personal care products such as shampoo, soap, makeup, razors, perfume, deodorant, etc, heavily rely on plastic for the casing and containers of these products. All of these products are used and then disposed of.
But plastic does not decompose.
Only 9% of plastic waste that is recycled is actually recycled, and of the 8.3 billion tons of plastic that has already been produced, 6.3 billion metric tons of it becomes waste.
We are in the midsts of an epidemic of plastic pollution. Our planet and the organisms that live on it, including ourselves, are suffering due to our addiction to plastic. We have to make a change otherwise we will face the consequences.
Consumerist culture has made it seemingly hard to live without plastic, but there are many easy ways to trade out old habits to reduce your consumption of single-use plastics. Of course, you don't have to tackle every switch on this list; like the motive behind making these actions, you want the habits to be sustainable. Adapt at your own pace.
To make it easier, I made a list simple switches you can incorporate into your everyday life. You can try a new one each month or every other week, even. As long as you put in the effort to make a change, you are making a difference one day at a day.
Start using a reusable water bottle & coffee cup—The average human saves 1,460 plastic water bottles a year by using a reusable water bottle. It's a great way to stay hydrated, and one of the simplest changes on this list; all you have to do is buy a reusable bottle and use it. For those who are avid drinkers of coffee and have a habit of spending money on a cup of coffee several times throughout the week, consider investing in a reusable coffee cup. Just like a water bottle, you'll save hundreds plastic cups from reaching the landfill.
Buy in bulk—Not only does this save plastic and often support small business, but it is usually a cheaper option. Buying food in bulk, whether that be grains, beans, spices, oils, etc, is an alternative to avoid processed and excessively packaged goods.
Bring your own container for leftover food when you go out to eat—Most restaurants continue to provide plastic or styrofoam containers for remaining food. Bringing your own container not only assures that you won't taking home a single-use plastic container, but also that it's clean and sanitary because it's yours. It's a change that not many people think of but is very easy to do once it becomes a habit.
Invest in reusable & sustainable products—Purchase products that are biodegradable at the end of their life. A great company to look into is the Package Free Shop.
Go to the farmer's market—Not only are you getting high quality, fresh produce, but you're also supporting local small farmers and businesses. It's a win-win. Find out if there is a farmer's market near you along with the hours and save on plastic wrapped produce for healthy and clean produce.
But if you do go to a grocery store, bring reusable bags—Tote bags are one of the many kind of bags that can be used to carry/transport groceries. It's an easy yet effective switch from plastic bags that will most likely be tossed out. It's just a matter of keeping them in the car and making the habit of bringing them.
Shop along the outside of the grocery store— Not only is shopping along the border of the grocery store good for fresh produce, but also for avoiding excessive plastic. Investing in reusable cloth pouches can save the plastic bags that grocery stores provide. It's little things like this that make a big difference.
Shop along the outside of the grocery store— Not only is shopping along the border of the grocery store good for fresh produce, but also for avoiding excessive plastic. Investing in reusable cloth pouches can save the plastic bags that grocery stores provide. It's little things like this that make a big difference.
Make products at home—With the internet, there are hundreds of recipes you can find to do a little DIY to save the environment and money. Certain items like shampoo, conditioner, cleaner, and detergent, can all be make from scratch in the comfort of your own home.
Recycle—Any recycling is better than no recycling. But, to insure that the plastics you are recycling are actually getting recycled, consider going through a recycling company like Terracycle. They're able to recycle almost anything, from detergent bottles to contacts. It's just a matter of you reaching out and finding the best way to send your plastic waste to them to be recycled and given a second life.
It might be difficult to make the changes at first and for a while, it'll feel like you are going out of your way to do something when there is an easier way because you will have to break old habits. However, the effort that you put in now will influence the lives of future generations. Start small with keeping the reusable grocery bags somewhere in the car where they will be remembered, and then gradually grow bigger by investing in sustainable products.You can make a big difference even though you are one person.
A single person can start a domino effect by taking the initiative to educate themselves and act upon what they learn, then inspiring others to do the same. When people come together to make a difference, change happens.
For more information on the epidemic of plastic pollution, here are some sources:
- plasticpollution.org
- A Whopping 91% of Plastic Isn't Recycled
- The Beauty Industry Generates A Lot of Plastic Waste. Can It Change?
- Plastic Toys Are A Huge Environmental Problem, But You Can Make A Difference
- A Running List of Action on Plastic Pollution
- plasticoceans.org
- Choking the Oceans With Plastic
- Fact Sheet: Single-Use Plastics
- Saving The Earth, One Cup Of Coffee At A Time
Remember, one person can make a difference.
Until next time,
take care,
What's your opinion?