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You’ve probably heard it time and again; we need to cut down on our plastic use and drastically.
Now, before you leave this article and think it’s all about being ‘hippie, and saving the planet from being doomed’, just listened out to what it actually is and how you can make a positive difference this July.. For the better!
Plastic free what?
Yes, Plastic Free July.. It could be any month for that matter, but this month we come together to focus on reducing our plastic usage in our every day lives. Just think about how many take-away coffee’s you get a day? Do you recycle? And even if you do, do you know the ’so-called’ bio-degradable cups, still has an inside lining of plastic, so they in fact need to go in the ‘yellow plastic bin’? How many take-away containers did you get today? Take-away soup? With plastic utensils? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one if you didn’t know this fact.. Did you also know, or not know for that matter, that plastic bags don’t go in the yellow recycling bin? But, it’s plastic, I hear you say… Yes, but it’s not recyclable.. And this is where we also are contaminating our earth, and with materials that leave this planet whilst you and I are still alive.. Scary, huh?
Is it really that bad?
YES! It really is that bad.
Most of the commonly used disposable plastic items are a convenience and the numbers are staggering. In one week we go through 10 billion plastic bags worldwide, in the USA an average of 2.5 million plastic bottles are used every hour whilst over 500 million straws are used daily!
Marine debris is also a major issue for the integrity of marine ecosystems. Impacts to wildlife include entanglement and ingestion. It is estimated that 80% of the oceans marine debris has come from the land. More than 270 of the world’s marine animal species are affected by marine debris, but the full extent of this impact is unknown. If this doesn’t make you sad and want to change your way of life, I’m not sure what will?
So what can we do?
Well, participating in Plastic Free July is a great start and a fun way to kick more awareness into our lives. Together we put a dent in minimising our eco-footprint and we avoid landfill waste massively by eliminating single-use plastic
But.. HOW?!
Want to understand how you can use alternative ways in which to minimise your plastic-use? GREAT, I thought you’d never ask.. See below:
Single Use Plastic |
Plastic Free Alternative |
|
Bin liner (plastic bag) |
Line your bin with several layers of newspaper. |
|
Deodorant |
Make your own |
|
Doggy doo bags |
Folded up newspaper |
|
Coffee cup (lid) |
Request no lid / take a reusable cup |
|
Gladwrap / cling film |
Reusable container / aluminium foil / fabric wraps |
|
Hair brush |
Keep an eye out for wooden/bamboo hairbrushes |
|
Milk |
Look for milk in refillable glass bottles |
|
Nappies (diapers) – disposable |
Reusable cloth nappies |
|
Pasta |
Make your own, buy in bulk or look for cardboard-packaged pasta |
|
Plastic bag |
Arms /cardboard box / reusable bag |
|
Plastic drink bottle |
Reusable drink bottle |
|
Plastic straw |
Lips / metal or glass straw |
|
Sanitary pads |
Make your own or buy washable reusable pads online |
|
Shampoo |
Solid bar shampoo |
|
Tampons |
Try menstrual cups (more info here) |
And what better way to also help keep your coffee sustainable, eco and hot for way longer? SoL Cups. This is exactly why this brand was also created – to help make a difference, not only in our community but in the World.
Caroline x
