Plastics have become popular in the world. They offer convenience as we shop, take away food, wear or even store our food. Plastic is putting a lot of strain on our environment. As companies rethink the best ways to reduce plastics, there is a lot we can do at an individual capacity.
Plastics Statistics
Reducing your plastic footprint is on your mind. if you care about the environment and the future of our children. Globally, 381 million plastic waste is produced per year. Only 9% of plastic is recycled. The plastic damage to land and ocean ecosystem is enormous. This does not only affect humanity now but will for a very long time. Only 9% of the plastic produced is recycled. Plastics degrade after between 500 to 1000 years to degrade.
Microplastics
Microplastics are very dangerous to human and to animals. The tricky bit is that you cannot see them with your eyes. They can harm your body organs or affect their functioning. Micro plastics are endocrine disruptors. They cause hormonal imbalances, cause intestinal blockages, and may lead to punctured organs.
Production of plastics lead to green house gas emissions. Annual estimates to be equal to 3.8 million cars emission. which is bad news for the carbon emission goals set out.
Impact of plastics to marine life
Scientists approximate that there will be more plastics in the ocean than fish by 2050. About 127 tonnes of plastics end up end up in our ocean in our oceans every year. This leads to deaths of about one million seabirds and 100,000 marine animals. The number of plastics currently in the sea is higher than the number of fish.
What is plastic footprint?
The number of plastics a single individual uses and discards away to the environment. Most of the plastic we use in the world become instant garbage after short usage. Individuals may not understand the impact they have on the planet. The cumulative impact plastics is when everybody uses it and disposes.
How to calculate plastic footprint
You can start by taking into account your life choices. Right from shopping your goods in plastic. You may start by looking into how much plastic you use for laundry, cleaning, bathroom. Take into account the disposable waste.
Buy goods that have eco packaging
Buy goods that have eco packaging
companies are responding to customer trends and preferences. They have initiatives reduce their footprint. Several companies have changed their packaging from plastic. There are several innovative biodegradable and recyclable materials available in the market. If you have a choice to buy similar products choose one with packaging that is sustainable.
sustainable packaging
Footprint from water bottles
Keep a water bottle that you can use for a long period. It is better to buying single use bottles all the time this saves you cost since you can refill the bottle from home. You can filter safe water for drinking at home.
Drinking straws
500 million plastic straws end up in the trash each year. This adds existing plastic pollution. Use an alternative metal straw where possible. There exist stainless steel straw that are reusable. In an environment where you have an option of not using a straw, take direct from a cup or glass.
Alternative toothbrush
You change your toothbrush every three months. Choose one that has a wooden handle or any other alternative degradable material. Some of these are at lower cost than plastic brushes.
Plastic bags
Carrier bags contribute to plastic waste found in oceans. While some countries have banned single use plastic bags. To reduce your plastic footprint, bring your own bag to shopping. You may put it in the track of your car or a place at home that is convenient to grab when going out.
Reduce Plastic cups and tumblers
You love your coffee and find yourself having that take away cup. Every time you throw away the cup, you contribute to the plastic footprint. It would be advisable to have your own cup in the car.
Reusable drink ware
You are into outdoors and would like to reduce on those single use plastic cups. You may choose to use reusable bottles on the cap. You can also refuse to have the lid on your coffee cup. To avoid spilling, you may have to sip the drink a few times before walking out. Some coffee shops may refuse this move since they fear liability for the burns. Ensure you do so when it is safe.
opt for non-plastic Straws and Utensils.
Some take away shops and restaurants give you an option whether to use plastics. You can choose non plastic options.
Buy Meat Wrapped in Paper
packaging meat or buying already packaged meat. Ensure that that the meat you buy does not have to leave a foot print long after you have eaten your meat.
Cook more often
Nothing beats a good home cooked meal. You can even carry to work to avoid buying packaged lunch at work.
Store Food in Glass Containers
When you buy food from the store, keep it in glass instead of glass. Other choices of containers may include steel and wood.
Toothbrush with replaceable head or bamboo toothbrush
It is advisable to change your toothbrush after a few months. Most toothbrush bristles have synthetic fibres. Some toothbrushes made of Bamboo which is a better replacement to plastic.
When Hosting an Event Use Glasses for water in one reusable bottle
plastic bottle replaced with glass
Sometimes we attend parties or meetings where everybody gets their water in bottles. Event organizers, hotels or even weddings have a role to play. Have water in one location where guests can serve themselves in glasses provided. It is still classy and good for the environment.
Instead of Taking away, Eat in Restaurants
If you eat within the premises of a restaurant, you will need less packaging
When Shopping Choose sustainable packaging
You check the products that have less plastics on the packaging. materials for your food, fruits, soaps and other products. You may buy bread in paper instead of opting fort that made of plastic. Detergents that in boxes instead of plastic containers or plastic bottles.
Reduce on Clothes made of synthetic fibre
Today most clothes are of plastic synthetic fibres like nylon and polyester. When we wash them several times this fibers end in our waterways. You can choose natural fibers or wash synthetic clothes less often.
Buy in bulk
Shop many items together. When shopping whether online or in store. Buy many things together. It will ensure that you don’t have so many packaging plastics with every shopping that you do.
Razor that Only Requires Blade Replacement
While the upfront cost higher it is cheaper in the long run. replacing the blades instead of the whole razor. This will help you to reduce your plastic footprint.
Conclusion
Plastic production has been responding to the demand. That straw, carrier bag, plastic packaging. Single use plastic cup will be in the environment hundreds or even thousands of years after use. What if we all did our part in reducing plastic pollution by some percentage? This will reduce plastic in our water, oceans and generally our environment. You will contribute a long way in improving health of people, animals and marine life. You will have done a small part that will go a long way in saving our planet. The trick is in reducing and recycling where you can.
health of people, animals and marine life. You will have done a small part that will go a long way in saving our planet. The trick is in reducing and recycling where you can.
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