"We Are A Throw Away Culture" - Stop Single Use Plastic
- cleanlivingbyjudithraye
- May 21, 2019
- 4 min read
Why Single Use Plastic is Bad for the Environment?
Did you know that most of the plastic produced today is designed to be used only once and then tossed away? There was a time when plastic packaging was a good thing. It provided a convenient, easy way to package just about anything. Currently, production of plastic around the world accounts for over 400 million tons, of that about 36% or 144 million tons is used for packaging of products. About 40 million tons of the plastic produced accounts for consumer use; items such as personal care product containers, sandwich bags, trash bags, straws, etc. Plastic waste now accounts for a majority of what is tossed into our landfills and into our oceans. “Most of this waste is generated in Asia, while American, Japan and the European Union are the world’s largest producers of plastic packaging waste per capita.”
If we do not change from single use plastic to other reusable eco-friendly options, “…by 2050 there will be around 12 billion tons of plastic in landfills and in the environment.” And, all of this plastic and Styrofoam will still be in our landfill hundreds of years later!
When I first saw stories about what plastic straws and plastic bags were doing to the sea turtles and dolphins after ingesting plastic thinking it was food, I became physically ill. I live on the West Coast in Oregon about an hour from the ocean. Even with "Keep Oregon Green" I still see first-hand what is left on the beach, and a lot of the waste is made up of cigarette butts, Styrofoam containers, plastic bottles, straws, zip lock bags, plastic dinnerware, and that six-ring plastic that surrounds a six pack of beer.
My Own Day of Reckoning!
I use to justify my use of the plastic bags I got from the grocery store. After all, I did not just toss them away after unloading my groceries when I got home. I would save them for other uses around the house. However, even after I re-purposed that plastic bag it ultimately ended up in my trashcan and that same plastic bag would then eventually be deposited into our landfill. Since plastic does not biodegrade it will be around forever. And, that same plastic breaks down into smaller fragments called “microplastics.” (More about microplastics to come later).
Time to Replace Single Use Plastic – One Product at a Time
Time to replace your single use plastic product with a more eco-friendly, reusable options -- one product at a time. After cigarette butts, the most commonly found single use plastic in our environment is the plastic drinking bottles, food wrappers, tall kitchen disposable bags, plastic grocery bags, plastic lids, plastic silverware, plastic plates, and straws. I have found several eco-friendly options for all of these single use plastic products, and I will be posting about the cleaner/greener options throughout the summer.
Another interesting fact I found today on Instagram by Boxed Water -- "it takes 2 liters of water to produce a 1 liter water bottle." Even more reason to stop using plastic water bottles. For more information about Boxed Water or if you want to join "The No-Plastic Pledge", go here.
You too can join the movement to end single use plastic – a movement you can feel good about!
Let’s start with ditching the single plastic water bottle and disposable coffee cups. Just to be clear -- not all reusable plastic cups or plastic water bottles are created equal. I have a collection of not so great plastic water bottles sitting up in the top shelf of my kitchen cupboard collecting dust. Someday, I need to figure out where to recycle them, if that is possible.
I searched for a reusable water bottle and coffee cup that first and foremost, were eco-friendly. Other considerations were -- a bottle and coffee cup that could be easily and completely cleaned after each use. I also looked for a reusable water bottle that was easy to fill from my refrigerator water dispenser. And for my reusable coffee cup, I wanted to make sure it actually kept my coffee hot.
I found some great options for reusable water bottles:
20 oz Contigo Couture Stainless Steel Water Bottle is BPA free. The THERMALOCK Vacuum-Insulation keeps my water cold up to 24 hours. This bottle keeps my ice for several hours and my drink cold -- it is also good looking. I love that it has a removable, twist off top for easy cleaning and adding ice cubes. I put this bottle in the top shelf of my dishwasher and use the bottle washing feature, and It comes out clean and sanitized every time.
20 oz Estilo Glass Water Bottle -- Stainless Steel Cap, and protective silicone sleeve Comes as a set of 4 (Green, Black, Blue, Pink). Sometimes the stainless steel option just won't work with water that has added flavoring. So when I want to have a fruit infused water I choose the Estilo glass water bottle. This is also a great value since it comes as a set of 4, great for the entire family.
And, a great option for ditching that disposable coffee cup, I chose:
AUTOSEAL is a technology that keeps this mug leak and spill proof. "Yes there is a difference." This a great reusable coffee mug that will keep your coffee hot for up to 7 hours and fits great in your car's cup holder. And, better yet it also fits nicely on the top shelf of my dishwasher for cleaning with the bottle washer setting. It comes out clean and sanitized every time.
Want something a little more stylish? Try this KeepCup Reusable Coffee Cup! It will keep your coffee close by while keeping you stylish on the go!
Are you more of a loose tea/ brew on the go type of person? I have the perfect solution for you to be able to keep going in the mornings and not have to wait for your tea to brew before you go. The oneisall 500 Milliliter Double Wall Glass Tea Tumbler With Strainer For Loose Leaf ,Insulated Travel Coffee Mug,Glass Tea Cup Bottle will let you do it all while still staying away from the single use plastic!
What's your favorite on the go drink?
Be sure to stay tuned for the rest of the week's posts with suggestions for other reusable plastic options and some of my favorite companies who are doing an amazing job to help with the cause!
Comentarios