We all want to work toward a clean and safe world for us and our future generations. But how do we do this? What are the best and most effective ways to make positive changes, and where do we start? We’ve thought long and hard about this question, and we came up with this: let’s reduce our plastic consumption. This means finding ways to replace plastic entirely or reuse and recycle it.
Research shows that the amount of plastic bags “given out by supermarkets amounts to 17.5 billion per year.” This means the average family “accumulates 60 bags in four trips to the store.” Now, it’s important to note that the amount of petrol used to make these bags is enough to drive a car 2.1 billion miles. What’s even scarier is that one out of every 200 plastic bags is recycled. In addition, a plastic bag takes up to 1000 years to break down. Some of these bags end up in our seas, and “globally, an estimated one million birds and 100 000 marine mammals and sea turtles die every year from entanglement in, or ingestion of, plastics.”
Our plastic consumption harms animals and the environment and seriously damages our health. Sure, plastic (bags, bottles and containers) has made our lives easy and convenient – but are the risks worth it? An article from Yale University discusses the chemicals in plastic and states that these chemicals “enter our bodies primarily through food and drink. For example, BPA is a common component of hard plastic containers, such as baby bottles and sports drink jugs. It also lines most of the cans we buy—cans that hold everything from vegetables and baked beans to beer and infant formula. Over time, particularly when the container is heated or scratched, BPA can leach out and wind up inside our bodies. Likewise, phthalates—there are many different kinds, but the best studied is diethylhexyl phthalate, or DEHP, for short—also enter our bodies by the food route, often when what we intend to eat picks up the molecules from contact with a soft-plastic container walls or processing equipment, including the gloves that food workers use.”
We think it’s definitely time to switch to a no plastic policy – reducing and recycling need to be our main priority. But, in addition, we believe we must reshape and shift our waste culture entirely. Check out our blog for tips and ideas on how you can reduce consumption and waste. In the meantime, here are some great ways to replace and reduce our plastic consumption:
Shop only using a reusable bag – every day, it’s super easy, and you can even buy yourself a pretty bag for all your shopping!
Say goodbye to packages and processed foods – this benefits you in so many ways!
Start using glass bottles. Carry it with you to coffee shops and use it for water and juice. Some cafes honour it and reduce the price of your drink too.
Do NOT microwave your food in plastic – just don’t buy plastic. Even if you want to store food, do it in glass containers. They’ll last longer, and you’ll benefit from them.
Recycle everything you can.
We can do lots, and there’s also lots to be done. So wherever you choose as your starting point, well done! You’ve entered the world of consciousness, and that’s the first and most crucial step. Because realization and awareness are essential, and here at LivingLifeNaturalBlog.com, our goal is to use this space to connect with you on what we all have in common – our lovely planet, our only home. Join us on our journey and share all your tips with us. Connect with us on social media, and if you haven’t already, make sure to sign up for our News Letter to receive all our updates.
