Reducing plastic waste is one of the best things you can do to make a greater impact on environmental conservation. Unfortunately, more than 90% of the plastic that is consumed globally ends up in landfills or in the ocean and natural environment. Annually, the human demand for plastic has surpassed 320 tonnes every year.
While there is a greater appetite for plastic than ever before, there is a rapidly growing group of conscientious individuals who are taking a stand against the human addiction to plastic.
The ability to conveniently stop at the shops when you’re thirsty and buy a bottle of ice-cold water to take along in the car with you on your drive home does feel incredibly satisfying. And no one can deny that when you go grocery shopping, it is much easier to hold all your items in a shopping bag instead of having to lug all the items in your hand. But, is there an alternative that wouldn’t contribute to the destruction of our beautiful planet?
One thing is guaranteed: when replacing your habits with more environmentally-friendly, conscientious decisions – you will need to be prepared and consistent. Behavioural change is not necessarily easy, and something which you – at the end of the day – have to incentivise yourself to do.
1. Use an Iron Flask
When you’re on the go, busy with meetings, and between fetching the kids from school, you are definitely going to need to stay hydrated! If you are someone who tends to forget to drink water, ironflask.com may change your perspective on this new essential item. Though you will be helping yourself and the planet at the same time, it doesn’t hurt to be able to show off an awesome flask design from their newest product range, such as their custom-coloured nomad tumblers. Could it be easier?!
2. Get Cloth Bags for Groceries
We have all heard of this simple way to reduce our plastic consumption, but it holds as true today as it ever did. Keeping some reusable shopping bags with you in the car, or remembering to take them along when you buy your groceries, making a difference can easily be hassle-free.
3. Recycle
For decades now, countries around the world have encouraged citizens to take recycling seriously. Though this habit does not necessarily reduce plastic overall, it has a great impact on diverting waste that would end up in landfills – waste that would eventually contribute to tarnishing our planet.
4. Reusable Straws
The anti-straw movement which really gained traction in 2018 has made a mark on individual perception of a simple household item. Once seen as an object with little to no moral significance, the passion with which individuals are campaigning against the thoughtless handing out of plastic is inspiring.
If you do not want to carry a reusable straw around with you, as this may be inconvenient for you, you can always choose to refuse the straw. There is no good reason, except in the case of people with disabilities (individuals who have a medical or physical condition), that people should need to use a plastic straw. If a paper, metal, or even pasta straw is not on offer at the restaurant, simply say no to the straw.
5. Avoid Microbead-Containing Products
Microbeads are found in many cosmetic products that we consume daily, such as bath or shower soap, toothpaste, body wash, deodorants, and even some make-up items. These tiny plastic particles – anything less than 5mm in diameter – move through our water systems and end up in the ocean.
Among other detrimental consequences, marine life mistake these particles for food. Despite the number of microplastics in the ocean varying quite significantly, there are at least more than 50 trillion particles of microplastics in our seas. It is just astounding to imagine the impact of this amount of waste on our marine animals and plant life…
With many companies banning microbeads from personal-care products, it is up to each of us to become smart with our purchasing choices and the unnecessary support of this incredibly harmful material.
6. Become a Conscientious Consumer
With mass-consumerism trending around the globe and fast fashion taking the world by storm since its birth in the early 1990s, individuals are now starting to become more conscious of their personal footprint on the earth. One environmental scientist who has been intimately involved in calculating the amount of plastic in the ocean said, “(the public) really don’t like what they are seeing and they are determined to do something about it.”
If you feel compelled to do something about your plastic habits, start today. There is no better time than right now to begin your journey to design a more peaceful, less destructive way of living. As you can see, these habits are simple, but they take some planning and definitely a commitment. Take it one day at a time and remember, every decision you take in the right direction – no matter how insignificant you think it may be – makes a difference!