Reducing Plastic Use
A guest blog written by our friend, Wilderness Guide at Adventure Awaits Retreats, and yoga teacher trainee - Nora Woodworth! Nora is a nature enthusiast in work and life. You can find her at @neaturenora on Instagram and Happy Dancing Turtle - Driftless Region on Facebook. The timing of this blog is inspired by Plastic Free July. Below Nora gives us 8 R’s to follow when it comes to reducing our plastic use, improving our personal health, and reducing our global footprint!
Plastic Addiction: How Did We Get Here?
As a society, we’ve become addicted to plastics. Originally created as a way to lessen the overwhelming demand on natural resources like ivory and turtle shells, plastic was touted as an invention that would save the world. When resources became scarce during World War II, we turned to the rapidly growing oil and pethrochemical industry for the answer on how to fill the material shortage. New types of plastics and their expanded uses are credited with helping us win the war. After the war, the focus of plastics switched from war-time needs to expanding consumerism growing with the booming population. The diversity of plastic products took off. Desired products could suddenly be produced for much cheaper and disposable items meant less household chores for women. Perfect - more money, more material wealth, more time. Ever since, the production of plastics has grown exponentially, currently doubling about every 11 years.
“The continuous flow of oil fueled not just cars but an entire culture based on the consumption of new products made of plastics. This move into Plasticville wasn’t a considered decision, the result of some great economic crisis or political debate. Neither did it take into account social good or environmental impact or what we were supposed to do with all our plastic things at the end of their useful lives. Plastic promised abundance on the cheap, and when in human history has that ever been a bad thing? No wonder we became addicted to plastic, or, rather, to the convenience and comfort, safety and security, fun and frivolity that plastic brought.” - Susan Freinkel, Plastic: A Toxic Lovestory
So what are plastics? Plastics are man-made materials that come from non-renewable resources like coal, petroleum, and natural gas. Then, we add in tens of thousands of different chemicals (most of which haven’t been tested for impacts to human health) to make tens of thousands of different types of plastics, engineered for specific purposes. This variety of products is why it’s so hard to know which plastics are safe to use and which plastics can be recycled.
What’s The Problem?
I could write an entire book, and others have, on why plastics are so harmful to the environment, animals, and human health. A few quick google searches can lead you into a pretty heavy doomsday spiral of scientific evidence. I’ll try to be brief.
The extraction and refinement of fossil fuels into products which are then transported all around the world increases green house gas emissions and pollution. After they’re made, plastic products never go away. They can be put in a landfill, recycled (new estimates of US recycling rates are down to 5-6%), or incinerated. Recycled plastics can only be recycled a certain number of times before the quality is too low to be used and it’s sent to the landfill instead. A lot of plastic waste inadvertently ends up in the environment - on the ground, in our soils, in the air, and, most often - in the ocean. It can entangle wildlife and pollute habitats across the globe. Plastics break down into smaller and smaller pieces, called microplastics, and may get so small they can’t be seen with the naked eye. Plastics are filled with harmful chemicals that can leach into the environment. Many of these chemicals - including endocrine disruptors, carcinogens, and neurological toxins - have been found to cause an astounding array of health concerns and conditions in animals and humans. Animals often eat plastics, leading to detrimental and often fatal consequences. Some chemicals released from plastics can bioaccumulate (become more concentrated) as they travel up the food chain, creating especially bad news for apex predators… like us. A recent 2019 study from Australia found that humans are, on average, ingesting 0.1 - 5 grams of plastic (think: credit card sized) each week! Some of the common places microplastics have been found (so far) are drinking water, beer, shellfish, and salt. Plastic containers can also leach chemicals into our foods and beverages, which we then consume. In addition to eating and drinking plastics, scientists have found that we’re also breathing plastics. Basically, the more plastic you use in your life, the more off-gasing (chemicals released from products into the air) and the more microplastics in your household dust (think tinyairborn particles, like from clothing) - which we can inhale into our bodies. Many research studies have shown that plastics are in our blood, urine, sweat, and even in breast milk. But how much is too much? We don’t yet know for certain, but logic would tell us to minimize the risk.
What’s The Solution? The 8 R’s (not 3).
Unfortunately, there is no one size fits all answer for this problem. In the environmental world, there’s a debate about if individual change matters or if they only thing that will fix the problem (on a reasonable time scale) is systemic change at a corporation level. But one thing is clear - that change is going to have be consumer driven. Plastics are too profitable for corporations to want to change on their own. It was an angry mob of moms that brought around the BPA ban in plastic baby bottles and children’s sippy cups (hey, psst… it’s still totally legal for BPA to be in other food and beverage products). We need a similar demand now, on a much broader scale! How do we get consumers to demand change? Educate and change behaviors.
Personally, I believe in individual change. I see the ripple effects when I talk about plastics with my friends, family, and community. Yes, this type of change can be slow to have environmental impact, but it does lead to quick changes in human/household health. So if for no other reason, do it for you! The three R’s - Reduce, Ruse, Recycle - are no longer enough. I like to use 8. Here they are, ranked by importance (in my opinion).
Rethink: We need to rethink the way we live, work, and consume.
Plastics thrive in a society built on speed, cheap materials, and convenience. We’re always on the go, constantly buying the “new thing” or what we “need” in the moment with little thought to what happens when we’re done with it. Slow Down. Breathe.Take time to think about your day and prepare before you leave home. Pack a healthy lunch using minimal plastic packaging, bring reusable mugs to fill up at your favorite local coffee joint, don’t forget your reusable water bottle and utensils. Become a mindful consumer. Really think about an item before making a purchase - do you need it? What’s it made out of? Are those materials toxic to human health? What will become of it when you’re done with it? Are there alternatives that would be better for the earth and your own health? Start slow and move at your own pace. No one is perfect. I have an inherent problem with the terms zero-waste living and plastic-free lifestyle. In today’s society, that’s nearly impossible and honestly unrealistic. People feel like if they can’t get rid of all the plastic products and waste, then why even try, and quickly abandon any progress towards their goals. The mindset of “plastic-free” is detrimental to progress. I firmly believe that every bit helps. So choose one or two things to try. When those become routine habits in your life, take on another challenge. Mindful habits take time to establish, give yourself some grace in getting going.
2. Rise Up: As important as individual change is (as noted by the next 6 Rs), if we want to address this problem before it’s too late, we need change on a much larger scale.
We need systemic policy change. How come the corporations producing the plastics problem are not being held accountable to be part of the solution? There are examples of bans, taxes, and better waste management from around the world to learn from. In fact, the UN Environment Assembly passed a historic resolution aimed at reducing plastic pollution in March. This year, the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act was introduced in the US Senate and aims to reduce single-use plastics. Eight states have introduced Extended Producer Responsibility Bills this year, putting part of the ownership back onto the producer. The National Parks Service recently planned to phase out all single-use plastics by 2032. There is momentum for the first time in a long time and we need to keep it going. Get involved and use your voice!
Write to your elected officials - at all levels! Write about support for current bills or push them to introduce new bills.
Make change locally! Write to your favorite local restaurant that still uses styrofoam take-out containers, plastic straws, or a store that uses plastic bags. Encourage them to change. Better yet, gather signatures of others from your community that support and demand that change!
Use social media to make your voice heard. Try the #DareToCare campaign to tell your favorite brands to stop using microplastics or other plastics.
Support a larger campaign or nonprofit focused on plastic reduction and plastic pollution.
Talk with your friends and family about the issue and what you’re changing to help.
3. Refuse: Refuse to take single use plastics that you don’t truly need.
It’s becoming more common to hear about refusing plastic bags, straws, cups, or bottles. Challenge yourself on what you truly need. What about coffee pods, dryer sheets, traditional tampons or pads, gum, disposable cleaning products, plastic tube q-tips, or take out containers? All single-use plastic items, all have non-plastic, reusable alternatives. Again, switching to this mindful way of thinking and preparing for your day will really help you establish habits that can have meaningful change. One thing I’ve noticed in my own life is that my attempt to refuse single-use plastics lead to healthier lifestyle changes in general - way less fast food, essentially eliminating soda from my diet, less pre-packaged high-preservative food, low calorie coffee from home vs. the high sugar gut punch from the chain stores, etc. - plus, money staying in my pocket! Also, try to avoid “fast fashion” - which relies on rapidly producing high volumes of clothing to benefit from short-term trends and brings inexpensive (low-quality synthetic plastic-based fibers) products to consumers… which soon end up in the landfill. Being mindful in the clothes you choose to put on your body, hopefully for the long term, can have a big impact!
4. Reduce: Choose items with less plastic packaging!
Soap, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, and lotion bars are a great place to start and the switch is relatively cheap. Find plastic-free alternatives to other items that you need. This isn’t always cheap. so don’t think you’re going to replace every plastic item in your house overnight. Make a list of plastic items in your home you’d like to switch out. Prioritize them, starting with the ones you cook with, since heat causes plastics to leach toxic chemicals. (Note: Silicone is NOT a plastic and has been proven to be much safer for food preparation and storage than plastic.) Plastics are hiding in WAY more consumer products than I would have ever imagined before I started looking more carefully: gum, clothing, household linens, most health and beauty products (check for fragrance, aka phthalates), cleaning products, office supplies, etc. The Beat the Microbead app and the Environemntal Working Group’s (a fantastic resource!) new Healthy Living app can both help you find hidden plastics and other detrimental chemicals in personal care products. Shop smarter, choose healthier!
5. Repurpose/Reuse: Buying second-hand and thrifting are vitally important, as are donating or selling items that still have life left in them.
We need to reduce the demand for plastic-based products. Use your local thrift stores, join local selling/buying/trading Facebook groups, become a garage sale enthusiast or try online thrifting like ThreadUp or REI’s Used Gear Shop! Normalize second-hand! When a product really is done - can you repurpose it for something else to keep it out of the landfill?
6. Repair: Can you fix it?
Become familiar with your local tailor for patching fabrics, replacing a button, or fixing a zipper. Learn a few sewing skills of your own. Maybe you have a friend that’s good at sewing. Can they teach you? Do you have something you can offer in return? Can you find a Fix-It Clinic or local repair for the item instead of buying a new one? Think about warranties when you’re buying products (check out Buy Me Once) or what brands will replace the parts. Chaco has replaced my nylon (plastic) sandal straps numerous times, saving many shoe bottoms!
7. Rot: Choose compostable plastic-free alternatives, like paper bags, wax coated papers, or compostable plant-based sponges.
Be VERY wary of the new wave of compostable, biodegradable, or bio-based plastics. Many of these are designed to degrade in a commercial composting facilities, which attain temperatures much hotter than our at home composting. Putting these items in an at home compost or into the landfill will not have the results they are claiming. Plus, there are few industry wide regulations (or even definitions) as to what can be considered a compostable or biodegradable plastic. Kind of like how anyone can just slap the word “natural” on their product. Just because it says it is, doesn’t make it so. Unfortunately.
8. Recycle: While this cannot be the only solution to the problem of plastic, it is a part of the solution. Notice how far down on the list it is?
Reducing our plastic use through all of the above methods is far more important! When you do buy items packaged in or made of plastic, try to ensure that they can be recycled. That requires keeping up to date with what you can or cannot recycle in your community - check with your local facilities to find out. If you’re fortunate to have more than one - compare! Does one accept more than the other? Also consider drop-off programs (like plastic bag/film drops in grocery stores, ink cartridges and small electronic devices at Target, chargers at other e-waste at Best Buy, etc.), community collection events, and mail-in recycling programs. Earth911 has a fantastic database for finding out what your options are for recycling different products. Personally, I use the Terracycle programs for plastic packaging because food packaging is still where I struggle most to reduce my plastic footprint (partially due to a chip addiction). So, I pay a fee for a Terracycle box, stuff it full of packaging, and send it back to Terracycle to be recycled. These boxes can be expensive - the one I get is about $80 a box. At first, it was full in what seemed like no time. But guess what? That REALLY caused me to take a good hard look at my buying habits. Imagine if we all had to pay to get rid of our plastic waste? What do you think that would do to the demand for these products? Now, one of their plastic packaging boxes lasts me about a year and has made me much more aware of the packaging for the products I buy! Terracycle also has some free brigade programs that can really make a difference if you can leverage it at a community-wide scale.
We can all play a role in reducing our global plastic footprint.
Plastic pollution is much more than an environmental health problem. It is a human health problem, one we are starting to realize has disastrous impacts, far greater than we knew. Whatever action you choose to do - be mindful and give yourself grace. Every little bit helps.
Want to learn more about reducing plastic use? Free webinar today! From 12-1pm. Free to attend, must pre-register.
