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There's no question there are excellent plastic products that have done a lot to improve human lives. Items such as car seats, helmets, and medical plastics (just to name a few) are important items that not only enhance, but save lives. These are not the plastics that have people concerned.
The plastics I refer to in this article are the superfluous plastics. Those that are created for convenience and financial sake only. In fact, products such as plastic utensils are often created to be used once and then tossed into the garbage. These are what I call “daily plastics,” which are completely unnecessary otherwise.
What exactly does it mean to throw something “away”? First of all, “away” isn't in a land far, far away. It’s somewhere in our environment where we live, eat, sleep, and play. Every day, garbage is shoved into giant holes called landfills – right here on planet Earth.
When compared to landfills, recycling (taking used plastic and making new plastic) may seem like the perfect solution. But the honest truth is that recycling is second to simply reducing the amount of plastic that you bring into your home in the first place. This is because recycling plastic isn’t done with the wave of a wand.
Emissions are a major part of this system, so recycling centers are huge air polluters. While recycling remains a slightly better option than the landfill, clearly it’s not the ultimate solution. A better option revolves around the plastic supply-and-demand system. It’s simple: lessen the demand for daily plastics by using as little of it as possible. Less demand, less created.
The disposable aspect of daily plastics is clearly an issue for the environment. But the research has shown some compelling data that suggests that we are constantly exposing ourselves to health issues derived from everyday items.
Common plastics that are found in any home, include squeeze bottles, peanut butter jars, plastic wrap, plastic utensils, Styrofoam containers, takeout food containers, clear plastic bottles, food can liners, condiment containers, children’s sippy cups, and plastic baby bottles.
Depending on the item, polyvinyl chloride (PVC #3), polystyrene (PS #6), polycarbonate (Other #7), and bisphenol A (BPA) may be present in these products. These synthetic chemicals have been linked to many health problems, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and reproductive abnormalities. The nervous system and brain can be adversely affected and one of them (BPA) is a known endocrine disruptor, which means that it can mimic or block hormones, disrupting the body’s normal functions.
Although studies are inconclusive when it comes to proving just how much these chemicals are affecting us, the fact is that inadvertently we’re being bombarded by them. It’s true that our bodies are built to filter an amazing number of undesirables, but perhaps we could help by giving our bodies a little less to filter.
We’ve got some solutions that will help your body and reduce your plastic footprint starting today.
Keep reusable grocery bags in your car so that you can kindly decline the plastic grocery sacks at the store. Yes, you can reuse the plastic sacks, but why bring them home in the first place? No matter how you use them later, they eventually end up in landfills and take forever to break down. In fact, go the extra mile and bring your own reusable mesh produce bags and skip those thin baggies, too.
Here’s where we give you permission to buy yourself a little gift. By purchasing a stainless steel (the aluminum ones are lined with plastic) or glass water bottle and/or an insulated or ceramic coffee cup, you’ll easily avoid plastic on a daily basis. Buy the most beautiful one that you can find.
My mind can’t even wrap itself around all the plastic knives, forks, and spoons that are tossed into the garbage can every day, much less every month or year. Keep a set of personal cutlery in your car or purse in a cloth bag. Tuck a stainless steel straw in there, too.
Convenience foods are easy to spot because they’re over-packaged. They show up as processed foods, frozen dinners, canned goods, and even packaged produce. Did you even realize that canned foods can become tainted with the plastic coating that’s lining the inside of the cans? And who came up with setting a few tomatoes on Styrofoam trays and then wrapping them in plastic wrap?
I know it sounds gross and archaic, right? Trust me, it’s not. Cloth diapers have come a long way since the last time you checked them out. They don't even require safety pins anymore! The new diaper covers are soft, simple, and adorable. Plus, nothing feels like a baby's bottom swaddled in cloth.
You know those tacky, unattractive, flimsy party tablecloths, streamers, and banners that you grab from the party store? Stop doing that. First of all, there’s zero taste going on here. We’re all so used to them that we don’t even see them anymore – but they’re unattractive, folks. And later we toss them out without a second thought.
A much better (and more beautiful) plan is to make or purchase reusable party goods. Peruse Pinterest for some beautiful banner ideas and tablecloth tutorials – you don’t even have to sew them.
The kitchen harbors an amazing amount of plastic. Imagine if you swapped them all out for these ideas instead:
Plastic consumption around the home is perhaps the element of human impact on the planet that you can have the most daily control over. Take these tips and get started with limiting your plastic footprint today.
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No Thanks - I don't like cool stuff