Plastic Pollution: How You Can Make a Difference
Did you see the recent article about the whale in Thailand that died after consuming more than 17lbs of plastic? Did you read the entire story? The whale had ingested more than 80 plastic bags, and even a group of veterinarians weren’t able to save it.
This story is just one of many that showcases the harm we’re causing to our oceans and ecosystems by using disposable and non-biodegradable plastic every day. Grocery store bags, plastic straws, water bottles, Ziploc bags and plastic containers – there are so many products that we are using each day that are ending up in trashcans, then landfills, and ultimately our oceans. Plastic is legitimately destroying the natural harmony of our earth!
The average American throws away approximately 185 pounds of plastic per year (1),
one million sea birds and 100,000 marine mammals are killed annually from plastic in our oceans (2),
and compounds found in plastic have been shown to alter hormone levels, or have potential human health effects.
There are so many reasons why reducing plastic in our lives is important to our health and the planet’s; and there are so many things that we can be doing in order to reduce plastic pollution.
Here are five simple things you can start with! Try to add one of these practices into your routine each week until they become a habit.
1. Take reusable fabric grocery sacks to the store instead of using disposable plastic bags. Simple Ecology has large cotton bags the size of regular grocery sacks, and they even have sleeves inside to hold bottles.
2. Say no to single use plastic straws. Try other materials like glass, metal, bamboo or paper, which are either reusable or recyclable. Amazon has a great option here – a set of 4 stainless steel straws that are BPA free and FDA approved!
3. Buy a water bottle/coffee mug to reduce the use of plastic and Styrofoam cups. As well as reducing waste, they keep your coffee hotter and your water cooler for a much longer time. One of our favorite brands is the Hydroflask – it keeps your beverage hot for 6 hours, or cold for 24.
4. Rethink your food storage. Plastic baggies, plastic wrap, and plastic storage containers are worth re-evaluating. Try Bee’s Wrap Reusable Food Wraps, or Stasher Reusable Silicone Bags instead for food storage!
5. Finally, we’ve all heard about the 3 R’s – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. Think about the 4th R – Refuse. Do you really need that free promotional pen? You already have at least 200 pens lying around. Do you really need that straw in your drink, or are you a grown-up who can drink out of a glass without spilling liquid all over yourself?
It might seem like one of the simple strategies above is too small to make a difference, but this could not be further from the truth! If the average American throws away approximately 185 pounds of plastic each year, then you could be making a HUGE difference – 185 lbs difference!
Let’s do our part to protect the earth and our own physical health by decreasing the amount of plastic pollution on our planet. What are your ideas? Share with us in the comments below!
Sources:
blog post written by Rae Ehly
Nest Health Connections
Nest Health Connections is a corporate wellness company revolutionizing health and happiness in the workplace. We create holistic customized wellness programs for employers and their employees.