Plastic Free July, the global campaign discouraging plastic usage and supporting a more sustainable environment, is entering its last week — but it’s never too late to start cutting down on plastics. Here are three simple lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your plastic consumption and live greener.
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Eliminate disposable coffee cup consumption. Despite being made of paper, many of these cups have a plastic coating, which keeps the beverage warm but makes the cup unrecyclable. As these cups break down in landfills, they release microplastics into the environment. Styrofoam, or polystyrene, cups are a huge issue too. They are not biodegradable, and as they break down, they can release toxic chemicals into the environment, and even into your beverage.
Since disposable coffee cups are so problematic yet pervasive, the Plastic Free Foundation has launched an “Up Cup” movement, urging consumers to “Bring, Borrow, or Stay.” Bring a reusable cup for your coffee, and remember to keep some handy in your car and at your workplace. Borrow a mug from those cafés that maintain “mug libraries.” Stay and enjoy coffee by sipping from cafés’ ceramic mugs.
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Eliminate the usage of plastic produce bags. Discarded plastic bags sit in landfills for thousands of years or accumulate in plastic waste islands in our oceans, contributing to microplastics in our food sources. Furthermore, animals often get trapped in these bags and suffocate. The next time you go grocery shopping, consider whether you need to use a plastic bag. Do you really need to waste a produce bag for a bunch of bananas or can you just drop them in your cart? Moreover, try looking for fruit in recyclable boxes or baskets. Join the growing group of people utilizing reusable mesh produce bags, which can be found locally at Trader Joe’s and Volante Farms, and online at ZeroWasteStore.com, Amazon, and other retailers. -
Finally, try to buy more consciously. Think of all the plastic packaging that goes into the items you purchase. When shopping, look for recyclable cardboard packaging. Also, avoid single-use items and select products that will last. For example, utilize reusable containers rather than plastic wraps and bags to store food. Additionally, when you need an item, look first at thrift shops, Craigslist, Needham Freecycle, and ‘Buy Nothing’ groups on Facebook. Shopping for second hand items is a great way to be sustainable and save money, too.
These are some easy ways to be more environmentally friendly in your daily life. For a more in-depth, personal look at your plastic consumption, take this five-minute Pesky Plastic survey by the Plastic Free Foundation.
Submitted by Aarav V. Batra.
