In fact, pleas from do-gooders, tree . I decided to take those with me every time I went shopping. Even if you only reuse them for one more shopping trip, thats still a whole trip worth of plastic bags you just prevented! If you're interested in easy ways to cut back on your plastic use, consider implementing some of these simple suggestions. I myself used to not worry so much about it, thinking that I recycled the bags after using them. At the beginning I was a little bit worried about rotting, but I can definitely say that it is not the case and this system has worked very well for me for several years. Speaking of refillable, bringing your own thermos for to-go coffee is another way to reduce your plastic footprint. This is tough to clean by hand, so let a plastic grocery bag do most of the work! What to do with plastic bags before recycling. Way #7: Make Your Own Products. Having a specific recycling station could significantly change how plastics are disposed. 1. You will have a great deal of visibility for your brand if your promotional tote catches the attention of customers. Microplastics were found in soft drinks like Coca Cola, in tap water, in seafood. Petroleum-based plastic bags are composed of very resistant synthetic polymers that may take up to 1,000 years or never until they completely degrade in natural environments. A biodegradable material is one that can decompose into natural chemical elements that reintegrate into nature without harming it thanks to the action of living organisms such as worms, bacteria, and other microorganisms. You can store extras in the car to have in case you forget your reusable shopping bag. We've ranked the ways of reducing your impact according to the hierarchy of 'Refuse, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle'. Use glass or steel food containers for leftovers instead of plastic. Buy soap, shampoo, detergents, and cleaning products packaged in paper, glass, or aluminum. You'll reduce your plastic by cutting down on the packaging these items are often wrapped in. Many recycling facilities consider plastic bags their number one contaminant. You can check this post out by clicking here. If an animal mistakenly consumes the plastic bags, it may suffer serious health problems and even death. Advertisement. Use Reusable Water Bottles & Coffee Mugs. This way, you won't need to buy bottled water to consume it at home. This will eliminate the need for plastic containers and storage bags. Theres plenty of choice available; check out thetop 8 alternatives here. Even paper teabags contain a small amount of polypropylene, which makes them non-recyclable and non-compostable. But climate campaigners have recruited an unlikely new ally in their fight to reduce this waste - wax worms, the moth larvae that infest beehives. Impact of plastic bags on the environment and harmful effects of plastic pollution in the ocean. - Protect some of your herbs and favorite plants from frost - cover these up overnight and remove them in the morning. Get a reusable stainless steel, glass, or bamboo one to use instead of wasteful plastic . Enough plastic wrap is produced each year in the US alone to wrap the entire state of Texas! Do you want to share your experience about reducing plastic bags? If every American replaced one plastic bag with a completely new bag, how many bags would there be saved and how much money would be saved? . First, we should use reusable and washable plastic containers such as Tupperware instead of disposable plastic bags to carry take away food. Hand-carry the items out of the store if you can. Be disciplined and train yourself to refuse plastic bags Set realistic goals and achieve them one by one Keep a set of reusable canvas bags in the car Keep a set of reusable produce bags in the car When checking out of any store ask yourself: "Do I really need a bag?" Buy produce that is not packaged in plastic bags This way, you wont need to buy bottled water to consume it at home. In total we are down to one plastic bag per week. Plastic is cheap and incredibly versatile, with properties that make it ideal for many applications. Give up gum. (and some estimates are higher!) Reduce usage of new plastics. In todays post, you will learn why reducing plastic bags is so important. The very best alternative is a reusable bag, plain and simple. Another way to consume fewer plastics is to buy household cleaning products, such as scrubbers or hand soap, in specialized bulk stores that already exist. More than 8 million tons of plastic gets dumped into our oceans every year. By banning their use, we can help to reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in our landfills and oceans. The proliferation of plastic products in the last 70 years or so has been extraordinary; quite simply, we cannot now live without them. There are many ways to reduce plastic pollution, but you have to start somewhere! Action #3: Get organized with reusable bags for fruits and vegetables. Here are some tips that can change your life and the life of the planet: Avoid single-use plastics such as drinking straws Single-use plastics, such as plates and cutlery made from this material, make our lives easier, but seriously harm the planet. Bring your reusable shopping bag instead: The most challenging aspect of this is remembering to take them into the store and creating the habit. Way #1: Stop Using Plastic Straws. I stopped buying them and now look for similar products without the plastic. Buying loose tea in bulk and using a tea infuser or strainer is a zero-waste way to enjoy a cup! In spite of all my efforts, I still produce enough plastic bags that occasionally a trip to the recycle collection is necessary, the amount of plastic that goes to recycle however is now considerably reduced. With this recycled poly-cotton tote, you can incorporate your logo into a fashionable bag. Now I keep the bags in the car (trunk or the back seat) and it has become a part of my habits so that I also carry them when shopping in other stores. 4) If it's okay with your teacher . Bring your reusable bags instead. 1. I haven't gotten a grocery store plastic bag in . To find out more about the damage that plastic bags cause, read our article about thepitfalls of disposable plastic bags. Chicago Northwest Suburbs Sustainability Meetup Group, Virtual Sustainability and Climate Converstion Meetup, Keep a set of reusable canvas bags in the car, Keep a set of reusable produce bags in the car, When checking out of any store ask yourself: Do I really need a bag?, Buy produce that is not packaged in plastic bags, Consider alternatives to plastic bags in the house. Cotton bags should be used 131 times during the course of their life. Adam - the author and TGL founder - has a background in product research and design. And 12 brands of beer and 12 brands of sea salt were also analyzed. Plastic is a fantastic material that we should all be using more of, but it's no good for the environment when left . Plastic packaging is the largest end-use market segment accounting for just over 40% of total plastic usage. In a National Geographic article, we are told that microplastics have also been found in teair we breathe and how they are negatively affecting a genus of bacteria called Prochlorococcus that is responsible for producing 10% of the oxygen we breathe. Bring any plastic bags you have around the house on your next shopping trip. 1. If kids love using straws at home (or need to use one because of a health condition), biodegradable paper and reusable metal options are also available. In that case, you must check out these 100% biodegradable bags! However, it is not necessary that you eat fish so that your body ends up having plastic inside. Way #5: Buy In Bulk & Use Alternative Container Types. 3) Buy pencils made of wood instead of mechanical pencils, which are often made (and packaged in) plastic. I purchased two types: One is a natural fiber that has the consistency of a net, the second one is a synthetic pouch. Additional sources that I am trying to reduce are bread and frozen vegetable bags. Why is this such a bad thing? Make sure to dispose of your paper bags carefully though; around80 percentof all paper bags end up in landfill. We have developed a disposable lifestyle, and estimates are that around 50% of plastic is used just once and thrown away. What's Bad About Plastic Bags. Plastic bags that are single-use are recyclable, but recycling rates for these bags are low. Of all the garbage collection material in the Pacific Ocean, 80% comes from the land (coastal deposits of plastic from North America take six years to reach the patch). 1. For example, disposable plastic bags take less than one second to make, are used for 12-20 minutes, but . Stop buying products packaged in plastic. Action #1: Find out the provenance of the plastic bags in your home. The billions of bags that end up as litter are harmful to wildlife, the natural environment and human health, as well as being very costly to clean up. At the beginning I tried to find the source of the plastic bags in my home. These totes are made of simple-to-care materials that can be used indefinitely. Re-purpose plastic bags as trash liners or pet waste bags. There are numerous great bag brands available, including L.L.Bean and Saint Laurent. Instead, you are reusing a product, and that means that you are utilizing earths resources intelligently while at the same time reducing waste. We call plastic those materials that we easily mold using heat and pressure to adopt all kinds of solid shapes such as a bag, a bottle, or a taper. Your email address will not be published. You'll save money and also contribute towards keeping non-biodegradable products out of the environment. We use cookies to analyze website traffic behavior to improve your browsing experience. Bring your bag when going shopping Yes, using plastic bags can be convenient, especially when grocery shopping. If you look around you will see that there is still much to do in this area. I then decided to just place the vegetables directly in the shopping cart and then in the canvas bag with everything else at the checkout, this is an option, however it didnt work out well for me. Here's how they can be reused around your home: 1. The most obvious and urgent answer to the question, "Why use reusable bags?" is to reduce the impact of plastic bags on the environment. In some places plastic bags are banned altogether, however, while we wait for businesses to help out, individual actions are fundamental in making a difference and this is really one area where they can. In theory these materials can be recycled, but most places lack the infrastructure to do so. After settling in this routine (it took me several months) I focused my attention on selecting bag-free fruits and vegetables. Twelve countries of the EU are considering the charge option or have already made steps. Ninety percent of the plastic items in our daily lives are used once and then chucked: grocery. Say no to plastic straws Plastic straws are bad news for our oceans. Way #3: Give Up Gum. before recycling. Customers have rated Cotton Shopper Tote Bags 4 out of 5 stars and stated that they are of excellent quality. Jute bags are a popular carry-all. Use washable, reusable silicone baggies (like these, available at amazon) instead of single-use plastic baggies. After thinking about it I realized that several canvas bags collected throughout the years from meetings, conferences, and organizations I support were unused in the closet. We are now producing nearly 300 million tons of plastic every year, half of which is for single use. Shards of plastic fester in the stomach because the plastic cannot be properly digested. They contribute to a lot of waste which keeps collecting over the years. REUSE your existing plastic bags as much as possible. We have a whole other post on plastic wrap, its problems, and the best alternatives out there! The Hilton successfully removed plastic straws from many of their properties, quickly followed by Hyatt Hotels, Anantara, and Four Seasons, among others. There was an initial worry that a compostable bag in the kitchen will leak, however I found an excellent 13-gallon compostable bag that lasts the entire week without any leak. Hand-carry the items out of the store if you can. Firstly, plastic bags are a major source of plastic pollution. Reusing these didnt work out very well because they tear easily and sometime become dirty so I ended up with shreds of dirty plastic bags that couldnt even be recycled. And be sure you're recycling them properly. In fact I still see 99% of buyers coming out of stores carrying plastic bags. Enjoyed this post? Reusable shopping bags are very durable and can be reused many times throughout their useful life. One way to reduce the production of this huge amount of plastic bottles is to install a water filter in your kitchen faucet. There are more and more stores where you can go with your own bags and buy all these products. Depending on the type and size of the bag, a custom shopper bag can cost anywhere from $1.55 to $2.39. When used frequently, a tote bag may only last a few months before the fabric starts to show signs of wear and tear. For example, areusable jute bag should last at least four years, during which it can prevent the use of 600 single-use plastic bags. Convert milk jugs into shelf organizers. These cotton briefs measure 14 ounces and come in a variety of sizes. Suppose you are someone whod benefit even further by keeping a reusable bag in your purse. Shipping containers lost at sea dump plastic items such as parts of computer monitors, and even Legos, directly into the water. Capital of Italy, Best Online Job Without Investment: Start Today, Reasons You Shouldn't Drop Out of College. This business received a 5 out of 5 star rating. Or just reuse your plastic grocery bags for as many uses as you can! You can read much more about that topic by getting our FREE Eco-Tableware guide! Suppose you are a shop owner or just looking for a green version of a standard retail plastic bag with handles. Although there is no simple answer to this problem, research can shed light on the effects of common types of reusable bags. Where it used to be the equivalent of one grocery bag full of plastic every about 2 weeks it is now the same every 2-3 months. The first measure that I suggest reducing the consumption of plastic is to buy your fruits and vegetables in bulk at your usual supermarket or store and have them weighed separately in your own biodegradable cloth bags that you bring from home. 4. You make a shopping list to know how many cloth bags you have to take from home. Required fields are marked *. Send me an email at info@choosesustainable.org, Your email address will not be published. Give our Executive Assistant, Jo, a shout if you'd like to know where we got ours from jo@innovationvisual.com. In recent studies, it has been discovered that plastic litter has an impact on the food chain, so you and your family may be impacted as a result. They might be designed to be used just once, but theres plenty of life left in most plastic bags after youve emptied out the groceries. As they are non-biodegradable, they take years to decompose. Can You Put Hand Warmers In Plastic Bags? 2. Around 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide every year, but the average bag is used for just 12 minutes before being thrown away and only one in 200 isrecycled. Way #9: Ditch Plastic . The European Union is aiming for an 80 percent reduction of plastic bag usage. Here are four policy and legal approaches from UNEP and WRI's guide that countries can use to reduce their plastic waste permanently: 1. According to a 2014 study conducted in the United States, reusable LDPE and polypropylene bags do have a lower environmental impact than standard plastic bags. You can also reduce the consumption of plastic, buying rolls of toilet paper that do not come wrapped in plastic. Carry a reusable bottle In the UK we use over 35 million plastic bottles every day! There are some create alternatives out there! How many times per day do we need to use bags to protect our environment? Soil, water, air, animals, and plants we consume meaning plastic is inside us too. If you want to stop using single-use plastic, you should think about the following factors. 2022 Parkland Design & Manufacturing Inc. All Rights Reserved, Shorten The Straps On Your Tote Bag For A Perfect Fit, The Perfect Michael Kors Handbag For You At An Outlet Store. Photo: Samuel Mann Recycle, donate, repair There are seven different types of plastic, but not all can be recycled. Non-woven polypropylene bags should be used 11 times more frequently than cotton bags, and cotton bags should be used 131 times more frequently than non-woven polypropylene bags. Once I settled with the reusable canvas bags I focused on the plastic produce bags. And according to a scientific research article, only 9% of all the plastic we produce worldwide is recycled. You may like- washing clothes without detergent. We addressed how plastic negatively impacts wildlife, on our lands, in the air and sea. One of the easiest ways to reduce plastic use is by saying "no" to these single-use, non-recyclable options. The range of prices that these brands offer, ranging from affordable to luxury, sets them apart. In that case. Here are five easy ways that you and your family can reduce plastic pollution and help protect ocean animals. In the United States alone, it is estimated that we use about 100 billion plastic bags every year. Poke drainage holes in the bottom and use a plastic lid to catch drips. Consider how frequently you intend to use the bag, as well as the cost of replacing it. So the question you might be wondering is, where do all these plastic bags and other items come from? Many disposable water bottles end up in the trash, so it helps to have your own container you can use multiple times. #1 Refuse plastic, take your own reusable bags In the U.S., the average family accumulates 15 plastic bags on each trip to the grocery store. Canvas Admiral tote with screen in large cotton canvas. There are 4,000 plastic bottles used every second. Because plastic never really disappears. If you tell this with a good smile, you will see how it doesnt hit you. If you're privileged to live in a place where the water is drinkable, great. While the best option would be to decline a bag altogether, the second best option, when it's unavoidable, is to recycle the bags you use. They are sturdy and can hold a lot of items, yet are still lightweight and easy to carry. Similarly, all other bags in the house are not replaced weekly anymore but on a need basis. Showerheads can get nasty due to the buildup of hard water stains and soap scum. Carrying a reusable bottle is a great way to cut your plastic use and save money too! 1. If you find you have accumulated a few plastic bags, simply take them with you next time you visit the store and keep using them until they are no longer fit for the job. Sourcing locally and avoiding air-freight transported goods is another way to reduce the environmental impact of products over their life cycle. It only takes a few minutes to drink a bottle of water or enjoy an almond milk latte, but that plastic bottle or cup could take hundreds of years to break down in a dump or end up in the ocean. There are a number of different strategies you can employ to cut down on the number of plastic bags you use and minimize their environmental impact. Note: Many of these suggestions are to reduce your waste, which will in turn reduce your use of plastic trash bags. It is also good that before you go shopping. Its easy to refuse the bag at the counter. Alternatively, find new uses for your plastic bags: Use them to line the trash can, to pick up after your dog, or even use them as lightweight packaging material in place of bubble wrap or packing peanuts. There are three different types of bags: reusable cloth bags, canvas bags, and biodegradable bags. Personally, I recommend this Doulton water filter that you can install in just 2 minutes in your kitchen tap. Bag bans have spawned bans of other plastic products, including plates, cups, cutlery, straws and bottles, as part of an expanding effort to reduce single-use plastics, which make up about 40. Often store employees are instructed to separate different types of products in different bags or use a bag for only one or two items. Estimates show that approximatelyone millionsea birds also die from plastic yearly. Forgotten your reusable bag? Additionally, plastics in our digestive tract may affect the absorption of some essential trace elements (like iron), which we need for maintaining proper health. All you have to do is reuse the containers of this type ofproducts you already have at home and fill them in bulk stores like these. There are various prices to choose from, ranging from $7.15 to $12.25. Cotton tote bags are also environmentally friendly, as they can be reused over and over again. Take Reusable Bags To The Grocery Store. 2. Think of creative ways that you can use the bags to save you money or time or be fun! Not just that, but these chemicals can be getting into our bodies every time we use plastic containers, bottles, cups, and other dinnerware. Cotton Shopper Tote Bags are made by the 4imprint Cotton Shopper brand. Another way you can easily reduce the amount of plastic waste you create at home is by stopping to buy one-time-use plastic bottles. Similar cases have been observed over the past few decades after plastic bags were introduced. When theyve been used and reused and theyre at the end of their life, the only remaining option is to recycle them. Take Them to the Grocery You may have plenty of cloth grocery bags on hand, but if you end up with a few extra plastic bags, use them for their original purpose. Required fields are marked *. Bring your own cloth bags to the grocery store (or any store!). A single reusable tote can replace up to 31 plastic bags. However, it is not the most effective or efficient thing that you can use. Similar regulation has existed in Wales since 2011. Scientists suspect that it may add stress to the liver by introducing more pathogens into the body. Even tiny beads in toothpaste, facial scrubs, and other toiletries can be found in waters worldwide, contributing to plastic pollution, even if we cant see it. If they shop weekly, thats 780 bags a year! There is more to plastic than just bags and some plastic is difficult to eliminate depending on where one lives because of the lack of alternatives. The first and most important way to reduce the use of plastic bags is simply to refuse them! Plastic bag bans have worked, but with a catch. 2. Plastic that is not recycled usually ends up in a landfill. We often check out at convenience stores, for example, with ONE or TWO small items in it. ), frozen items, not to even mention plastic containers. In a 2018 study in Denmark, researchers examined the number of times a bag should be reused before being used as a bin liner and then discarded. RECYCLE whenever/ wherever you can OR opt forrecyclable/ biodegradable bags. #1 Refuse plastic, take your own reusable bags, In the U.S., the average family accumulates15 plastic bagson each trip to the grocery store. Car Trash Bags Well, plastic fibers were found in 80% of the 159 samples of tap water analyzed, and in all brands of beer and sea salt. In a study conducted by Greenpeace in the Mediterranean Sea, we are told that by now it has been documented that 1341 species of marine animals are being harmed by plastic waste, eitherbecause they ingest them, or because they become entangled with them eitherbecause they suffocate with them. Use Reusable Produce Bags. Reusable bags may be made from many different materials ( hemp . But before that, lets see what plastic is and why we should reduce the use of plastic bags. You can purchase recycled dry-cleaner bags made of a more durable, longer-lasting plastic online. The biggest challenge at the beginning was to remember to put the bags in the car and take them with me in the shop. [1] The more times you can use it the more environmentally friendly it will be. For example we used to buy some small apples that were available only in plastic bags. Plastic bags floating in the ocean resemble jellyfish, one of the primary food sources for some species of sea turtles (pictured above), especially the critically-endangered Leatherback turtles. Or use a bag for only one or two specific items, wasting the rest of the space. The average person uses about one plastic bag per day, so a reusable bag would replace 365 plastic bags in a year. Here we go: 1. Simultaneously, tests on animals have shown the potential for damage to developing brain and reproductive systems. In addition there were small bags to clean the cats litter box and Ziploc storage bags to pack my daughters lunch. 2. How to reduce plastic? They are stylish and earth friendly. Signing a petition that addresses the issue of single-use plastic . In order to help reduce the amount of plastic pollution in our environment, many cities and states have enacted laws that ban the use of enhanced plastic carryout bags. In that case,there are great little folding reusable shopping bags, like these here, which fold up into pocket-sized pouches! Finally, they come in a wide range of colors and designs that are appropriate for each situation. It is recommended that low-density polyethylene bags, or thicker plastic bags commonly found in supermarkets, be used at least four times. . 2. By clicking OK, you agree to our use of cookies. High exposure can increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes, according to a study. Greentumble 10 reasons to ban plastic bags, arcadiapower 15 statistics on plastic pollution. . "Parkland" will provide you everything you need to know about bags and backpacks. Action #4: Make a point to purchase plastic-free produce. How about carrying things out to the pool? The importance of technology in customer service, Programming tips to be a better programmer, Editing tips to turn your next marketing video, Comparative laptops 2022: the best options on the market, Differences between Mac and Windows: x-ray of the comparison, 5 Important Money Tips for College Freshman, What to See in Rome in 3 Days? Non-woven polypropylene bags should be used 11 times more frequently than cotton bags, and cotton bags should be used 131 times more frequently than non-woven polypropylene bags. Plastic chemical exposure links to cancers, birth defects, impaired immunity, endocrine disruption, and other ailments. Replace plastic water bottles with glass or metal or stop outsourcing your water bottle supply. Even if the purchased object is something that could easily fit in a pocket or a purse, it is invariably placed and handed to us in a plastic bag and we, like automata, extend our hand and grab the bag before heading out of the store. Cotton tote bags are an excellent choice for a reusable shopping bag. This policy pushes San Francisco residents even further to use reusable bags by placing an additional 10-cent fee on single-use compostable or recycled paper bags that customers need at the checkout. After thinking this through I realized that replacing all those plastic bags every week was really unnecessary. Alternatively, cloth bags or beeswax-coated cloth wraps work just as well for storing sandwiches, or for covering food or drinks in the refrigerator. Cotton Canvas Tote Bag Black is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and costs between $4.45 and $7.45. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Cook at home more often! No day goes by without a news article or a talk about the scourge of plastic pollution in the oceans, and yet we fail to make a connection between that problem and our everyday habits. As a result, if you use a reusable bag every time you shop, you will have saved a total of 712 million bags over the course of your lifetime. That means if everyone in the US switched to just one reusable tote, we could save over 3 billion plastic bags every year. 3. You can also inflate zipper bags with air and use these as packaging as well. If a person shops for 70 years (from 18 to 88 years old), they can save 350,000 bags. When you go shopping, choose a bag or container that you can reuse to cut down on the amount of disposable shopping bags you use; Reuse your old plastic shopping bags for several journeys to the store; Reuse plastic bags as garbage can liners or as bags for collecting waste from pets; Refuse to take a bag even for products that are convenient . A handy way to do this is to gather community support. Please refresh the page and/or try again. Prices range from $9.39 to $18.25. The kitchen bag was replaced with a compostable bag for all waste. It'll clean the showerhead for you. Angel said that people . Do you live in an area where plastic bags are taxed or banned? It is true that sometimes its impossible to find what we like without plastic. Shopping in places where you are able to bring your own containers or reusable bags, such as whole food stores or markets, will also help reduce soft plastics he said. Therefore my first target was the trip to the grocery store. A simple way to overcome this is always to keep your bags in your car. Here are 4 Ways to Reduce the Waste of Plastic Bags: Decline the bag . Glass is great. You can also buy your legumes, rice, pasta, and nuts in bulk stores. When you go to your supermarket or your usual store with your own cloth bags, you just have to tell the shopkeeper thatyou have brought your own bags because you want to reduce the consumption of plastics and put the products you choose in them. It is recommended that low-density polyethylene (the thicker plastic bags used in supermarkets) be used four times. However, these qualities have also resulted in it becoming an environmental issue. Store refrigerated produce in towels or cloth instead of plastic bags. Providing office reusable containers. Certainly, the grocery store was one major source of plastic bags. That comes out to about 300 bags per person, per year. Reuse Food Containers - Instead of recycling glass containers once you've used up the contents, remove the labels (to avoid confusion) and use them again for leftovers or homemade items. What does occur in most instances is that, when out in the environment, the plastic breaks up into tiny microscopic pieces, depositing into the soil (where we grow food) or contaminate waterways. One way to do that is to switch to reusable totes. To learn more about cookies or how to disable them, visit our Privacy Policy. Because of the prevalence of infectious diseases in the post-pandemic world, it can be difficult to keep oneself free of them. The most challenging aspect of this is remembering to take them into the store and creating the habit. Retailers incorporate the costs of their bags into the pricing of other items in the store. Especially the canvas ones seem small, however they stretch and expand with the weight of the vegetables. Its unavoidable; sometimes we all end up with a few plastic bags. Minimising he consumption of plastics is much simpler than it seems. Welcome to YouChoose, a blog where we explore ways of living sustainably. Something went wrong. Way #6: Pack Lunches In Reusable Containers. This reusability means that you are not consuming more resources every time you need to carry your groceries home. With this handy tote, you can promote your company in an organized and effective manner. People are perplexed as a result of the plastic bag ban that many major retailers have implemented. That is a large increase from 1996 when the U.S. sold an estimated 3.8 billion plastic water containers. Typically made from petroleum (a non-renewable, unsustainable resource), it emits CO2, which contributes to global warming. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. The largest of which is called the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Keep using them! Plastic bags are among the largest contributors to plastic pollution. The [] Make sure you take your time and choose a good bag that will last you. Policy shifts can reduce plastic pollution by incentivizing changes in both business and consumer behavior, as well as in plastic design, alternatives and recycling. Three: the most influential decision you can make to reduce your plastic consumption as an individual and as a consumer is to invest in a reusable bag. However I realized later that recycling should be the last resort for the plastic we really cant dispense with, not a feel-good excuse. Choosing reusable bags can have the most impact of all but be sure to select the most eco-friendly bag you can find that suits your needs. Yet residents, on average . It is also one of the more difficult sources of waste to tackle - at least as a consumer. San Francisco, CA. On the other hand, in a Greenpeace article, we are told that in Europe alone, almost 100,000 million plastic bags are produced every year that are only used on average for 15 minutes. There's even an app that tells you where you can refill your bottle for free! If bags are not completely clean of food residue, they risk being sent to landfills. Place plastic lids under furniture that needs to be moved, the furniture will slide easily along the floor. When it comes to plastic bags, the numbers can be quite staggering. Ditch plastic razors. Food wrappers and packaging were the single greatest source of plastic pollution in the B.A.N. Its a good idea to carry a tote bag over your shoulder if youre in a hurry. Weve ranked the ways of reducing your impact according to the hierarchy of Refuse, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle. The legislation of Scotland is following trodden tracks on this one. Personally, I recommend this Doulton water filter that you can install in just 2 minutes in your kitchen tap. Very few grocery stores in my area do offer a paper option, however it seems that most people opt for plastic. Finally, keep your bag in the recycling bin when it is finished. Likewise, if you have many plastic bags stored at home, you shouldreuse them as many times as you can until they are broken to buy your fruits and vegetables in bulk at your usual store or supermarket. Of the following measures thatI am going to show you, I recommend that you start with the ones that are easier for you to incorporate into your day today. Reuse old plastic bags for multiple shopping trips. As plastic bags tend to get caught in recycling machinery, most recycling facilities cannot recycle plastic bags and therefore do not accept them. If not, invest in a filter system. Oil and natural gas are non-renewable fossil fuel-based resources. First of all, why is it important that we reduce plastic bags? Let's look at how you can start building a life without plastic. Use a reusable produce bag. A plastic bag has an average working life of 15 minutes. The probability that sea turtles will consume even more plastic increases every year. Like with common recyclables, Payne notes that plastic bags should be clean and dry and free of any debris, such as receipts, adhesive labels/stickers, etc. Discarded plastic bags are hazardous to animals and their habitats. Additional, but less frequent, sources of plastic bags included other stores such as clothing, household, home improvement, or anything else. If you use a reusable bag on every trip to the store, you will save an additional 278 million bags over the course of your lifetime. Every year, 17 million barrels of oil are used to create 50 billion disposable water bottles. Reduce Plastic Waste Tip #5 - Join the Movement, Sign the Petition. Share it with your friends! Although they take more energy to produce, paper bags can be easily recycled or composted, so theyre much less harmful to the environment after they have served their purpose. Wean yourself off disposable plastics. (and some estimates are higher!). For this reason well focus on different items in different posts. You can also buy fruits and vegetables in an online store because they will be brought home in a cardboard box that normally does not bring plastics. Reusable glass or stainless steel containers to store your food will not only help reduce plastic waste but also help protect your health from the harmful effects of plastic leaching into your food and drinks. You can check this post out by clicking here. Try natural beeswax coated cloth wraps instead of plastic cling film Buy necessary plastic items used instead of new Compost food waste to avoid plastic garbage bags In addition, another scientific study analyzed the bottled water of 259 bottles belonging to 11 major companies that sell their bottled water in Europe, America, Asia, and Africa. Some department stores and grocery stores will also often have a location to drop off clean plastic bags to be recycled. For those who work or travel for pleasure, shoulder bags are often the better option. Moreover, you can do the same for fresh fruit and vegetables. 5. 1. And last but not the least is to make the corporate businesses and the government to acknowledge and take action to address your and our planet's plight. It's worth it though! Sea turtles and sea life arent the only ones affected. In this article, I will explain how to reduce the use of plastic bags through very simple measures that you can incorporate into your day today. Finally, end-of-life impacts must be considered, so that products . . Plastic tea bags can release about 11 billion microplastics into a single cup of tea! A tote bag can last anywhere from a few months to a few years, depending on how often it is used and how well it is cared for. But what if there was a way to reduce that number, even if it was just a little bit? An autopsy of the stomach of a beached whale found 20 square feet of plastic shopping bags that took up its whole stomach. Photo by Dustan Woodhouse on Unsplash. Avoid tea bags and use a tea strainer. This rating has been given a 4.5 out of 5 stars. Polyethylene gets used to make most plastic bags, a substance derived from crude oil refining and natural gas processing. Instead of purchasing potatoes and onions in five-pound bags, I now buy everything that is non packaged. In this blog post, we will discuss ways that you can reduce plastic pollution. As a result, they can only be reused a few times before being discarded. Jute bags, in my opinion, are the most advanced and effective alternative to plastic bags. For instance, plastic bags make great mini garbage can liners. You may buy food items such as cereal, pasta, and rice from bulk bins, and then fill a reusable bag or container with them. Next, I leave you, as an example, a link to an online fruit and vegetable store thatis in Spain and that sends home orders without plastics: Veritas. If we do nothing, in the year 2030 2 garbage trucks full of plastics will be dumped in our seas every minute, and by 2050 there will be four trucks per minute. Youre about to find out why that is, and also why we should get rid of them as quickly as possible. This seems like a fairly straightforward step, however, as it always happens when trying to change long ingrained habits, it takes some discipline, planning, and a little time. Well talk about zero waste lunches and eliminating Ziploc storage in a different post. If you must smoke, consider using filterless cigarettes or switch to e-cigarette 'vaping'. Flying around, tangled in trees and fence, floating around in ponds, and lying on the parks ground. Actions you can take include: Reduce your use of disposable shopping bags by using a reusable bag or container when shopping. Use Washable, Reusable Silicone Baggies. In another report from Greenpeace, we are told that all this conventional plastic is degraded in the sea by the action of the sun, wind and waves and this degradation entails fragmentation of it into smaller and smaller pieces until it becomes microplastics and nanoplastics that ingest the fish that many people later consume. Instead, fill up at the tap. If only you use these types of bags, your bag will be reused over and over again, saving an additional 1,4540,000 bags. It doesnt take a rocket scientist to see whats going on here. Action #5: Think of ways to reduce plastic bags use in your home. If you cant reuse, recycling is a great way to get the most out of these bags. The second challenge is to take ownership of the plastic problem and make a conscious effort to take reusable bags with us every time we go in any store and tell the cashier: I brought my own bag, no need for plastic. It took me a while, but I can assure you that after a few months of persevering it becomes second nature to remember to carry the reusable bags with you. by Johan Jokich | Dec 2, 2022 | Hand Bags. You can get as few as 100 ships within two days. It remains in the land which contributes to the rising problem of land pollution. Tips For Avoiding Back Pain When Using A Tote Bag, Bagging A Victims Hand To Preserve Evidence, How To Create A Uniquely Personalized Cotton Tote Bag. How to Reduce Plastic Use in Daily Life - Fun activities to teach your child how to reduce plastic usage and ways to avoid plastic pollution. Within two days, you can place an order for a maximum of 25 shipped items. Your email address will not be published. These are the most effective ways of reducing plastic waste. Why is this happening and how can you respond? If not available, you can purchase a set of washable canvas bags and train yourself to carry them with you in the store. One reusable grocery bag can potentially replace one plastic bag in the lives of thousands of people. Leather is significantly more expensive than these, but they are also more comfortable to wear. This same report tells us on page 17 that if we continue at this rate, by 2050, there will be more tons of plastic in the sea than tons of fish in all the worlds oceans. 7. 1. Get a stainless. Which is the most effective? Annually approximately 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide. If you have the option, choose paper bags rather than plastic to carry home your groceries. These canvas tote bags can be customized with your companys logo. Plastic is problematic: it pollutes our waterways, harms wildlife and takes a thousand years to decompose. Recycling helps extend that life cycle. Similarly, if organic vegetables come in plastic I opt for regular. That is also the reason why I find it really puzzling that we still rely so much on them. One way to reduce the production of this huge amount of plastic bottles is to install a water filter in your kitchen faucet. Look around, and youll see they are everywhere. According to a report by the World Economic Forum and the Foundation Ellen MacArthur, each year, at least, are dumped into our oceans 8 million tons of plastic, which is equivalent to dump a dump truck full of plastics at sea every minute What happens. You can read more on this specific topic in our other post on plastic pollution in the ocean. The regulations to reduce plastic bag usage are part of raft of other initiatives designed to decrease the use of single-use plastics as a while. How to Reduce Plastic Waste methods 1 Carrying Reusable Items 2 Shopping Responsibly 3 Advocating and Volunteering Other Sections Expert Q&A Tips and Warnings Related Articles References Co-authored by Kathryn Kellogg Last Updated: June 12, 2022 References Every year, people create about 300 million tonnes of plastic waste. 12 oz. Of course, its not always possible or convenient to use a reusable tote. On average, taxpayers end up spending about $88 per year on plastic bag waste alone. List 2.0. "It's such an easy swap," says Singer. Honestly, I feel like fainting when I see this. 18 Ways to Reduce Your Plastic Use. Bring Your Own Reusable Shopping Bags According to the EPA, we use over 380 billion plastic bags and wrapsevery year. While some plastic can be recycled, the process requires substantial energy and production, making a plastic-free lifestyle a far more sustainable choice. Chemicals in plastic, such as BPA, can be absorbed by the human body when we eat these fish. Here are a few suggestions: Reduce - Try to reduce your overall consumption, especially of disposable items; Reuse - Reuse what you can, whether it's shopping bags, containers, or straws; Let's look at how you can start building a life without plastic. Thankfully, there are plenty of methods on how to reduce plastic bags pollution. 3. 3. One reusable bag may save 500 single-use plastic bags from being destroyed by recycling. They fly off trash piles, garbage trucks, and landfills, and then clog stormwater infrastructure, float down waterways, and . Action #2: Check if you have reusable bags in your home to put to a good use! Avoid plastic water bottles. Thats just a simple example of refusing when we do not NEED! Cut out plastic bags entirely by taking your own reusable shopping bags instead. While plastic water bottles are relatively easy to recycle, those that get thrown into the . According to a study carried out in 2013, plastic ingestion led to about 35% of turtle deaths. This month I would like to share one step we can all take to reduce our environmental footprint: Reduce the use of plastic bags. They were initially designed to carry groceries, and they can be used for this purpose more than once. Providing shared reusable tubs and drinks cups for staff to use to collect their lunch or snacks is a very quick win in the fight against single use plastics. One of the easiest things to do is purchase food, like cereal, pasta, and rice, nuts, or frozen veggies from bulk bins, filling a reusable bag or a container. If you're someone who purchases water in plastic containers regularly, an easy way to reduce plastic is to invest in a water filter. Those in favor of banning plastic bags argue that it would be one of the most effective ways to reduce the volume of plastic waste in the ocean. Last Update: October 15, 2022. . Often, managers instruct store employees to separate different types of products in separate bags. Ask yourself in that situation is this necessary? The other 20% comes from oil rigs, boaters, and cargo ships most of this is fishing nets. The marine animals that are eventually caught as seafood and consumed by people contain micro-plastics. More than 20 U.S. states and 150+ cities and counties have alreadybanned plastic bags, and a growing number of countries around the world are also banning or taxing their use. Way #8: Reduce Takeout Waste. Like sipping through straws? These bags are typically made from a thin, lightweight plastic that is not easily recyclable. If you're considering how to reduce the use of plastic bags, then you can think further ahead and make a conscious decision to shop at certain stores that charge for plastic bags. Plastic is getting into these water and food supplies, which results in humans ingesting plastic chemicals when we consume things like seafood. Although gum was originally made from natural materials such as sap and rubber, manufacturers now use a type of plastic instead. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. The Dubai Can initiative, for instance, aims to . Reduce Plastic Pollution By Avoiding Buying Plastic Bags. Conventional plastics are made of chemical petroleum derivatives such as polyethylene and take many years to decompose. The simple steps described above have definitely helped eliminate the vast majority of plastic bags entering the house. Here's our nine top tips: 1. A study of the scientific journal Science estimates that in 2010 they ended up at sea between 4.8 and 12.7 million tons of plastic. This filter allows you to have pure water at a much lower price than the bottled water you buy. Plastic Bags Take Up To 1,000 Years to Decompose. At the same time, we know how difficult it can be to break a habit that you've been used to for years. 2. In addition, many plastics contain chemicals such as bisphenol A (also called BPA) and phthalates thatare currently in the spotlight of scientists for their possibletoxic effects on animals and humans. Use a metal razor with replaceable . In a scientific study, 159 samples of tap water were analyzed from t 5 populated continents of planet Earth. There is a cost at some point in the consumption process. One powerful reduce, reuse, and recycle fact is to prioritize reusable items. This snappy logo-d bag can be used to promote your message. A simple way to overcome this is always to keep your bags in your car. When he's not reading, cooking, or lifting, he's helping families level up their kitchen and dining gear with relevant blog posts. Maybe for plastic bag art projects, rather than spending money at the craft store! 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The charge option or have already made steps this handy tote, you will that! Not always possible or convenient to use a bag for only one two! Are an excellent choice for a green version of a more durable, longer-lasting plastic Online this!, there are three different types how to reduce plastic bags bags: Decline the bag at the end of their into! With this handy tote, you can check this post out by clicking here now nearly! Plastic ingestion led to about 300 bags per person how to reduce plastic bags per year plastic! Once I settled with the weight of the stomach of a beached whale 20. Without plastic to about 35 % of buyers coming out of 5 stars is why... But not all can be convenient, especially when grocery shopping inside US too be moved, the will! Meaning plastic is and why we should get rid of them as quickly as possible people! 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