Three Simple Ways To Reduce Your Plastic Consumption
We all know that plastics are harmful to the environment. We all know that it can take a very long time for plastics to break down compared to natural materials. Yet a lot of us are unaware of the simple plastics that we mindlessly use that are causing detrimental harm to our surroundings.
According to the WWF, waste mismanagement is one of the more significant contributors of waste polluting the environment. This is due to undeveloped waste management procedures leading to a decreased control of waste landfills; resulting in 87% of mismanaged waste being leaked into nature. While 2016 saw a third of plastic waste ending up in nature (accounting for a total of 100 million metric tons of plastic waste), the WWF is predicting that the ocean will host 1 metric ton of plastic for every metric ton of fish by 2025.
Fortunately, each of us can make a small yet powerful change to help reduce this ecological disaster. By following these three simple steps, you will be able to continue your life just as it was, but with a much lower environmental impact.
1. Say goodbye to single use plastics.
The words ‘single-use plastics’ should be sounding the alarm bells. Not only are they harmful to the environment, but they can take centuries to break down naturally. This means that a seemingly harmless, single-use plastic item can actually have an extremely long-term devastation on the environment.
While using single-use cutlery can be a convenient solution to dinner parties, picnics and backyard barbecues, the environmental impact that is caused should not be overlooked. It is estimated that 40 billion plastic utensils are wasted per year in the United States alone. Worst of all, many of these disposed utensils end up not only in our waterways and local ecosystems, they end up in animals that we eat. In turn, we consume the micro-plastics which are contained in these animals.
By choosing to move away from single-use plastics to bamboo utensils, you will be making an easy transition to the same convenience, but with minimal environmental impact. Welcome Organics is pleased to provide a range of convenient bamboo utensils, including cutlery sets, straws and sporks.
2. Grab a reusable bag.
The lightweight nature of plastic bags means that they can be easily swept away to the worst places. From local parks to beachside, keeping plastic bags from these areas means that everyone will be able to continue enjoying these locations, not to mention the wildlife that these areas offer. Many single-use plastic bags are also manufactured from fossil fuels; a resource which is a significant contributor to carbon emissions. By choosing reusable bags, you’ll be making a simple yet effective step in reducing your carbon footprint. Welcome Organics are pleased to stock a range of reusable bags, all of which are strong, durable and perfect for your next trip to the shops.
3. Swap out your toothbrush.
Yes. Toothbrushes. What is so bad about them? Well, consider the advice of your dentist. If their advice is not too dissimilar from the American Dental Association, then you will be recommended to replace your toothbrush every three to four months. If every toothbrushing Australian is heeding similar advice, then around 80 million toothbrushes will be disposed each year. That is just a shadow of the US, which sees about 23 billion toothbrushes being trashed each year. Worst of all, it is understood that it can take up to 1000 years for a toothbrush to fully decompose. The compounding effect of billions of toothbrushes being disposed (each of which lasts for 1000 years), should send shivers down your spine. By making the seamless switch to bamboo toothbrushes, you will be making a plastic-free contribution to the world.