[Reblog] 14 Ways to Reduce Your Plastic Consumption

 

14 Ways to Reduce Your Plastic Consumption (In Substainability and Health)

Plastic is found in an astonishing percentage of products or packaging today. It’s in your computer, your car, your refrigerator, your toothbrush, your recycle bin (ironically enough), your fork at lunch, your to-go box for dinner, and even your clothes. And of the nearly 30 million tonsof plastic Americans generate each year, only about seven percent was recycled. Besides piling up in our landfills, floating around in our oceans, leaching chemicals into our soil, and increasing our dependency on oil (yes, most production involves a large amount of oil), it’s also potentially harmful to our health.

A common compound in plastic is called Bisphenol A, or BPA. This chemical is often found in food packaging, plastic bottles, toys and other consumer goods, and more than90 percent of us have traces of it in our bodies due to the large amount of plastic we encounter. This chemical has been linked tohealth problems such as infertility, developmental issues, and prostate and breast cancers. While eliminating BPA and plastic from your life may be impossible, I think it’s worth making a few changes to reduce your exposure. Below are some ways I avoid plastic in my life, both to benefit my health and the planet.

1. Use reusable grocery bags. …

2. Don’t use individually packaged items…

3. Shop bulk bins….

8. Bag your trash more efficiently. ..

9. Stop accepting plastic utensils. ..

14. Buy bar soap instead of body wash. …

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Related articles

• It’s even in gum!: Advice from a plastic-free pioneer (grist.org)
• Risks Associated with Bisphenol A in Baby Bottles (education.com)
• Water Bottles-Stick To #1 (theafterburnsg.wordpress.com)
• A Practical Guide to Plastic Recycling (begreen.botw.org)
• How To Reuse Food Packaging (huffingtonpost.com)
• Berkeley is the first university to step up to worldwide plastic-waste challenge (newscenter.berkeley.edu)
• 20 ways to reduce your plastic consumption (livingincheapluxury.wordpress.com)

Includes these tips

         Compost your rubbish to reduce your use of plastic bags.

• Don’t use bin liners – just tip your rubbish into the bin.
• Bring unusable cloth bags to the shops with you.
• Avoid buying beverages in plastic bottles – opt for glass where possible.
• Carry your own thermal mug and ask coffee retailers to fill it for you rather than taking a disposable cup. Bring your own coffee mug to work with you.
• Avoid buying foods packaged in plastic. Buy loose fruit and vegetables.
• Make your own bread or buy it from bakeries that package it in paper.
• Clean your home with baking soda and vinegar instead of using cleaning products packaged in plastic.
• Buy washing powder in boxes, not liquid in plastic containers.
• Buy cheese and meat from your local delicatessen and have it wrapped in paper.
• Use bar soap to wash your dishes – and yourself.
• Use scented candles or incense instead of artificial air fresheners.
• Buy milk in paper cartons or glass, rather than plastic bottles.
• Buy toilet paper that is wrapped in paper, not plastic.
• Don’t wrap left-over foods in cling film – use aluminium or wax paper instead.
• Use matches instead of plastic-encased lighters.
• Give your pets cloth-based toys, like catnip mice and soft balls.
• Buy cloth nappies instead of disposables.
• Stuff delicate postal packages with old newspapers or junk mail instead of bubble wrap.
• Use rechargeable batteries to avoid buying batteries packaged in plastic.