Plastic is everywhere, even places where it doesn’t make sense. We don’t concern ourselves with what happens to objects after we’re done using them in our culture. This throw-away culture that has permeated almost every facet of our lives has dire environmental repercussions, so it’s worth resisting. I’m not going to try and convince you guys to give this a try, you can google sad images of sea turtles and plastic islands in the pacific for yourselves! But I will try and show you, my dear readers, how you can challenge yourselves and feel good about going zero waste in more areas of your lives!! I believe this is more useful and uplifting than ranting about the tragic states of many animals and areas. Focusing on these concrete actions can be your own way to help sad sea turtles the best way you know how! I’ve compiled a little list of switches that hopefully have not occurred to you before—something a bit more advanced than bringing a reusable bag to the grocery store.
Recently, the ‘Zero Waste’ phenomenon has been rising in media coverage, specifically with plastic straws. Starbucks has recently announced they are doing away with their straws in a couple years. This is after the UK government passed a law banning them. However, for only Starbucks to do this is nowhere near enough! At the end of the TED article, “What plastic item would you love to ban? 15 ocean experts (and TED speakers) tell us” the last expert essentially says that it is not plastic straws that are the real issues; it is how integrated these plastic habits are in our culture. I have a bone to pick with Starbucks anyways as I think they could do much more for the environment considering how large they are. For example, I don’t know why they don’t switch their cups to being compostable. They could easily afford it. These things are available but aren’t being used—it’s basically common sense. This is why we need a plastic culture change!
Also, different places have different challenges. For example, in Europe where sparkling water is much more popular than in the UK or the US, more public filling stations need to be installed. I saw one in Riva, Italy and I thought it was a fantastic idea. Otherwise there are so many plastic bottles involved. Refill stations are also much cheaper and so you can also choose to use glass or metal bottles without having to pay more (as one normally does when buying them ‘new’). Thankfully, when plastic bottles are involved for water, they are almost always ‘Pfandflaschen,’ which is what it’s called in Germany, where you pay 25 cents extra, and when you return the bottle you get 25 cents back. Although it would be better to not buy the plastic bottle in the first place, it’s an acceptable retroactive measure. And economically, it is a more accurate valuation of the material. This is the right mindset for future policy, which should not only ban or disincentivise plastic, but incentivise compostable materials. Maybe then Starbucks can start to impress me!
I think it’s actually quite a fun thing to do, to try and be zero waste, as there’s something truly rewarding about it—aside from having to carry less to the bin (a reward in itself). I was inspired to dedicate myself to it, when I realised how much trash is produced in the world and that it rarely is properly dealt with. There’s a sense of pride I get if I go on a shop and only use my containers, or I come back with no more packaging than I set off with. The one downside is that it’s more effort, time and planning. But if you think about how much garbage you’ll save each year, it’s worth it. Also, you can always choose how much you want of an item which I quite like. A tip for the practice: I store things in glass at home but bring plastic containers I’ve saved (for example from hummus) as they’re not as heavy to bring to the shops and it’s easier to weigh them/ write the weights on top. Also, although it takes longer, you can get to know your shop and workers in the process which is nice as nowadays it seems that communities don’t have strong ties anymore. You can view it as a community bonding experience!
Because plastic is omnipresent and virtually inescapable in our modern-day culture, even if you try to go zero waste, I think it is hard to be truly zero waste. There will always be grocery trips where you forget the container for the oats. (Unless you are a superhuman zero waster.) But I think small habit changes are worth mentioning and trying, as it does make a difference, especially if you share your new habits with your friends and they adopt your new habits, too. This is how we can change what’s ‘normal.’ I also believe having more zero waste options is paramount and they will only appear with more (read: your) demand! If these options are available and properly marketed people will flock to them. This is also how we can change our culture. Unfortunately, at the moment, in my experience, stores that offer the opportunity for you to be zero waste are not mainstream. They’re usually expensive, or a bit hippy (health food store vibe)—or worse, both. However, this doesn’t have to be the case! I saw a zero-waste store in Strasbourg that was beautiful—very clean and inviting. It was simple and not ostentatious, but still attractive. Also, the shop I visit in York that allows you to shop zero waste offers prices that are very competitive. So, these examples show the stereotypes don’t have to be the rule—especially going forward. There is a whole breadth of potential zero waste options out there that still need to be implemented and explored. Read on to continue your discovery of some of these (hopefully) uncharted new horizons.
For example, another little-known source of plastics in our world are microfibres. I wasn’t aware of this until recently, but all the synthetic fabrics, like polyester, acrylic, polyamide, etc. (pretty much anything that’s not linen, wool, cotton, silk, bamboo—have I missed anything?) release microfibres into the water when they’re washed. These particles are so tiny that they’re virtually impossible or extremely difficult to filter back out. As one expert in the TED article states, ‘microfibers from plastic fabrics have invaded the biosphere. They’re in our water (bottled and tap), beer, air, honey and salt. They’ve been shown to pass the blood-brain barrier and cause changes in fish behaviour.’ Although studies are inconclusive on whether they’re harmful to us, I assume it is not ideal for the small molecular machines in our bodies to deal with materials that shouldn’t be there. (Another way to reduce/prevent this is to buy second-hand clothes, to prevent the production of new clothes; or do a clothes swap with friends).
Now for the long-awaited list! I hope amongst these there are things you hadn’t considered. I’ve tried to organise it from easiest to most cumbersome, so that you can work your way down it as you become a more ambitious zero-waster if you like. If you google the sad photos of sea turtles and the pacific plastic island, I think you too, my dear reader will agree it’s worth it. And I hope that you even come to enjoy it!
List of zero waste possibilities:
- The easiest and most delicious: when you get an ice cream, get a cone! Not a cup.
- Refuse plastic straws
- Don’t buy cosmetic (or any!) products with microbeads
- Support your local zero waste shops; and try and buy as much from the bulk shopping area as possible to show support for it
- Buy things in glass or metal rather than plastic if you can (and recycle those)
- Save the plastic (glass) containers you do buy to reuse
- Avoid shops or products with more packaging
- Go to your farmer’s market and bring your own bags
- Save plastic produce bags (the bags you would put your apples in) to use again
- Choose compostable plastics whenever you can
- Rather than take away/out, eat in! (the restaurant washes the dishes instead of giving you plastic—plus it’s a nicer community that way, and you support the waiters, too!)
- Loose-leaf tea—it’s better quality anyways!
- Buy second hand clothes
- Try to buy only, or as many, natural fibres as possible
- When you travel, bring a reusable water bottle with you. On the plane they will fill it up for you! Just remember to have it empty while going through security
- Use bamboo instead of plastic toothbrushes
- Use safety razors instead of disposable razors
- Use bar soap instead of soap bought in plastic bottles
- When you get a take away/out, ask the restaurant if you can bring your own containers (get massive glass ones for this purpose)
- Things you can push for: expanding the bulk area of your store; instead of just rice, oats, nuts, ask them to expand it to hummus, shampoo, and dish soap
- Go to the bread/cheese shop and bring reusable containers with which to purchase it rather than buying these from the grocery store in large amounts of packaging
- Make your own fruit juice—instead of buying it in cartons
- Make your own products if you can! Like bath scrubs, spice mixes, marinades, breakfast cereals
- Go to the meat counter and fish bar rather than buying it in plastic! And bring reusable containers to the fish bar/ or the meat counter
- This is hard because plastic is what keeps it fresh!! Also, if you want to buy smoked salmon without plastic… that’s nearly impossible unless you make it yourself. This is, for example, something that can be made a possibility one day with popular demand!
- Suggest ways and ideas to your workplace, school and governments in places where you observe there to be waste and ways you can reduce it
- When you travel go zero waste: bring food, containers, silverware, and water bottle with you
- Same thing if you pack your lunch; try to pack your lunch with reusables
The options are limitless! These are just a few I came up with. If you think of anymore do leave a comment. These sorts of lifestyle changes are worth it. Every little bit helps. We need a plastic culture change! Keep dreaming.
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