We're halfway through July, the month without plastic . Have you decided to reduce plastic consumption in any area of your life? In the previous blog post we proposed a challenge for everyone this month in which we are auditing our homes to see which plastics we can eradicate and take further steps towards a more sustainable lifestyle .
On our social networks we are giving you tips and concrete ideas every day to help you on this path . You still have time to join the challenge.
Today's exercise is on the blog and we propose that you reflect on your plastic consumption in a more in-depth way . We want to talk about hidden plastics and see if it is possible to truly do without them.
OBSERVE YOUR ENVIRONMENT
Let's start with a very simple exercise. Look around you . Right now. Just for one minute. Wherever you are , how many of the objects around you are made of plastic? Now, think about it. Are there more sustainable alternatives for these objects? How will it be different for those who have done this little exercise while in a park or at home?
You may have noticed that a lot of things around us are made of plastic and it is difficult or impossible to find a substitute , as is the case with electronic equipment (mobile phones, computers, televisions, etc.). The “good thing” about these objects is that they are long-lasting. Once they are made, we will use them, ideally, for years. But…
WHAT ABOUT SINGLE-USE PLASTICS?
For us, they are the real problem . And in our daily lives we will find them everywhere , especially in the packaging of any type of object. In food, of course, but also in almost any consumer object, such as toys, electronics, furniture... How many plastic elements can there be in the box that comes with the new phone you bought? In addition to the plastic elements of the phone itself (which we have already said is, at least, a durable object, not a single-use one), we will surely find that the box comes with a plastic seal, the screen will be protected with plastic, there will be a plastic bag for the battery, another for the headphones, another for the charger cable...
As we know that this is practically impossible to avoid, we ask you: What objects in your life could you replace with others that are reusable? We invite you to visit our website and see all the options: sandwich holders , snack holders , wax wrappers , bulk shopping bags , coffee or tea cups , isothermal bottles , straws , cotton swabs , non-disposable razors , makeup remover pads , cloth pads , menstrual cup and panties , reusable handkerchiefs ...
What options have you found that could become part of your regular consumption?
AND WHAT DO WE DO WITH MICROPLASTICS?
This is a big deal because, as the name suggests, they are small and can go unnoticed.
There are three main places where we can find microplastics:
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In conventional scouring pads, sponges, cloths and brushes.
They are a real problem. With use, these objects deteriorate and, without us noticing, they release small pieces of plastic that go down the drain . The treatment plants cannot filter these particles and they end up in rivers and oceans, damaging ecosystems .
Solution: switch to scouring pads , sponges, cloths and brushes made from natural and biodegradable materials that, even if they end up in the water, will not pose a danger to the environment.
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In cosmetics, hygiene and cleaning products.
Crazy, isn't it? Why would there be microplastics there? They are full of them. Some of their components come from petroleum, they are not biodegradable and end up polluting the waters anyway. But sometimes, small plastic beads are added to make exfoliating products or products with a greater cleaning power .
Solution: switch to cosmetics, hygiene and cleaning products made from natural raw materials.
- In textiles
We have our closets full of plastic, and you probably don't even know it. Polyester is everywhere and it's almost impossible to escape it. It's a material that allows us to create very cheap clothes and that's why it's so popular in clothing stores, especially in 'fast fashion' stores. And not only that. We also have it in upholstery, curtains, towels...
The textile industry consumes a huge amount of the planet's resources and the gases emitted from the distribution of these garments are very high because they are mostly made in Asia and in large quantities. People buy and throw away very quickly because that is how the industry is designed.
But what's more, this polyester is removed during washing . This causes our clothes to deteriorate faster, but above all, it turns into microplastics that go down the drain, contaminating river and ocean ecosystems.
The solution is to buy from businesses that produce locally, with natural and/or certified raw materials ( GOTS or Oeko-Tex ) and that are of good quality so that you do not need to buy frequently.
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU CAN DO?
With this post and the plastic-free month challenge , we don't want to make you feel guilty or create eco-anxiety. What we intend is to accompany you in your process of change to a more sustainable lifestyle . So everything we are sharing this month should be understood as ideas.
Go through them, look at the whole list and choose one . Of all the actions you could take, that one seems the easiest to change at this point in your life. Can you commit to changing it in the remainder of the month?
