I walk around these days and all I see is plastic.
Plastic that I’ve never noticed before.
Plastic that makes me feel angry, frustrated and dissappointed at humans.
Plastic that is ruining the world.
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My goal in reducing the amount of plastic I use has been an year long journey and is one that continues. When you stop and think, you realise how much plastic and disposable material humans go through in their short time here on earth.
I don’t know when it all clicked in my head and I started to make the connections but it has made a big difference to the way I live my life. These are not big changes but I know they make a big impact environmentally.
And so I extend the love and compassion I give to people, to the environment every single day and am a firm believer of the quote-
Be the change you wish to see in the world
I have seen my efforts have a ripple effect on those around me by just being concious of how I live my life.
These are the ways I have changed my day to day living to reduce plastic, I am not perfect but I am trying:-
- Reusable bags – I keep reusable bags in my car, at home and at work. Whenever I buy something and I have forgetten my bag, I simply don’t take a plastic one. I hold the things I bought in my hands.
- Light-weight thin reuseable bags – For vegetable and fruit produce when doing groceries. (https://www.thefregiesack.com.au)
- Frank Green Reusable cup – I don’t remember the last time I took a take away cup for coffee. If i don’t have my cup, I don’t take take away, I simple sit and enjoy coffee at a cafe. (https://frankgreen.com/au/)
- Menstrual Cup – Instead of single use pads, a silicon menstrual cup can last many many years and save a lot of money. (https://www.juju.com.au)
- Who Gives a Crap recycable toilet paper (https://au.whogivesacrap.org)
- Wooden spork – this is simply a spoon and fork made out of bamboo which can be used instead of take away cutlery. (https://www.ukonserve.com/Bamboo-Utensil-p/uk016.htm)
- Metal straw – a metal straw that is reusable and washable instead of single use plastic straws. (https://www.biome.com.au/805-reusable-straws)
- Water bottle – I carry it every where I go and if I didn’t bring it, I simply look for a water fountain.
- Reusable food wraps – A replacement for cling wrap, wraps made out of plant/bees wax that mould to the shape of anything and keep your food covered. (http://wrappa.com.au)
- Vapouriser/ diffuser/ essential oils – Instead of candles to scent your environment, essential oils also have different health benefits as well. (https://www.doterra.com/US/en)
- Bokashi Bin – I live in an apartment worm farming isn’t ideal but a small bokashi bin has completely cut off my food wastage, everything is composted and put back into the earth. I simply add my compast to a communal compost bin when my bin is full.
- French press + loose coffee beans – Instead of single use coffee pods for a coffee machine.
- Bulk-food stores – I have found a local bulk food stores that has everything from spirulina to rice, chocolate and shampoo. I simply bring glass jars to the store, weigh the jar and fill the jar with as much product as I like. No plastic, no waste.
- Soap Berries – A recent addition to doing my laundry. A soap nut that is a natural surfactant and is compostable. With the use of essential oils, clothes will be clean and smell clean. (https://www.thatredhouse.com.au)
There are many more ways to incorporate a day to day eco-friendly lifestyle but it is a process. I have made a lot changes and honestly there is no better feeling than coming back from a shopping trip and knowing that you did not harm the environment by the purchases you made. I say start somewhere and start now.
We should all stop being lazy and take responsibility for what is happening to the environment we live in. We have evolved to be a race that indulges in single use items, sadly the world isn’t designed for this privilge. We need to realise that the earth isn’t disposable or single use, we have ONE EARTH and that is it.