We know it, we live with it, we don't know how - or - want to live without. WRONG.
Its only been on the planet for 100 and some years. We can and we should live without.
Say no to SINGLE PLASTIC and yes to "back to the roots".
Where should we begin?
It is nearly impossible these days to buy fruits or vegetables that are not wrapped in plastic. The unwrapped ones are often more expensive, which is making it even worse. We save money with polluting the planet. Good job everyone.
TEN THINGS HOW TO CHANGE YOUR DAILY LIFE TO GET RID OF SINGLE USE PLASTIC 1# COTTON BAG instead of PLASTIC BAG One of the worst things that we use over and over again are plastic bags in the supermarket. And why? Because we are lazy to take a basket or an organic shopping bag with us. But is it so much more effort to add a small bag to your backpack or to have it in the car, ready to use?
No it's not a lot of effort. You are just lazy as f*ck.
2# BUY FRUITS AND VEGETABLES NOT WRAPPED IN PLASTIC
And that's a difficult one. When I was a child, there was almost no food wrapped in plastic. These days it is the opposite, and why? Because of logistic reasons and people that say, the food is not clean any more... Fun fact: You wash it anyway, right? So just grab your veg with no plastic and get over it. The same with vegetables that don't look perfect. Perfect is boring and you only think that way that it is less worth, only because adverts in television and other social media told you so. Big companies want you to throw away good, non perfect, food.
Remember, you throw away your food, in other countries they starve and die.
One more thing to recommend, go to a food market and get your vegetables and fruits from local farms. With that you know where they come from, you support the growth of your area, less pollution because of import and export and it's often less expensive or has the same price. Other than that, the taste and flavours will be so much better.
3# BUY FOOD IN A JAR OR CAN Those will be recycled for sure and a jar can be useful to put things in it, such as seeds from sunflowers, nuts and much more.
4# GET A TRAVEL MUG FOR BEING ON THE ROAD
It's not only for saving money, because a lot of café's charge you less, but also you don't produce any more plastic as necessary. Something that I learned from my journey while using my own travel mug, my lips are less dry and sensitive.
But why?
Easy, easy. A lot of people touch the lids and the cups during the day. From moving them from the truck to the café, unwrapping them, putting them next to the counter, to customers grab the lid after they added sugar, milk, extra chocolate powder or whatever, to put it on top of the cup. Now imagine where those people have been during the day? Maybe they have been in the train, subway, taxi, bus, on a public toilet and much more. Do you realize now, how dirty a lid can be? No way that I touch them with my lips every again.
Therefore, it is not only to not use plastic, because its bad. No, it is also about not getting sick over and over again.
#5 GET YOUR BATHROOM PLASTIC FREE I added a lot of objects that you use without thinking about that they are actually not really disposable. But these objects can be changed into organic and are green footprint approved. Sure, first it costs you some money. But just think about it as an investment. A lot of those things you don't need to buy for several years.
Toilet Paper / single use product as bad as plastic. Virgin forests are cut down, bleached paper and extra softness causes trouble and harms the planet.
Toothpaste / in case you don't like the flavour of coconut Toothpaste. CLICK HERE!
Hair Ties / for people with longer hair
Hand Sanitizer / organic, packaging not. Plastic.
Tampons , Menstrual Cup , Sanitary Pads / feminine Hygiene Products
#6 GLASS BOTTLES INSTEAD OF PLASTIC BOTTLES In some countries, such as Germany, have an interesting system when it's about plastic bottles and cans. All of them are recyclable and you get money for it while bringing them back to the supermarkets. Sadly not all countries to it like that. Because, first of all the plastic is no cheap and soft plastic any more that is filled with softener, which is actually bad for your health. Next to it, you secure that those bottles will always be brought back to the supermarket and don't find their way to oceans and rivers. Other than that, glass bottles in a basket that you can bring back is a good alternative. Water and lemonade tastes so much better and you can refill it as many times you want without experiencing a weird taste of plastic after all.
#7 SILICONE LIDS INSTEAD OF PLASTIC FOIL
You can reuse the silicone lids, clean them in the dish washer, and they are 100% safe. Of course, they won't fit and adapt to every single shape, but when you are able to cut off 90% of the plastic foil that you already use, it's better than nothing.
Get them today!
Another pro tip. Get wax paper to wrap food or use it as a lid to put a bowl of fruits, as a sample, in the fridge.
#8 TRAVEL CUTLERY INSTEAD OF SINGLE USE CUTLERY
They are lightweight, easy to clean, multifunctional and best thing, plastic free. No matter where you are while you get something to eat on the road, say no to everyone who wants to put plastic cutlery to your dish. They break, used only once and it's just not necessary.
#9 NO COFFEE OR TEA PADS Oh! No, now you have that worried feeling in your tummy that you are not allowed to drink coffee or tea in the morning. That's okay, but better be happy. Instead of those you should learn how to brew coffee with a paper filter and for tea you buy full tea leafs and a tea egg or tea sock which is made out of 100% cotton and a bit of metal. That tea sock you can use many times until it gets to old. But the more you used it, the better gets the flavour of the tea. Promise. My mother uses that method for over 20 years and that's just the best tea.
#10 STOP BUYING PASTA AND OTHER THINGS IN A PLASTIC PACKAGE
Maybe one of the most difficult for me is to get products for cooking that are not in a plastic net or plastic package. But for that you just need some time and patience to search the rows for those products that are put in a carton box. They exist, but hidden.
That little bit of extra work.
In the beginning it is time-consuming to buy your food and weekly routine products with no plastic. The more you are aware of the problem the better it is and you will feel. Yes, I understand that you won't completely live without your favourite products like shampoo or lemonade. But when you are able to cut out 80% of your usual use of plastic, it is so much more than just being a constant threat to the planet and everything that is alive. Put effort in something that is worth it and you'll be rewarded for sure.
Our ancestors were able to live without plastic. Now it is time to get back to the roots to combine the precious past with the present for a bright future.
For more plastic free inspiration or how to reduce plastic waste, I added some delightful videos of amazing people. SUBSCRIBE TO LAVENDAIRE sweet girl with good ideas.
SUBSCRIBE TO SEDONA CHRISTINA she always hit the spot.
SUBSCRIBE TO SORELLE AMORE just love that wild sassy woman.
I hope you enjoyed reading the article and that it has been helpful. Don't forget to share this post on Pinterest or visit me on any other Social Media pages.
Give me a shout, in case you need some more advice and leave a comment below to let me know! I am always happy to help out. :)
Thank you so much and see you in the future,
Sina
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