Let’s bust some plastic myths:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

1. Most plastic (even when you “recycle” it), can’t actually be recycled. From 1950-2015 from all the plastic waste created, only 9% was actually able to be recycled.
2. The plastic bags you use at the store? Not recyclable. Once you’ve used it for an average of 12 minutes, it will make it’s way to a landfill where it will take over 500 years to degrade into micro plastics.
3. Dirty plastic can’t be recycled and can contaminate other recyclable plastics around it making them all unusable. Literally any food residue left on plastic makes it trash. K-cups, pizza boxes, coffee cups (which most can’t be recycled anyway- hi Starbucks cups), fruit containers, etc. If it’s not perfectly clean- it’s trash.
4. We’re breathing, drinking & eating plastic every day. Consumer Report, reported that “each of us might ingest up to a credit card’s worth of plastic weekly through food and water.” Fun right? It’s in everything from tap water, beer, bottled water, the fish you eat, the ocean, etc.
5. Most plastics are filled with BPA and other toxic chemicals posing a big threat to your health. “Thousands of chemicals, depending on the product, are used to make it harder, softer, or more flexible. These chemicals include bisphenols, such as bisphenol A (BPA), and phthalates, which can flow or leach into the foods touched by plastic, especially when that plastic is warmed”.
6. Despite the harmful effects plastic has on our health and our planet, plastic production is on track to almost quadruple from it’s already yearly 400 million tons of new plastic.
7. By 2050, there will be more plastic than fish in the world’s oceans.

Things you can do right now:

1. Make a promise to yourself that you will work towards a more sustainable lifestyle.
2. Make a conscious effort to reduce your plastic waste but swapping single used plastic products for reusable ones like shopping bags, water bottles, food containers, food utensils, straws, etc.
3. Check out a few of my resources to help get you started like my earth day favorites round-up or 8 easy single-use plastic swaps you’ll actually like.
4. Research non profits fighting plastic waste in your area like Surf Rider and donate your time or money to them.
5. Support companies turning plastic waste into new products like Rothys & Vitamin A Swim.
6. Support companies packaging their products in glass like Osea, Youth to the people and Clean Cult.
7. Do a beach clean-up or donate your time to picking up waste. It really is eye opening when you’re picking up other people’s trash.
8. Support local farmers markets, co ops, and anywhere that sells food without packaging.