Can We Live in a Plastic Free World?
Posted by lindseyshoe
Since the invention of the first plastics in 1868 humans have found more and more uses for plastics.
Walk in any kitchen and open the refrigerator, which itself is made using lots of plastic, and you’ll find plastic bottles of condiments, plastic containers of dairy products from yogurt to sour cream, not to mention the reusable plastic containers for leftovers. Take your survey around the kitchen and you’ll find plastic small appliances like coffee makers, plastic bottles of household cleaners, plastic utensils like spoons and spatulas, plastic drink ware, plastic spice bottles and even plastic dish scrubbers. Along the walls and windows you’ll see plastics from light switch covers, to clocks to mini blinds. Of course there are also the plastic trashcans and plastic bags that line them. And this is just a minimal lists of the plastics found in one room, the kitchen.
Many of us don’t even want to imagine the weight of carrying a metal cooler fuller of ice and a twelve pack of Cokes or beers made from glass bottles along with other picnic favorites from like pickles, ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise all in glass jars. Plastics have certainly lightened the load making groceries, electronics, toys and household goods not only lighter but often less expensive as well.
The plastics industry runs ads remind us of all the life-saving tools made from plastics used in emergency rooms and operating rooms and most of us will agree we’re thankful to know that those plastics are there.. We’re also thankful for other plastic safety gear like helmets for biking and other sports. While some plastics arguably offer medical and safety advantages and others offer convenience and money saving opportunities, what are the real costs to the widespread use of plastics? What are the dangers to humans and to the environment of using plastics?
The Inconvenient Truth about Manufacturing Plastics:
Is resource intensive
Yields polluting emissions
Contributes to global warming
Lowers water quality
Is non-renewable (only a fraction of specially made plastics ever biodegrade)
Using tons of oil
Fills our landfills
May be causing a variety of health problems
The Scary Truth about how Plastics may Affect Our Health:
Yes, plastics, specifically polycarbonate, commonly labeled as #7 plastics are leaking BPA (bispenol-A) which is an “endocrine disrupter that mimics estrogen.” It has been linked to chromosomal disruption, lower sperm counts, miscarriages, birth defects and obesity.
Then there’s #3, also known as vinyl plastics used in many food containers. These are believed to leaked dioxins including DEHP and DEHA and others linked to liver, kidney and testicular problems.
Green health enthusiasts encourage others to avoid plastic packaging and bottling for food and especially for reheating or freezing foods since the temperature change can increase toxin release. And baby, that includes the plastic baby bottles, which are believed to be leaking toxins as well, especially after being washed.
Yes, the ugly reality is that plastics aren’t good for our environment or us but what is one to do in such a plastic dependent world?
We can all take small steps to reduce our consumption of plastics.
More Eco-Friendly Buying Habits
*There are few easy steps like refusing to use plastic grocery or even paper grocery bags. Read here for tips on breaking the bag habit completely. (Release Yourself from Plastic Bags Bondage)
*Buy large containers of yogurt, applesauce and so on instead of individual containers. Larger containers compared to single serves are less expensive, use less plastic and are more reusable for storing toys, hardware, craft supplies and more.
*Take some from Eco-Manor and use earth friendly materials for decorating. Consider purchasing a wooden clock, bamboo blinds or pottery light switch for example (for other eco-friendly interior design ideas visit Green in the Kitchen and Beautiful, Environmentally Friendly Flooring Options). When you buy fixtures using these alternatives materials, you’re more likely buying more locally made as well which is more eco-friendly as well.
The first step in reducing plastic dependency is to recycle all the plastics possible. This gives us a clearer picture of how much plastic we consume. Next we must open our eyes to possibilities of alternatives whether a stainless steel water bottle, a glass jar of applesauce or cloth diapers (The Great Diaper Debate-Part 1)
at least part of the time. Once we recognize our consumption of plastics and begin searching for greener alternatives, it is amazing how much we can reduce, although perhaps not eliminate, our dependence on plastics.
7 Responses to “Can We Live in a Plastic Free World?”
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Kristina Norrad says:
have you tried getting a cantine or a wineskin…the old fashion wine skin is totally natural…
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colton watters says:
SO CAN WE LIVE WITHOUT PLASTIC
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Hey Colton,
I definitely believe it’s possible to live without plastic. But it really comes down to individuals deciding that they can live without using plastic products. It’s difficult, and not a step that Carrie and I are ready to make yet 100%. But we’re getting there. What about you? Are you able to reduce/remove the use of plastic in your life?
Warmest,
Jonathan -
denise says:
What about plastic bags for trashcans? what if you’re in the bathroom using the toilet and you throw all the butt-wipe tissue in the trashcan? won’t it dirty and make the trashcan smell horrible? All I’m asking is about the trashcans…especially the ones in the bathroom.
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Alwateen says:
Well, striving for sucess, I myself in Pakistan is doing some efforts to STOP the Plastic use in my peronal life – and forcing my siblings to live my life (FORCE, EXTRA FORCE).
there are few funny stuff I’d like to tell you,
people asks for plastic bags for there “show off”
they don’t like to carry vegetable based or cloth bags (extremly cheap) – they say that it is opposite to their pride.
people ask for plastic bags because they cannot carry any alternative, bla bla bla thousand of reasons when it comes to a nation with only 3% of true rate of proper educated people (1% of which thinks ethically) they say “theily do na” means give me a plastic made shopping bag.
So I came after few months of living in germany and I changed my life TOTALLY, (for some people it might be CRAZY A*****)
I go to shops with my cotton bag (you can turn 4 or 5 bags to get enough payload) i keep several small bags to get several things not being mixed up.
I use wooden bed, cotton matterss (made by myself), wooden furniture, do not buy magazines and newspapers (most of the time), don’t accept brouchers (because most of the stuff is non recycleable) I finally made my MOM convinced not to buy any plastic thing for kitchen and scarped the previous things, We use glass and pyrex things in our home.
I planted 10 trees to safe positions in my street this week.
I am building my astronomy observatory (plastic less), chairs are being made out of wood, the floor and all the other stuff of wood. Unfortunalty most of things are made out of plastics but you can’t resist them at all they are necessary.
I am thinking to make a windmill structure all out of wood. (yes I am working on it)
I am planting atleast 15 trees a month which don’t require much water (as the area is less for water) (dates, coconut and kikar (local name) ) and am planning to get it done around 45 per month in this years target. (spending a lot of money on them and rest of it on caring plants)
I am going to buy a woolen carpet and wooden floors (no poleyester) sofas are already cotton (alas mattress) but the rest of the chairs I am going to buy are bamboo made fancy. and wooden based.
I prefer buying CANNED FOOD (CANNED COOKING OIL) and when it is matter of spices (I get best quality from BAZAR (a market openly selling best quality spices) I go there with my fabric bags and glass bottles to the extent I can use.
I don’t buy any plastic canned food item (till it is end of the earth) fortunatly NO medicine (90%) is packed in plastic bottles here (alimunium foils for tablets and capsules) and glass bottles for syrups most of the time. NO COKE and Beverage in plastic bottle, I use cans – yes they are expensive but they are worth buying for our planet.
ok comming to cooking without plastic appliances.
you can beat eggs with hand beater when making cake; reasons: it becomes the best and you get a small workout.
I am using natural gas (green gas) for my oven. (not with conventional oil based generated electricity)
I blend all the stuff with my hand blender, hand mincer, and hand made manuall things.
I don’t use any dishwasher.
I don’t use any microwave (yes I have given it to my cousins) it is unhealthy and made under non-eviormental conditions.
I use biodiesel from used vegetable oils to run my generator to light up, when the local grid is down.
I use my car with Natural Gas CNG – do not use gasoline at all. (most of the cars in Pakistan is doing this as we have plenty of gas resources)
I use MATKA (a clay made cooler by which you can get filtered, cooled, water instead of PLASTIC COOLER!)
I don’t use Airconditioner most of the time, because Compressors with CFC are not good for our planet.
I am looking for a green refrigrator.
I am going to invest in Solar Panels, a Wind Mill and my own setup – instead of a telescope (which I don’t know how am I resisting)
I use minimum battery operated instruments, and try to use long term rechargeable batteries.
I am using wireless internet, wireless networking, (to reduce cabling) I insist my friends on doing so (as a status symbol so they also cut wires)
I THINK A LOT BEFORE BUYING ANYTHING, I THINK ABOUT THE ALTERNATIVE (WHAT IS THE POSSIBLE SOLUTION???)
I USE A LOT OF GLASS STUFF.
Though I use a lot of wood, but I am planting a lot of wood too, and believe me as soon as my trees are getting bigger, I am so much happy on it.
I HATE APPLIANCES made of plastics. whatever I don’t buy most of them including my favorite iPod and other gadgets.
In my future I will be opening a business which focus on cheap green products and 50% of all profit will go on planting the forest. I want my country 60% of forest. MORE FOREST MORE RAINS, MORE CROPS, MORE PROSPERITY.
My family is sick of me and don’t want to change the life style but I am pushing them to do the thing -
Denise- it is hard to choose what we can do and can’t do. I do recommend that when using trash bags you use the green ones that break down when disposed off they make them in several different sizes and you can find them at most grocery stores. Then your trash can doesn’t get all smelly and they won’t be sitting in a landfill, but will break down instead of holding the contaminants inside them.
Just please don’t use the plastic trash bags you get from the grocery store (hopefully you aren’t even getting them) they are not biodegradeable and even worse than cleaning out a smelly trash can, we could be stuck cleaning up a really smelly world if the use of those continues. Many think using them is “recycling” but it’s not.
Okay, plastic bottles are bad for the environment and our bodies. What should I take on my morning run to drink water from? I was using aluminum bottles until I found rust inside them. And aluminum is not the best thing for our bodies.