Life Without Plastic Part One/The No Brainers
Adventures in Sustainable Living Podcast
Episode 69
Life Without Plastic Part One: The No Brainers
We are often told to reduce our waste production, conserve water, recycle, eat less meat, drive less, convert to renewable energy, and thus be more sustainable. The challenge is that a great deal of the time we are not given easily accessible, affordable options in order to live more responsibly.
By far one of the largest challenges we have these days is that of plastic pollution. Plastic is literally everywhere. It fills our oceans, landfills, food, water, and micro plastics have even been found on top of Mount Everest. This is why I want to devote a couple of episodes to not only going plastic free but to give you some options to get you started.
So stayed tuned for part one of Life Without Plastic.
Welcome back everyone to the Adventures in Sustainable Living podcast. This is your host Patrick and this is E69, which is part of a series called Life Without Plastic Part One: The No Brainers.
The 20th and 21st centuries have justifiable been unofficially named the Plastics Age. Plastics are literally in every single aspect of our lives to the point that it is impossible to go through a single day without encountering or using plastic in some way. We use plastic toothbrushes, our key fobs are made of plastic, we store food in plastic containers, we eat and drink out of plastic containers.
Fortunately we are becoming increasingly aware that such widespread use of plastics is not without consequences. Plastic pollution is ubiquitous in the environment. We even consume a certain amount of micro plastics every day. But how did this happen? How is it that plastics came to dominate our lives? And what might be the answer to this on-going problem?
While we all think of plastics as being a 20th century product, there are actually naturally occurring plastics that have been used for centuries. Materials such as tortoiseshell, amber, natural rubber, and animal horns were used for many purposes. For example, animal horns become malleable when heated and were often used to make numerous products. In the 19th century the comb making industry was one of the largest applications of using horn.
However, by the middle of the 19th century, animal products were becoming increasingly scare. The demand for ivory was pushing elephants toward extinction. Some turtle species were facing the same fate. Consequently, some savvy inventors attempted to solve this problem by producing semi-synthetic materials.
In 1862 a chemist named Alexander Parkes patented a semi-synthetic material, which he called Parkesine, which is considered the first manufactured plastic. This served as an inexpensive and colorful substitute for ivory and tortoiseshell. Other business people follow suit and further refined this invention and the plastic industry was born.
What followed in the 20th century was the development of purely synthetic materials. A Belgian chemist pioneered the first fully synthetic plastic in 1907. He called his invention Bakelite. The advent of this affordable versatile material literally caused a consumer boom of affordable products. In the early part of the 20th century petroleum and chemical industries formed beneficial agreements with companies such as DuPont, ExxonMobil, BASF, and Dow Chemicals. Even today these companies are still the predominant producers of raw materials for the plastics industry.
Primarily these alliances were formed in an effort to make use of waste materials from the processing of natural gas and crude oil. Some early success was seen while other experiments failed. However, as a result of one of these failed experiments, another material was accidentally discovered. It turns out that this material was a polymer of ethylene. And now polyethylene is the world’s most abundant plastic because it is flexible, strong and heat resistant.
Consequences of the Plastics Boom
For many years the invention of plastic seemed to be the answer for the mass production of numerous consumer products. Plastic was durable, extremely versatile, and inexpensive to produce. However, the very chemical properties that make plastic so desirable have now become the bane of our existence.
Plastics are extremely difficult to dispose of because these materials take thousands, even tens of thousand of years to degrade. When plastic does finally break down this creates an even bigger issue. Over time much of this plastic breaks down into tiny particles, called micro-plastics, that make their way into lakes, rivers, and eventually the oceans. We even breath in and consume micro plastics everyday, the health affects of which are still unknown.
But our problems with plastic began when it started to replace more expensive materials such as paper, glass, and metal which were used in consumer packaging. One of the worst products of all time are the PET drink bottles. This type of bottle was first patented in 1973 to contain carbonated drinks. PET bottles were light weight, much safer to transport relative to glass, and are practically unbreakable.
Unfortunately the economics involved in this industry promotes the mass production of cheap plastic products and this has lead to a single-use culture. Today nearly 500 billion PET bottles are sold every year. Since the 1950s 8.3 billion tons of plastic has been produced with less than 10% of that being recycled.
What is the Answer?
Now you would think the obvious answer to the problem is recycling. However, one of the biggest barriers to recycling plastics is the separation of materials. Many plastic products have different melting points and the resulting sludge often does not yield a useful product.
Another potential answer is the development of biodegradable plastics. Actually one of the first products was developed in 1990 and was used for shampoo bottles.
But when I read about new technology such as this I start thinking, “Well, here we go again.” We are making yet another attempt to use money and technology to solve our problems instead of changing the behavior that got us in the predicament in the first place. Which leads me to my next point.
Perhaps the best solution to the plastics problem is to move away from our single use culture and even live a plastic free life.
So many times in our culture we see advancements in technology that solves one problem but creates another. Obviously early on in the history of plastics, developing new materials possibly saved several species from extinction. But decades later we have taken it to the extreme and we now see that this wonderful product has in many ways become the bane of our existence.
The ultimate answer to the plastics problem is to change our behavior and just stop using these products. But considering that plastics literally exist in every part of our lives, that is easier said than done. For most of us it will be a slow transition. It is the same with living a more sustainable life. You take one step at a time, change one simple thing at a time. Then over a period of several years you will actually make substantial progress.
As I stated before many times we are told to change our behavior to something more sustainable yet we are not given appropriate options. Recycling is a good example. How often do you hear that you should recycle more products. But as I go about my business working in different communities I rarely see recycling options that are readily apparent.
So the primary focus of this episode is to give you some options and pointers to start your journey to being plastic free. Some of these suggestions will be much easier than others. Additionally, there is so much more than can be done beyond what I am going to present here. That is why there will be numerous resources in the transcript. So, let’s get started.
Tips for a Plastic Free Life
Audit your plastic use
If you listened to my episode regarding 12 steps to a zero waste lifestyle, then you know that the first step to going zero waste was to dig through your garbage. By doing so, you are doing an audit of the type of waste you are producing. The same principle holds true for going plastic free. What most people do not realize is that the most difficult part of going plastic free is going plastic free. So the first step and most important step is to audit your lifestyle. The importance of the personal audit is to develop an awareness of what you have and how you use it. Once you recognize that then the next obvious step is to commit to no longer purchasing plastic items, commit to reducing your use of plastic, and start looking for alternatives.
The next most obvious step is to eliminate the no brainers and do the easy stuff first. Things such as reusable grocery bags.
Reusable Grocery Bags
This is by far one of the easiest things you can do. Most supermarkets these day have reusable grocery bags and even produce bags for sale at the check out. There are also numerous options available online. Canvas bags are often the most durable but also the most expensive. The benefit to these is that they are washable.
American use 100 billion plastic bags per year which takes 12 million barrels of oil to manufacture. The fossil fuel companies plan to increase plastic production by 40% over the next decade. So why be a part of the problem.
Some cities, and even some countries, have now banned the use of plastic shopping bags. It is so easy to keep a small stash of reusable shopping bags in your vehicle at all times so you do not forget them.
Purchase fruit and vegetables without packaging
Because I cook a lot at home I am always purchasing small amounts of vegetables. Instead of purchasing prepackaged bags of peppers and other veggies, I choose to buy in bulk. If I happen to not have a reusable produce bag, I place loose produce in my shopping cart. Yes it is a little awkward sometimes at the self check out but I am willing to deal with that for the sake of not using plastic.
The other option is to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables at a local farmers market. This is another great way to take advantage of your reusable shopping bags.
Give up drinking bottled water
Drinking bottled water is one of the most wasteful practices on the planet. I discussed this at length in E10 A Bottle of Deception. A significant portion of bottled is simply filtered tap water. Furthermore the regulations governing tap water are far more restrictive than those for bottled water.
It should be a not brainer to purchase a water bottle made of stainless steel or some other material that is plastic free bottle. I carry one with me all the time.
Use your own containers for take out food and leftovers
This is where you are going to meet up with some resistance. Many restaurants will not allow you to use your own containers due to “sanitary reasons”. If you run into this, then find another place to eat. But one thing you can do is take your own container to a restaurant for left overs if you go out to eat. No one can stop you from doing that.
Stainless steel travel mug or coffee mug.
Purchase a stainless steel travel mug or coffee mug. Again, this is something I carry with me all the time. I have had the same travel mug for years. I take it to work for drinking coffee and tea. Not that I purchase items from a convenience store that often, but if I purchase coffee I use my own mug.
Unknown to most people, the to-go cups at coffee shops cannot be recycled. They are lined with a plastic film. This is what prevents the hot coffee from obliterating the cup. There are approximately 16 billion disposable coffee cups used each year. You can do your part to eliminate this wasteful practice by purchasing a reusable cup that will last you for decades.
Use a Stainless Steel Drinking Container
This goes along with the travel mug. I keep a stainless steel travel drinking mug in my vehicle all the time. If I am on the road and just want something to drink, I use the travel container instead of purchasing something in a plastic bottle. Most places will even give you a significant discount for bringing your own container.
Keep reusable kitchenware at work
One thing I did long ago was purchase a set of camping dishes and utensils that stay with me all the time. This kitchenware lives in my vehicle or my lunchbox. This prevents me from ever using disposable plates and cutlery when I travel to different hospitals for work.
Give up sodas and other drinks packages in plastic bottles
Give up soda, juices, and other drinks that are packaged in plastics bottles.
If you really want a carbonated drink, then use your stainless steel travel mug and purchase a fountain drink. Instead of purchasing fruit juice in a plastic bottle, consider purchasing juice in a carton that can be recycled. Or make your own.
Give up the plastic straws
This is rarely an issue for me because I don’t typically eat out or get to-go food. But if you do, then decline the plastic straw. Stainless steel reusable straws can be easily found online. This is another one of those items I routinely keep in the travel bag that lies in my vehicle.
Alternative methods of food storage
This is the area in my life where I have been the most guilty. I cook a lot and always have left overs. I also freeze a lot of food. For example, I process meat in large quantities. The last time I got elk meat I ended up with 200 pounds. If I make special bread such as banana nut bread or zucchini bread, I make an extra loaf and freeze it.
Due to this, I use a lot of freezer bags, freezer containers, or put left overs in the refrigerator in plastic food storage containers. So what I did is just commit to not purchasing any more of these products. When a food storage container needs to be replaced, I purchase a new one made of glass. Instead of purchasing zip-style freezer bags I purchase one made of silicon.
The other thing I commonly do is save glass jars from food items I purchased at the supermarket. Once cleaned, I use them for food storage. If the jars have a nice rubber rim on the lid, then these are perfect for storing home dried fruits and putting them in my cellar.
Another easy option is to purchase reusable bees wax wraps for keeping food fresh instead of plastic wrap.
Okay folks, those are ten “no brainers” where you can easily give up using plastic or easily start transitioning to something else. Now let’s talk about some of the things that are going to take a little more effort.
Get your meat from a butcher shop
It is so easy when you are in a hurry to also grab meat at the supermarket. It is of course packaged in plastic. It is also easy to plan ahead and shop at a local butcher or meat market. If you are buying in smaller quantities, take your own container. But you can also purchase bulk quantities and save a considerable amount of money. Typically this meat comes in packaging that is more ecologically friendly.
Say no to frozen convenience foods
This is a big area for a lot of people. Once again, this is because we are addicted to convenience. It is so easy to just grab a ready-to-go frozen meal than to fix your own. But from a personal perspective, it is far less expensive and much healthier to cook at home. Cook meals large enough to have left overs and use that as lunch or dinner the following night. Not only is this more sustainable it will save you a considerable amount of money.
Find supermarkets that sell bulk items
Now this might take a little bit of effort. Most supermarkets I frequent have very limited bulk items. When you find one that you like, purchase things in bulk and use your own containers. Items you can typically buy are cereal, granola, tea, coffee, chips, herbs, seeds, nuts, and all kinds of flour.
If you do not have this option in your area, then simply purchase bulk items in large packages because this will decades the amount of waste. For example, I purchase flour 50 pounds at a time, dried beans 25 pounds at a time.
If you need a way to store bulk food such as this, visit the bakery in your local supermarket. They often have plenty of food grade buckets and they are more than willing to give them away. You just might have to clean them.
Funny thing about that. One of the last times I did that, I took home this bucket from the bakery that had been filled with chocolate icing for cakes. I sat it out on my deck with the intention of washing it. I forgot about it and came home the next day only to find the nice friendly bear had come by and licked in clean for me. However, I would recommend washing on your own.
Start composting
Many people have the impression that there is some magic science behind composting. Nothing could be further from the truth. Approximately 25% of the material that goes into our landfills is organic material, all of which could be composted. Composting reduces your waste production and the use of plastic garbage bags. Between composting and recycling, you may be able to get by without using plastic garbage bags at all.
Buy fresh bread without the plastic
Like most people, if you purchase bread regularly, buy it fresh and have it placed inside your own cloth bag. The cloth itself is still permeable to air so that is not enough to keep the bread fresh. But you can take that and put it inside a tin or other air tight container.
Purchase milk in glass containers
This is one of those things that may take a bit of looking. You may need to find a local dairy and a natural foods store.
Use stainless steel ice cube trays
Personally I do not have an ice maker. If you are in the same situation, then use stainless steel ice cube trays instead of plastic. If you make your own fruit popsicles like we do then use stainless steel molds.
Summary
Now what I have tried to do in this episode is to cover some of the highlights for going plastic free. I have given you 10 no-brainers. Those are the most obvious and easily things for all of us to do. The reality is that there is so much more to going plastic free than I have covered in this episode. That is why I will have multiple links to other resources in the transcript of this episode.
Just remember that the first step is your personal audit. This is how you become aware of what you are using and how much. It will give you an initial direction. One other thing I would suggest is to take a little time and learn about the different types of plastics, especially those used in food storage containers. Certain types of plastics, typically those that contain PCVs, are much more likely to leach toxic material into your food. Once I discovered this about some of the containers I was using, I got rid of them and replaced them with glass. So, if you must use plastics for food for now, then do it safely.
Going plastic free is similar to living sustainably or going waste free, it is a process. It is a journey. It is going to take some time. But there are things you can do to set yourself up for success.
First of all, do not focus on perfection. Focus on making progress. You don’t start at zero waste. You don’t start at 100% sustainability. Likewise, you don’t start at being 100% plastic free. Take one step at a time on focus on the progress that you make. One year from now you will congratulate yourself on your success.
Secondly, look for alternatives. Purchase silicon freezer bags, stainless steel or glass food storage containers when it comes time to replace something.
Thirdly, stop the single use habit. If you must purchase something in a plastic container, think of ways you can repurpose that item for multiple uses to extend the useful life cycle. This is far better than single use. For example, a good cup of coffee is one of my favor things. I typically buy larger containers of nondairy creamer, which comes in a hard plastic container with a screw on lid. I wash these out, use them for food storage and even use them in my shed to store loose hardware. They last for years.
Now in closing, as I said before, there is so much more to this than what I have managed to cover here. That is why I am dividing this into two episodes. Part two of this series is going to cover a number or products you can make at home that are not only sustainable but will also help you to go plastic free.
But for now, I hope you have enjoyed this episode. I will see you next week for part two of Life Without Plastic.
This is your host Patrick signing off. Always remember to live sustainably because this is how we build a better future.
Resources
100 Step to a Plastic Free Life
Life Without Plastic is Possible. It’s Just Very Hard By New York Times
Get Started Living Plastic Free
The Best Eco-Friendly Alternatives to Plastic in Your Life, by Eartheasy
10 Worst Single-Use Plastics and Eco-Friendly Alternatives by World Wildlife Fund
19 genius inventions that can stop us from using so much plastic
48 EcoFriendly Products You Can Buy Today to Help Stop Plastic Pollution
Patrick
