214_Twelve Single Use Plastics You Can Eliminate From Your Life Right Now

Adventures in Sustainable Living Podcast

Episode 214

Twelve Single Use Plastics You Can Eliminate From Your Life Right Now

There is no doubt that we often find ourselves swimming in a sea of information about the questionable future of our planet. Big business and big government, while suppling us with most of our basic resources, continue to destroy the planet. More and more people want to live sustainably but we are too often at a loss for ways to help the planet that are both meaningful and impactful.

At this point it should be no surprise that plastics have become the bane of our existence. Plastic pollution can now be found on very corner of the planet. Furthermore plastic production will likely double by the year 2050.

So join me for E214 Twelve Single Use Plastics You Can Eliminate From Your Life Right Now

Welcome back everyone to the Adventures in Sustainable Living Podcast. This is your host Patrick and this is E214 Twelve Single Use Plastics You Can Eliminate From Your Life Right Now

Every thing I want to focus on in this episode is right in the title. Basically I want to focus on a short list of plastics you can eliminate from your life almost immediately. Now that is something meaningful.

Good News Story of the Week

This week’s good news story focuses on Asheville, North Carolina. As most of you likely know, hurricane Helene had a devastating affect on this community. Thousands of people were left homeless almost over night.

But thanks to the efforts of numerous companies and hundreds of volunteers, people in these communities are receiving much needed relief in the form of food, fresh water and a place to live.

One such company is Lowe’s, which made a commitment of $12 million in hurricane relief funds. A significant portion of that money was put into building 100 tiny homes that were donated to families in need of housing.

This project was initially proposed by Lowe’s Senior Director of Community relations, Julie Yenichek, and an old friends of hers, Danny Kelly, the co-owner of Kelly McArdle Construction in Charlotte. The implementation of this project was then made possible by of a community of builders, hundreds to volunteers, Lowe’s employees, donated warehouse space, and donated materials and equipment. 

All of the tiny homes included heat, a kitchen, a bathroom, all necessary furnishings and two full-sized beds. The homes are permanently fixed to a trailer and are ready to be hooked up to electricity. Sixty seven of these homes were delivered to family just before Christmas with another 33 units to be delivered in early January.  Because of these donated tiny homes families are now able to remain in their own communities while their primary homes are being rebuilt.

This weeks round of applause goes to Lowes, Kelly McArdle Construction, Incredible Tiny Homes, the Home Builders Association of Greater Charlotte, and the hundreds of volunteers who readily signed up to help with the efforts.

This project is certainly a testament to the kindness that people can extend to others in a time of need.

Now let’s move on to this weeks episode.

As you likely know sustainability is being talked about more and more frequently. Most surveys reveal that there is a strong desire among the vast majority of people to live sustainably. Depending on the study you read, anywhere from 77% to 85% of people say sustainability should be a priority.

But due to the vast extent of the global challenges that we face today, most people are too often at a loss for ways to help the planet that are both meaningful and impactful. Too often we doubt whether or not as individuals our actions can truly make a difference. Furthermore, far too many people believe that living sustainably is too expensive, difficult, and will dramatically change their lives.

But similar to so many other things in our lives,  living sustainably is a lifestyle choice. When you make that choice you cannot expect perfection. Your life may never be 100% sustainable. You may never live 100% waste free. We may never have a society that is 100% circular. But, we have to try because we do not live on a planet with an endless supply of resources. That is becoming more and more evident as our global population continues to grow.

You have likely heard me say before that there are hundreds of things you can do to live a more sustainable life. All you have to do is pick one thing, focus on that, get that habit fully incorporated into your life, then move on to something else. That said, some things are more difficult than others. For example, it is possible to completely eliminate your food waste in less than one month.  On the other hand, going plastic free is a bigger challenge.

Someone said to me once that the only problem with going plastic free is going plastic free. And I will readily admit that it is far more difficult than I could have imagined. It is something I have been working on for more than a year now and I am still not there. Additionally I have been fine tuning my sustainable off grid life for 27 years now and I am still learning.

In my last episode I talked a lot about the dilemma we have with plastic straws and how the focus on one thing such as that can distract us from doing things that are more impactful. Now in this episode I want to give you some tips for things you can easily accomplish do that will truly make a difference, such as eliminating single use plastics from your life.

Now I will admit that  plastic straws are an incredible waste. They are a disposable product that we use for only a few minutes and then throw it away. But then you could make the same argument about several other disposable products such as paper towels or Kurig style coffee pods.

But first take a look at the big picture. Greater than 50% of the plastics produced in the world are for single use. By eliminating single use plastics from our lives we could reduce our plastics pollution by 50%.

But as I mentioned earlier, some sustainable habits are more difficult than others. If someone told you that in order to have a sustainable like you had to give up your vehicle, then it would likely never happen. But it is possible to eliminate single use plastics, which would also have a significant impact.

What most people are not aware of is that chemicals derived from non-renewable energy sources, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, are used to make 99% of the plastics on our planet. In fact, this was a learning issue even more me. I did not know this until researched just how plastics were manufactured.  If you want to know more about this, the British Plastics Federation has a good article on how plastic is produced. The link to the article can be found in the transcript of this episode. 

Presently, about 4% to 8% of annual global oil consumption is attributed to plastics production. If current trends continue, the plastics industry could account for as much as 20% of global oil consumption by the year 2050. If 50% of plastics produced are single use, we could actually cut our oil consumption by 10% just by eliminating single use plastics. It probably goes without saying that it would be difficult for most of us to completely give up our vehicles. But it is entirely possible for everyone of us to give up single use plastics. Now that would be something that is not only meaningful but very impactful. 

So how do we go about doing this?

By far some of the most common single use plastics are straws, bottles, plastic bags including shopping bags, plastic produce bags, plastic eating utensils, coffee cups and lids, ear buds aka ear swabs or cotton tip applicators, take out containers, plastic wrap, and plastic food storage containers. All of these are items we can absolutely do without.

So let’s talk for a minute about how to eliminate from our lives some of the most common single use plastics. 

1) Plastic straws

Plastic straws are on the top ten list of waste items found on our beaches. In the United States alone we throw away 500 million plastic straws everyday. That is enough straws to circle the Earth 2 1/2 times. Canadians throw away 57 million plastic straws a day. Most major cities do not accept them in recycling because of the difficulty involved in processing items this small. Even the so-called compostable straws still end up in the trash and most will not compost under landfill conditions.

Solution

Don’t use them. Unless you have a specific medical condition or disability, you do not need to use a straw. It is a complete waste of resources and one of the most harmful causes of pollution that affects marine life.

However, if you like using a straw because of the convenience then reusable straws are easy to find. However, remember that everything we do has some sort of impact. So if you are going to purchase a reusable straw make sure it will last you through years of use. I purchased stainless steel straws almost 10 years ago. It is one of the items I carry with me all the time.

2) Plastic water bottles

Second on the list is plastic water bottles. The most recent estimates are that we throw away 80 billion single use plastic water bottles every year. Less than 10% of those ever get recycled. And the challenge is that the bottled water industry continues to grow by leaps and bounds. And we continue to be the victims of a successful propaganda campaign that our tap water is not safe.

Unless you are somewhere away from home and have no choice, buying single use bottles of water is completely unnecessary. It is a wasteful habit that can be completely avoided.

Solution

If you are concerned about your tap water, have it tested. If you don’t want to do that, buy a water filter.

At the cabin, we take raw stream water and run it through a gravity fed purification system and produce purified water for less than 3 cents per gallon. Despite that, I periodically have the water tested just for the peace of mind.

If you happen to live in an older municipal area where there is a concern about high lead levels in the water, there are filters that will removed virtually 100% of the lead. The point being, if you are concerned about your tap water there is an easy solution to the issue. If you are worried about using tap water when at work, then purchase an inexpensive portable filter. A small amount of effort can goes a log way to minimizing an incredible amount of waste.

3) Coffee Cups and Lids

Nearly 500 billion disposable coffee cups are thrown away globally every year all because we are addicted to convenience. Starbucks alone produced 4 billion disposable cups every year. And this is only one coffee chain.

Single use coffee cups contain a plastic lining to prevent hot liquids from being absorbed into the paper. This means they cannot be recycle and all of them end up going to the landfill. This is waste that can easily be avoided.

Solution

Purchase a reusable cup and always carry it with you. I have had the same stainless steel coffee cup for over 10 years and it keeps on going. The best part is that 10 years ago it only cost me $8.

4) K-cup coffee pods

Sitting and drinking coffee used to represent a time for family and friends to take a break, recharge, and enjoy each others company. These days, it’s all about getting caffeinated as quickly as possible so we can go to work. The problem with this cultural shift is that we now produce even more waste.

In the UK alone, nearly 30,000 coffee pods go to the landfill every month. And they will be there for at least 500 years. Once again, this kind of waste is completely avoidable.

Solution

One of the things I truly enjoy in life is a good cup of coffee. It is one of my few vices. But I have a small coffee press that I keep in a box of supplies that stays in my truck all the time. I also have coffee, sugar, creamer and a stainless steel K-cup. This way, no matter where I go I have something that is reusable. This very simple set up cost me maybe $35 and it prevents me from producing plastic waste.

5) Plastic Bags

Not using plastic bags probably goes without saying at this point. In the US we use 100 billion plastic bags a year. Canadians use about 15 billion.

Solution

Thankfully bans on single use plastic bags are becoming more common. If they are not banned, then you have to pay for one at the merchant. But, this can be completely avoided by purchasing some durable reusable shopping bags.

6) Plastic Produce Bags

Less information is available about just how many plastic produce bags are used every year. But these low density polyethylene bags have been excluded from most bans on plastic bags around the world.

What we do know is that 4.2 million tons of plastic bags are produced every year. Only a very small percentage of these bags are ever recycled.

Solution

Purchase some reusable mesh produce bags. I purchased some about 3 years to and they are still holding up. 

7) Plastic Eating Utensils

There is one thing I read regarding plastic eating utensils that I will never forget. I truly wish I could remember where I read this. But it goes something like this. We now find it easier to extract resources, refine them, turn them into a plastic spoon, ship it to the marketplace, purchase them, use them once and throw them away, as opposed to washing a spoon and putting it away when we are finished using it.

When you look at it from that perspective, you begin to appreciate just how wasteful it is to use plastic eating utensils.

Solution

Purchase a set of metal eating utensils and make it part of the kit you carry with you all the time. Since I use a backpack for work, I carry eating utensils with me always. I keep a second set in my backpack to make sure they are always available. 

8) Plastic Take Out Containers

There is no specific data on how many take containers that we use over the course of one year. But if you consider that the average person in our culture eats 18 to 20 meals a month outside the home, it is easy to conclude that we are producing a mountain of waste that is completely avoidable.

Solution

The easiest, least expensive, healthiest solution to this is to eat more meals at home. But if you insist on eating restaurant food, then take you own containers to bring home the left overs. Personally, I do not eat at restaurants very often. But when I do and I take my own containers for left overs, no on objects to what I am doing. It’s great.

9) Plastic Wrap

Next on our hit parade is plastic wrap.

The challenge with plastic wrap, along with other thin plastics such as produce bags, is that these materials are very difficult to recycle. You cannot place them in curbside recycling bins. If they go to the standard recycling facility, they tend to clog up machinery causing operational issues and safety hazards.

These bags can be recycled but they have to go to specific recycling bins, typically at one of your local retailers. What this typically means is that people just throw them away instead taking the extra steps needed to recycle them.

Solution

Don’t use plastic wrap. There are plenty of alternatives. Store left overs in reusable containers, preferably glass or stainless steel. If you really need something to wrap up food or to cover a dish use a bees wax wrap instead.

10) Plastic packaging

Plastic that is used for packaging accounts for nearly 40% of all the plastic that goes in the trash. From the items you order online to the packs of vegetables you purchase in the supermarket, everything seems to be wrapped in plastic. And much of this can be avoided.

Solution

Purchase loose vegetables in the supermarket and place them in mesh reusable bags. Better yet, purchase in bulk at the farmers market. When it comes to household items, look for things not wrapped in plastic. You could even consider buying local instead of ordering everything on Amazon.

11) Shampoo and Conditioner Bottles

Shampoo and conditioner bottles are another source of significant pollution. In the United States alone we throw away 550 million of these plastic bottles annually.

What people do not realize is that the average water content in commercially prepared shampoo and conditioner is around 80%. The high water content serves as a carrier for the ingredients that do the cleaning. Consequently, you and the environment are paying a high price for something that is mostly water.

Solution

Switch to shampoo and conditioner bars. They contain very little water, will last you longer, and come with biodegradable, compostable packing. You could take this one step further and just make your own like we do at the cabin. It is so much easier than you think.

12) Laundry Detergent Bottles

Laundry detergent is another significant source of pollution that we generate. We throw away 700 million used plastic detergent jugs every year. The vast majority of these go to the landfill and are never recycled.

Solution

The easiest way to avoid this is to not purchase laundry detergent in plastic jugs. Purchase dry detergent in a box that can be recycled. But, another way to avoid this is to make your own laundry detergent. We do this all the time. All the ingredients come in recyclable containers. It only take about 30 minutes to make a batch of detergent. And the best part is that this stuff is really strong and you end up using a lot less. A little goes a long wa

Summary

There is no doubt that our planet is faced with some significant challenges. Because of that, most of us sit back and feel helpless to do anything that is meaningful. But all too often we fail to recognize that the sum of the individual actions and choices that got us where we are today. That is why our individual choices do make a difference.

Since the 1950s 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic has been produced globally. While it is useful to recognize how long it takes for plastics to degrade it is more important to accept the fact that plastic never completely decompose. Plastics break down into smaller and smaller pieces and eventually become microplastics. This is why microplastics now contaminate every corner of our planet, they can be found in our food and even in our blood streams. In fact, the average person consumes about 40 pounds of plastic during their lifetime.

Just 20 companies are responsible for 50% of the single use plastics on the planet. It is these very companies that have convinced us that single use plastics are safer than reusable products. This is simply not true. Furthermore, single use plastics make up 50% of all plastic pollution. Consumers use these products simply as a matter of convenience.

If you truly want to do something for this planet, something that is meaningful, impact, easy, and something you can start today, give up single use plastics. And you can start with the 12 items I listed above.

Now to start closing out this episode I would like to leave you with 7 tips to start eating a more sustainable, responsible diet

-Eat less meat. Our meat based protein diet account for nearly 30% of the environmental impact we have on this planet. Going without meat a couple of days a week will make a significant difference.

-Purchase regional products. When you purchase food, make sure it is produced in the country where you live. This has far less impact.

-Eat seasonally. Again, eating fruits and vegetables that are in season keeps you from buying imported products which have a much greater environmental impact.

-Drink tap water instead of bottled water.

-Plan your meals so that you reduce your food waste.

-Go organic and fair trade so that you are both socially and ecologically responsible

-Pass on the plastic

And to finally sum up this episode, there is no excuse for single use.

This is your host Patrick signing off. Until next week, always remember to live sustainably because this is how we build a better future.