A global plastic waste crisis threatening the world’s ecosystems is well underway.
The problem is an as huge and complex as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch floating halfway between Hawaii and California.
Researchers have found that 90 per cent of seabirds had eaten plastic and that by 2050, 99 per cent of seabirds will have consumed plastic and that the estimated 19 billion pounds of plastic that end up in the ocean every year is expected to double by 2025.
Unfortunately, garbage and plastic in our waterways is not an uncommon sight. (via Thinkstock)Prince George is far from the coast, so the impact of plastic waste on beaches and oceans is easy to ignore but keeping mindful of our plastic waste and making simple choices in our day-to-day life can help reduce the amount of plastic waste we create.
Reducing plastic waste can be as simple as switching from single-use plastic items to reusable alternatives.
Stop buying bottled water
Fill up a bottle of water before you head out for the day instead of buying disposable plastic ones. Keep a bottle in your car or backpack that you can refill in a pinch.
Bring reusable shopping bags and produce bags
Keep a stash of reusable shopping bags in the trunk of your car or by your door, so you’ll have a greater chance of remembering them before you head to the grocery store. You can even go one step further and get reusable produce bags, skipping the need for plastic bags at the grocery store entirely.
Bring a tumbler to the coffee shop
Instead of getting your coffee in a to-go cup, bring your own tumbler. Most coffee shops will even offer a discount for using your own cup. You can also check out local businesses that use plant-based biodegradable packaging for their to-go products, like Café Voltaire in Books & Co.
Switch to reusable snack bags and cling wrap
There are a lot of great alternatives to plastic bags and food wraps. Cloth or reusable silicone sandwiches and snack bags are growing more common and are a cost-effective alternative to throwing out a plastic baggie every time you pack a lunch.
Shop in bulk
Shopping from bulk cuts out a lot of the plastic waste generated from food packaging. It also means using whole food products and fewer processed foods, which is a bonus.
Use shampoo bars
Shampoo bars are concentrated pucks of shampoo which lather up in the shower. Basically shampoo – or conditioner – in bar form. Shampoo bars skip the plastic bottle packaging of liquid shampoos and are often free of the harsher detergents found in many liquid shampoos.
Look for products that use minimal packaging
By simply choosing companies that use less plastic packaging or use biodegradable alternative plastics, you reduce the amount of plastic waste you produce and you effectively vote with your dollar for the corporations that embrace green or environmentally conscious practices.
