Plastic is a wonderful invention; it’s lightweight, cheap, and easy to use. These qualities make plastic the perfect material to create so many things around the house and workplace. However, plastic can also be an environmental nightmare if it winds up accumulating in our oceans or sloughing off our landfills.
The United Nations estimates that we contribute to300 million tons of plastic each year, with most of it ending up as garbage in landfills or water sources across the world.
But with a slight change in our everyday habits, we can help reduce plastic waste. Here are some ways you can help keep the environment safe from plastic waste.
Avoid Bottled Water
Bottled water is a massive source of plastic pollution. It takes millions of barrels of oil to produce all those bottles and transport them to retailers around the world. Even worse, millions of tons of plastic waste wind up in landfills and oceans every year.
Although bottled water can be convenient and taste good, it’s not worth the environmental impact. If you must have it, buy a refillable stainless steel bottle, and refill it at home or in public water fountains. Even better, get a filter system for your tap so that you’ll never have to buy another bottle of water again.
Avoid Single-Use Plastic Straws
Stainless steel straws are readily available in most supermarkets these days. Plastic straws can be great for parties, but otherwise, there’s no reason to buy them since you can easily recycle and reuse your glass or plastic straws. Glass is just better because it doesn’t scratch or alter the taste of liquids the way that plastic does.
Buy Reusable Grocery Bags
If you’re not ready to switch to 100% organic bags just yet, try using cloth grocery bags as an alternative. They work just as well in keeping fruits and vegetables fresh for a long time, and most people don’t have any problem washing them or carrying them around in the grocery stores.
In addition to this, reusable bags are durable and can last for years if you use them with care.
Invest in silicone food lids
If you want to replace your saran wraps, then silicone food lids are the answer. It keeps your food protected against cold and heat. Silicone food lids are a great alternative to clingy plastic wraps; these lids are airtight and keep your food fresh for a longer period.
Moreover, you don’t have to worry about polluting the sea creatures anymore since silicone is non-toxic and its reusability is also very high.
Buy bamboo cutlery
Bamboo is a super-lightweight material and is 100% biodegradable. It’s also BPA-free, antimicrobial, and anti-bacterial. Since bamboo grows from the root of the plant, it has no synthetic materials that can potentially harm the environment.
Moreover, when you scrap your old bamboo dine-in tableware after years of use, it is completely biodegradable due to its organic nature.
Get porcelain tableware
Porcelain dinnerware is a great alternative to plastic. Its white color and pretty patterns make it ideal for a dinner party or eating while at the beach. It even has an elegant look, which makes it ideal to use as everyday tableware.
Porcelain is also more durable than china since porcelain is produced by heating clay at a very high temperature. So, once you invest in a good porcelain dinner set, you don’t need to worry about buying another one for years.
Glass and stainless steel food containers
One of the easiest things you can do to prevent plastic pollution is to stop using plastic food containers altogether. Replacing them with glass or stainless steel containers is a good start. They’re not only free from the harmful chemicals found in plastic, but they’re also BPA-free, and they won’t leach out of their containers into your food.
Opt for eco-friendly packaging
Heavy-duty shipping boxes and bubble wrap are often used to ship even a small order out of state. Shipping companies aren’t the only ones guilty of this, though — retail stores also use plastic packaging on small items such as cosmetics or cleaning products. If you can, try to buy things sold without plastic packaging and use plant-based compostable alternatives instead.
Buy Plastic Alternatives at TP Green
TP Green sells a wide range of non-plastic and reusable products. The company is committed to protecting the environment. You can buy toxic-free, biodegradable porcelain and bamboo cutlery.
TP Green also sells a variety of silicone food containers that allow you to keep your food protected for days without having to worry about the toxins permeating your food.
The company also deals in an extensive range of disposable products, including cutlery, non-plastic food packaging, and much more. Contact them today to learn more about their products and adopt a sustainable lifestyle!