With a coffee-to-go styrofoam cup to the lecture in the morning, plastic cutlery at a barbecue by the lake, drinking straws at the next Bad Taste party - let the following sink in: As a whole, humanity has produced around 9.2 billion tons of plastic so far. And the thing is, there is no infrastructure to process this waste - 6.3 billion tons of it will never be recycled, according to a study by Science Advanced . That's the equivalent of the weight of a billion elephants.
Plastic is in the news because of its catastrophic impact on our oceans and marine life. According to the Earth's Oceans Foundation, it makes up about 90 percent of all garbage floating on the ocean surface. This not only kills millions of endangered marine life every year, but also causes fish to ingest so-called microplastics - tiny plastic particles that are broken down by ultraviolet light and waves.
This is not only problematic for marine life, but also ultimately for us when we consume them. According to a study published in Water Research , microplastics have been found in sea salt and even mineral water.
Companies and politicians are finally taking the suggestions of environmental activists to reduce plastic consumption seriously. The cabinet decided to implement the EU ban on single-use plastic from summer 2021. Say goodbye to Styrofoam cups, coffee stirrers, plastic cutlery and plates. In addition, 60 heads of state and government have agreed in a joint declaration that no more plastic waste should end up in the oceans by 2050. As good as that sounds, it is only a small start. Plastic now dominates our lives and can even be found in toothpaste and peelings.
Plastic production is booming
In the last ten years, humans have produced more plastic than in the entire last century combined. According to The Guardian, one million plastic bottles are bought around the world every minute, and the number is still rising.
Plastics have advanced space exploration, aviation and medicine. The problem with plastic is that we produce it for things we don't need.
According to the non-profit organization Plastic Oceans, about half of the plastic produced worldwide is used only once – like the plastic straw in your iced coffee or the plastic cutlery you get with your food order.
What makes plastic problematic is that it is not biodegradable and can last for up to a thousand years.
We have been told over and over again that recycling is the solution to the plastic problem. However, the problem is now too big for recycling alone to solve. In addition, it may distract us from the real problem: the overproduction of plastic.
The statistics mentioned are not meant to make you feel depressed - and don't assume that the fight against plastic is already lost. They are meant to serve as a warning signal to us - for the future of our planet and for generations to come. At least there is a small glimmer of hope and an EU-wide positive trend towards less plastic use due to the EU plastic ban from 2021. A little celebration is in order, because government regulations like this are crucial. But you can also achieve a lot on a personal level and help protect the environment and yourself. Below are some practical tips on how you can personally join the anti-plastic movement and make small changes every day to use less plastic and thus reduce plastic pollution.
1. Stop using plastic
Sounds obvious (and difficult), right? Yes – changing habits is hard. But to really test yourself, make notes on how often you encounter single-use plastic in your everyday life. And write it down if you can!
Then identify the cases that are really unnecessary. Maybe you buy things in small (individual) packages instead of in large quantities, or you always order ice cream in a cup instead of a cone. Be aware of these small decisions.
Finally, make a plan to eliminate (or at least drastically reduce) your unnecessary plastic consumption. While one eco-conscious choice won't help much, positive habits can go a long way toward truly reducing plastic use.
Fortunately, there are plenty of quick hacks that make it easier than ever to limit your plastic consumption:
If you love your morning coffee to go, either make it at home and take it to work in a thermos cup or have a stylish reusable cup in your bag for your coffee break. You can also get a stainless steel straw and take it with you to your local café.
The Better World Cup initiative in Berlin is leading the way when it comes to drastically reducing the use of disposable cups. So if you get your morning brew at a café that is part of the movement, you can not only enjoy their coffee, but also get a discount if you bring your own reusable cup. An additional option is to make use of RECUP , a nationwide deposit system for coffee cups.
Doing away with plastic bottles altogether is also a relatively obvious step in the right direction. Canada’s tap water is generally of pretty good quality – so from a health perspective there is no real reason to drink bottled water.
If pure tap water isn't to your taste, you can simply use a BRITA water filter, or buy a Sodastream if you prefer carbonated water. Fun fact : You can even refill your reusable bottles on the go - thanks to the more than 5,200 refill stations and fountains across Canada.
Grocery stores and supermarkets have also been committed to the fight against plastic for several years now, by charging for plastic bags. The plan for this year is for the plastic bag to disappear from stores completely. Luckily, many of us already carry a cute foldable cloth bag in our backpacks at all times to avoid one of those "oh no, I forgot to bring a bag again!" situations.
So-called unpackaged stores go one step further. They offer all products "loose", i.e. without any packaging - in order to completely avoid plastic waste. The stores support sustainability and also focus on regional and seasonal products. So, grab your reusable container and simply fill up your own muesli, flour and pasta. And if you're worried about hygiene - no need to worry, the unpackaged stores usually adhere to strict hygiene regulations.
Buy more sustainable clothing
According to estimates by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), around 1.5 million tonnes of microplastics enter the sea every year. Two thirds of these are fibres from clothing.
But what can you do about it?
Try to reduce the amount of polyester and nylon in your clothing. Instead, focus on buying natural fabrics like cotton, bamboo or hemp. And remember: less is more ;). Do you really need a completely new wardrobe every season? #FastFashion #GreenLiving
We all know the phenomenon of having a completely full closet but still having nothing to wear. Buy smart, and buy pieces that you can combine with each other. If you feel like you're already doing this or are just longing for a few new pieces, go out and visit a few second-hand shops in your area. Not only will you be helping the environment, but you'll also be wearing unique items that no one else has. Another great option is upcycling labels that make clothes from textile waste. They're not only chic and unique, but also completely sustainable.
We also suggest using the power of social influence to motivate yourself (and others!) to use less plastic. In an interview with Hidden Brain, behavioral economist and Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman explains that the best way to get people to make environmentally conscious choices is through social proof.
In other words, if you know that “everyone” (aka the people you know) is more careful about their plastic consumption, you are much more likely to stop using it yourself than if you simply hear a statistic about the damage caused by plastic.
So, get your friends together: Whether it's a clothes swap with your buddies, work colleagues or your community, or sharing a new store with great secondhand clothing on your favorite social media platform - push each other to take care of our environment.
3. Food and plastic packaging
If you love ordering food from your favorite Chinese restaurant, tell them you don't want plastic cutlery with your order. And if you're really committed, hop on your bike and pick up the vegetarian spring rolls in a reusable box (eg Tupperware).
You can apply the same thinking to grocery shopping: If you buy in bulk, you not only reduce packaging waste, but you also do something good for your bank account. Today, there are more and more sustainable stores that allow you to bring your reusable containers from home.
Zero Waste Nerd Shia Su suggests that if you want to completely avoid single-use packaging for fruits and veggies and can afford organic products, you should visit local farmers markets, join a CSA (“community supported agriculture”), or order so-called “organic boxes.”
Even technology companies are taking note of plastic waste – Apple has already made changes to iPhone packaging and uses 84 percent less plastic, according to Business Insider.
4. Support the good cause
Forward-thinking companies like Loop are offering a new zero-waste platform. The program offers consumers products delivered in reusable packaging that can be returned and reused. For now, Loop is available in New York and Paris and has just launched a pilot program in England in partnership with Tesco. However, it plans to launch in more countries.
Another approach is to support non-profit organizations that are working tirelessly to solve the plastic problem. Ocean Child , an environmental NGO and partner in the practicalpal.net Giveback program, brings together volunteers for the so-called Plastic Rebel CleanUps, where they collect as much plastic and garbage as possible. Since November 2017, when the first CleanUp event took place, more than 1,000 people in 36 countries have participated in 20 events and managed to collect more than 55 tons of waste!
One Earth – One Ocean is another wonderful environmental NGO that is part of the practicalpal.net Giveback program. Through their “maritime garbage collection” concept, they use special garbage collection ships to collect plastic, which is then recycled or turned into sulfur-free heating oil.
While there is no magic way to solve our plastic problem, there is a growing movement of concerned individuals and communities working together to make a difference. We cannot undo the damage that has been done, but we can work together to find solutions to make the planet better for generations to come.