Every year, tons of plastic invade our oceans. We have already reached such a point of severity that the UN estimates that by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the world .
Between the coast of California and Hawaii there is an island called ” garbage island ” which is the largest in the Pacific with this material, measuring 1.6 million km² and 99% is made of plastic.
The worst thing of all is that plastic doesn’t disappear, it just gets smaller and these little pieces are the ones that end up ingested by fish and marine mammals, and through the food chain they end up on our plates.
We need to achieve a world without plastic, and we will only achieve this if each of us takes care of the planet, every grain of sand counts, and prioritizes alternatives to plastic in everyday life .
Nowadays we can find recommendations, awareness and “no plastic” habits on many websites, as well as handmade tips and tutorials to reuse and give a second life to plastic. The key is to reduce, reuse and recycle.
In fact, bamboo is an excellent sustainable material; it does not need fertilizers, pesticides or irrigation, and it produces 30% more oxygen than other plants. It has the same uses as plastic, but is biodegradable.
That is why we want to propose 5 alternatives to widely used everyday utensils made of plastic, and even replacing them would benefit us financially.
Five alternatives for a planet without plastic
1. Alternatives to plastic cutlery
- Stainless steel cutlery
- Bamboo Cutlery
2. Alternatives to plastic straws
- Stainless steel straws
- Bamboo straws
- Glass straws
3. Alternatives to clear plastic bags
A clear example of these bags are the bags we can find in fruit shops to weigh the fruit we pick, since it is fruit in bulk.
- Breathable fabric bags
- Polyester mesh bags with drawstring for easy opening and closing.
4. Alternatives to plastic personal hygiene products or utensils
- Bamboo toothbrush
- Bamboo ear picks
5. Alternatives for food and beverage packaging
- Glass Tupperware
- Glass and/or thermal bottle (do not use disposable plastic cups)
You can find many biodegradable and alternative options. This has even been transferred to the world of fashion. Recently, many influencers have mentioned the opposite version of plastic bags for shopping, and this is the bamboo mesh bag. If you always want to be up to date, you can buy them on Amazon !
If you are one of those who stay to eat at work, a glass tupperware and/or a metal lunch box will always be a very good option.
Above all, in order to be aware, be well informed about everything that contains plastic and thus be able to choose the “healthy” alternative for our planet. Did you know that chewing gum is made with toxic substances such as polyethylene and polyvinyl acetate, therefore it is not biodegradable and causes damage to the environment? And that a plastic bottle or cutlery takes about 450 years to degrade?
Start with a small gesture at home , recycling plastic and proving that we can live without this material, but also without forgetting glass, paper, cardboard, ceramics and stone. So incorporate the following actions into your domestic habits: reduce, reuse and recycle.
Protect your family, your children, the world you leave them will be their future! Make it better!