Single-use plastic straws are an environmental problem that few people think about. But consider the popularity of drinks like fountain sodas, iced lattes and bubble teas; all the accompanying plastic straws add up to a lot of plastic waste. According to Australian researchers, as many as 8.3 billion plastic straws litter the world’s beaches, roughly one for every living human. Those […]
Plastic utensils are not recyclable. If you’re considering buying any “disposable” with the intention of recycling it, it’s better to choose a reusable or compostable alternative. It’s time to move on from plastic utensils, plates, cups, and bowls — and in some nations, provinces, and states, single use plastics are being phased out through new bans on selling them. But […]
Governments are taking action against single-use plastics. British Columbia has recently passed a law banning them, starting on December 20th, 2023. The bill aims to prevent the production of packaging that accounts for about half the province’s annual volume of plastic pollution. It’s one more welcome step toward a sustainable, circular economy. Until recently, plastic regulations have focused on cleaning […]
Declaring your home “plastic-free” can seem like a huge undertaking, but the process is quite simple if you abide by a few key rules. The first is that anything plastic you already have in your home gets grandfathered in — meaning that you don’t have to run around throwing everything out. Work with what you have, and as things break […]
The UK took a huge step toward reducing its single-use plastic pollution. Starting in October 2023, a variety of single-use items such as plastic cutlery, plates, bowls, polystyrene cups, cotton swabs, and balloon sticks will be banned. Fines of up to 10% of the UK revenue generated by the business that distributes these items and prison time for repeat offenders […]
To truly tackle the problem of plastic pollution, we need the involvement of industry. Companies need to dramatically minimize plastic use and source more sustainable materials in their packaging. And American clothing company prAna is doing just that with its Responsible Packaging Movement. Plastic pollution has become one of the most urgent environmental issues throughout the world. Yet despite growing […]
The UK took a huge step toward reducing its single-use plastic pollution. Starting in October 2023, a variety of single-use items such as plastic cutlery, plates, bowls, polystyrene cups, cotton swabs, and balloon sticks will be banned. Fines of up to 10% of the UK revenue generated by the business that distributes these items and prison time for repeat offenders […]
We can all make an effort to reduce our consumption of the plastics that are littering the Earth. And eliminating single-use plastics is a great place to start because so many reusable options are available. It isn’t that daunting if we just eliminate one type of single-use plastic at a time. Start with plastic wrap, disposable cutlery, food storage containers, […]
In the quest for a plastic-free lifestyle, zip-top bags are among the hardest things to eliminate. They are so ubiquitous today that it’s hard to imagine any other way to offer Cheerios to a toddler on the go, keep a sack lunch sandwich from falling apart, or store small nonfood items from batteries to the hooks and screws for unfinished […]
Plastic Free July starts today. Even if you only reduce your reliance on single-use plastics this month, it’s an opportunity to reduce plastic pollution, CO2 emissions related to plastic production, and toxins from your life. Simple steps applied every day in your shopping and dining decisions can make a huge difference to the world and its environment. The plastic-free movement […]