Plastic Pollution – How I’d Again Effectively Tackle Excess Plastic Waste

Despite the fact that more and more businesses are using cardboard and paper packaging instead of plastic, I can’t help but worry about the sheer amount of plastic I see while doing my weekly grocery shop. 

As an environmental advocate, plastic pollution is obviously one of my biggest concerns. I still think that we’re using far too much plastic and despite people doing their bit to cut back, reuse, and recycle, it’s simply not enough. 

Unlike biodegradable materials like paper, cardboard, and wood, plastic can take hundreds, if not thousands of years to degrade and break down. When it does, it forms microplastics which themselves can be harmful to the environment. That means that plastic garbage in landfill, dumped on the floor, and floating in our oceans not only doesn’t break down, but it also pollutes. 

I don’t claim to have all the answers, but here are a few ways in which I’d tackle the problem of plastic pollution. 

Choose Eco-Friendly Brands and Packaging

One of the easiest ways of cutting back on the amount of plastic waste that you create is to simply go with an eco-friendly brand or use products which use eco-friendly packaging. 

Whenever I go to the grocery store now, I always try to buy products from eco-friendly brands. The good news is that, as more companies are becoming more environmentally conscious, there’s much more choice. 

If a product is packaged in plastic, it doesn’t go in my shopping cart, it’s that simple. Instead of buying fruit sealed in plastic bags, I’ll buy it loose and put it in a paper bag. Instead of bottles of water, I’ll re-fill my re-fillable water bottles whenever possible. If I absolutely do have to buy bottled water, I’ll choose the biggest bottle I can find and will make sure it’s recycled afterwards.

Avoid Single-Use Plastics

Single-use plastics are exactly as they sound – plastic products designed to be used once and then thrown in the trash. Things such as plastic cutlery, plastic drinking straws, and plastic bags are prime examples. As we have natural, eco-friendly and sustainable alternatives, there’s really no need to use them and I honestly don’t know why we do.

If you see a single-use plastic, avoid it at all costs and use a natural, more sustainable alternative instead. Why do we need disposable plastic cutlery when we have metal cutlery that lasts a lifetime and takes a few seconds to wash? If you really insist on disposable cutlery, choose wood instead of plastic. 

As for plastic bags and straws, again, there are natural alternatives. I have a reusable grocery bag that I take to the store with me, as well as metal and glass straws that I use in my water bottle. 

Try to Cook More

When ordering takeout, you often find that just one order produces a ridiculous amount of plastic. As well as plastic takeout containers, plastic dipping pots, and plastic cutlery, the order is usually delivered in a plastic bag too. In some households, that plastic will go directly into the trash, where it will end up as landfill. 

These days, I try not to order takeout as much. Not only is it good for the environment, it’s also much better for my waistline and my bank balance. Instead, I cook more of my meals and if I do order takeout, I’ll go with companies that only use biodegradable packaging. 

Buy In Bulk and Use Eco-Friendly Food Storage Containers

Another way in which I’d encourage people to tackle the amount of plastic pollution we create is by encouraging them to buy their groceries in bulk and to use environmentally friendly food storage containers. 

In my kitchen, my cupboards are full of glass food storage jars containing products that I buy in bulk. I eat a lot of rice for example, so instead of small bags that need to be replaced weekly, I’ll buy a huge sack of rice and will decant it into my glass storage jars. I do the same for my pasta, pulses, flour, seasonings, cereals, and other grains. 

Buying in bulk means far less packaging, it’s cheaper, plus it means I’m less likely to run out of ingredients I need to cook my favorite dish. When you think about it, there really are no drawbacks.