One reusable grocery bag can potentially replace one plastic bag in the lives of thousands of people. I use the natural fiber bags at the grocery store and the other type to store the vegetables in the refrigerator, this way I never run out of them. And be sure you're recycling them properly. We have developed a disposable lifestyle, and estimates are that around 50% of plastic is used just once and thrown away. This reusability means that you are not consuming more resources every time you need to carry your groceries home. The most challenging aspect of this is remembering to take them into the store and creating the habit. It is also good that before you go shopping. One reusable bag may save 500 single-use plastic bags from being destroyed by recycling. Not just that, but these chemicals can be getting into our bodies every time we use plastic containers, bottles, cups, and other dinnerware. In fact, recycling is not a sustainable option because it requires energy and because much of what we put in the recycle bin ends up somewhere in some other country still polluting land and rivers, just out of our sight. But climate campaigners have recruited an unlikely new ally in their fight to reduce this waste - wax worms, the moth larvae that infest beehives. 5. Place plastic lids under furniture that needs to be moved, the furniture will slide easily along the floor. Do you live in an area where plastic bags are taxed or banned? There are a number of different strategies you can employ to cut down on the number of plastic bags you use and minimize their environmental impact. Over the last ten years, we have produced more plastic than during the whole of the last century. Ask yourself in that situation is this necessary? Way #7: Make Your Own Products. Non-woven polypropylene bags should be used 11 times more frequently than cotton bags, and cotton bags should be used 131 times more frequently than non-woven polypropylene bags. It just breaks apart into smaller and smaller pieces called microplastics. Way #6: Pack Lunches In Reusable Containers. One hundred thousand turtles and marine mammals, such as dolphins, whales, and seals, are killed by plastic marine litter every year worldwide. Chicago Northwest Suburbs Sustainability Meetup Group, Virtual Sustainability and Climate Converstion Meetup, Keep a set of reusable canvas bags in the car, Keep a set of reusable produce bags in the car, When checking out of any store ask yourself: Do I really need a bag?, Buy produce that is not packaged in plastic bags, Consider alternatives to plastic bags in the house. First and foremost, decide what type of bag you want to replace them with. In that case,there are great little folding reusable shopping bags, like these here, which fold up into pocket-sized pouches! Why is this such a bad thing? Having a specific recycling station could significantly change how plastics are disposed. There are many ways to reduce plastic pollution, but you have to start somewhere! Now I keep the bags in the car (trunk or the back seat) and it has become a part of my habits so that I also carry them when shopping in other stores. Its easy to refuse the bag at the counter. Store refrigerated produce in towels or cloth instead of plastic bags. [1] Welcome to YouChoose, a blog where we explore ways of living sustainably. Single-use Plastic Bans As you can see, the chances are that you already have plastic inside your body, so we have to start doing something to reduce the mass production of plastic. We have a whole other post on plastic wrap, its problems, and the best alternatives out there! In another report from Greenpeace, we are told that all this conventional plastic is degraded in the sea by the action of the sun, wind and waves and this degradation entails fragmentation of it into smaller and smaller pieces until it becomes microplastics and nanoplastics that ingest the fish that many people later consume. Around 1 trillion plastic bags are consumed worldwide every year, but the average bag is used for just 12 minutes before being thrown away and only one in 200 isrecycled. This seems like a fairly straightforward step, however, as it always happens when trying to change long ingrained habits, it takes some discipline, planning, and a little time. Way #5: Buy In Bulk & Use Alternative Container Types. Polyethylene gets used to make most plastic bags, a substance derived from crude oil refining and natural gas processing. Look around, and youll see they are everywhere. It is recommended that low-density polyethylene bags, or thicker plastic bags commonly found in supermarkets, be used at least four times. Theyre so lightweight that its super easy to pick up by the wind and travel distances. Buying in bulk may be slightly cheaper, however if possible bag-free produce is a better choice. Greentumble 10 reasons to ban plastic bags, arcadiapower 15 statistics on plastic pollution. 1. You can find these unique and funny reusable bags above by clicking right here! Here are four policy and legal approaches from UNEP and WRI's guide that countries can use to reduce their plastic waste permanently: 1. I purchased two types: One is a natural fiber that has the consistency of a net, the second one is a synthetic pouch. 1. Or just reuse your plastic grocery bags for as many uses as you can! A life cycle assessment considers raw materials, manufacturing, transportation, and disposal as part of the manufacturing process. Jute bags, in my opinion, are the most advanced and effective alternative to plastic bags. This is by far and hands down the EASIEST way to reduce plastic waste!!! There is definitely room for improvement. 18 Ways to Reduce Your Plastic Use. Forgotten your reusable bag? Personally, I recommend this Doulton water filter that you can install in just 2 minutes in your kitchen tap. Here are eight quick points of WHY we should reduce plastic bags in particular then well discuss HOW! Action #2: Check if you have reusable bags in your home to put to a good use! The average person uses about one plastic bag per day, so a reusable bag would replace 365 plastic bags in a year. Bring any plastic bags you have around the house on your next shopping trip. Note: Many of these suggestions are to reduce your waste, which will in turn reduce your use of plastic trash bags. They were initially designed to carry groceries, and they can be used for this purpose more than once. Carry a reusable bottle In the UK we use over 35 million plastic bottles every day! Shards of plastic fester in the stomach because the plastic cannot be properly digested. Plastic waste materials dont usually drift about aimlessly in the open ocean. While plastic water bottles are relatively easy to recycle, those that get thrown into the . Disposable coffee cups might look like paper but they're usually lined with polyethylene, a type of plastic resin. Those in favor of banning plastic bags argue that it would be one of the most effective ways to reduce the volume of plastic waste in the ocean. I stopped buying them and now look for similar products without the plastic. Keep using them! 1. Shopping in places where you are able to bring your own containers or reusable bags, such as whole food stores or markets, will also help reduce soft plastics he said. When buried in landfills, plastics can release chemicals that find their way into groundwater. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. In a 2018 study in Denmark, researchers examined the number of times a bag should be reused before being used as a bin liner and then discarded. Cotton Canvas Tote Bag Black is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars and costs between $4.45 and $7.45. Next, I leave you, as an example, a link to an online fruit and vegetable store thatis in Spain and that sends home orders without plastics: Veritas. However, it is not the most effective or efficient thing that you can use. The legislation of Scotland is following trodden tracks on this one. Suppose you are someone whod benefit even further by keeping a reusable bag in your purse. If they shop weekly, thats 780 bags a year! In 2014, the U.S. sold over 100 billion plastic beverage bottles, the Container Recycling Institute estimated; 57 percent of them were for water. That comes out to about 300 bags per person, per year. Carrying a reusable bottle is a great way to cut your plastic use and save money too! To conclude this blog, I would like to extend two challenges here: The first challenge is to ask ourselves whenever we are checking out of any store: Do I need a bag for this? 3) Buy pencils made of wood instead of mechanical pencils, which are often made (and packaged in) plastic. 4. How to reuse plastic bags: Plastic bags are great for disposing pet waste - use them for cleaning the cat litter or on walks with the dog! After a while of putting into practice the measures that at the beginning, are easier for you, it will be very easy for you to incorporate all the others into your daily work. The very best alternative is a reusable bag, plain and simple. Bring your own reusable coffee cup when going out to get beverages. You can purchase recycled dry-cleaner bags made of a more durable, longer-lasting plastic online. - Protect some of your herbs and favorite plants from frost - cover these up overnight and remove them in the morning. The most obvious and urgent answer to the question, "Why use reusable bags?" is to reduce the impact of plastic bags on the environment. If you want to stop using single-use plastic, you should think about the following factors. Leather is significantly more expensive than these, but they are also more comfortable to wear. So, after briefly touching on just SOME of the facts, lets look at how we can reduce one of the primary pollutants responsible for the damage plastic bags. The more times you can use it the more environmentally friendly it will be. Alternatively, find new uses for your plastic bags: Use them to line the trash can, to pick up after your dog, or even use them as lightweight packaging material in place of bubble wrap or packing peanuts. Food wrappers and packaging were the single greatest source of plastic pollution in the B.A.N. In the United States alone, it is estimated that we use about 100 billion plastic bags every year. . You save money and unnecessary plastic packaging. At the same time, we know how difficult it can be to break a habit that you've been used to for years. There's even an app that tells you where you can refill your bottle for free! Plastic tea bags can release about 11 billion microplastics into a single cup of tea! Reuse Food Containers - Instead of recycling glass containers once you've used up the contents, remove the labels (to avoid confusion) and use them again for leftovers or homemade items. The 6 most efficient and simple solutions how to reduce the use of plastic bags are: Use reusable bags when shopping Reuse old plastic bags Reuse a box from the shop Refuse plastic bags and go bagless Re-purpose plastic bags for trash liners or DIY a reusable bag Support plastic ban legislations & petitions Let's look at each idea more in-depth! Carry your own reusable steel or ceramic beverage container. In fact, pleas from do-gooders, tree . If you're privileged to live in a place where the water is drinkable, great. These cotton briefs measure 14 ounces and come in a variety of sizes. 1. The Dubai Can initiative, for instance, aims to . If you look around you will see that there is still much to do in this area. After settling in this routine (it took me several months) I focused my attention on selecting bag-free fruits and vegetables. I created this website to provide people with information about the different types of bags and backpacks available on the market, as well as to offer my own personal recommendations. 2. Therefore my first target was the trip to the grocery store. Use Reusable Water Bottles and Coffee Mugs It only takes a few minutes to drink a bottle of water or enjoy an almond milk latte, but that plastic bottle or cup could take hundreds of years to break down in a dump or end up in the ocean. With this handy tote, you can promote your company in an organized and effective manner. Choosing reusable bags can have the most impact of all but be sure to select the most eco-friendly bag you can find that suits your needs. By clicking OK, you agree to our use of cookies. In this blog post, we will discuss ways that you can reduce plastic pollution. It only takes a few minutes to drink a bottle of water or enjoy an almond milk latte, but that plastic bottle or cup could take hundreds of years to break down in a dump or end up in the ocean. First of all, why is it important that we reduce plastic bags? An autopsy of the stomach of a beached whale found 20 square feet of plastic shopping bags that took up its whole stomach. Last Update: October 15, 2022. . Although they take more energy to produce, paper bags can be easily recycled or composted, so theyre much less harmful to the environment after they have served their purpose. For example, disposable plastic bags take less than one second to make, are used for 12-20 minutes, but . They fly off trash piles, garbage trucks, and landfills, and then clog stormwater infrastructure, float down waterways, and . People are perplexed as a result of the plastic bag ban that many major retailers have implemented. Photo by Dustan Woodhouse on Unsplash. Hand-carry the items out of the store if you can. A handy way to do this is to gather community support. Do you want to share your experience about reducing plastic bags? Plastic bags create clogs in sewer systems, making it difficult to evacuate water on rainy days, and this eventually causes flooding in cities and towns. Say no to plastic straws Plastic straws are bad news for our oceans. On the other hand, in a Greenpeace article, we are told that in Europe alone, almost 100,000 million plastic bags are produced every year that are only used on average for 15 minutes. And plastic particles were found in 93% of them. Here's our nine top tips: 1. REUSE your existing plastic bags as much as possible. You can store extras in the car to have in case you forget your reusable shopping bag. Get a reusable stainless steel, glass, or bamboo one to use instead of wasteful plastic . Microplastics were found in soft drinks like Coca Cola, in tap water, in seafood. Next, we can use recycle bags to carry our stuffs. In its 2018 report, the DEC found that plastic bags can cause long-term damage to the environment and peoples' health. I find this goes without saying and still I see massive amounts of people at the grocery store bagging and DOUBLE BAGGING groceries. Annually approximately 500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide. Its a good idea to carry a tote bag over your shoulder if youre in a hurry. Here are some of the easiest ways you can reduce your use of plastic bags. These canvas tote bags can be customized with your companys logo. If you're considering how to reduce the use of plastic bags, then you can think further ahead and make a conscious decision to shop at certain stores that charge for plastic bags. Chemicals in plastic, such as BPA, can be absorbed by the human body when we eat these fish. The other 20% comes from oil rigs, boaters, and cargo ships most of this is fishing nets. Soil, water, air, animals, and plants we consume meaning plastic is inside us too. Actions you can take include: Reduce your use of disposable shopping bags by using a reusable bag or container when shopping. These bags are typically made from a thin, lightweight plastic that is not easily recyclable. Get a stainless. Something went wrong. Is this something that I can just carry to my car? When used frequently, a tote bag may only last a few months before the fabric starts to show signs of wear and tear. You can also inflate zipper bags with air and use these as packaging as well. Advertisement. It's not news that single-use plastics like water bottles and shopping bags are crowding landfills and endangering wildlife. In spite of all my efforts, I still produce enough plastic bags that occasionally a trip to the recycle collection is necessary, the amount of plastic that goes to recycle however is now considerably reduced. Here are a few suggestions: Reduce - Try to reduce your overall consumption, especially of disposable items; Reuse - Reuse what you can, whether it's shopping bags, containers, or straws; Sea turtles and sea life arent the only ones affected. Wean yourself off disposable plastics. Avoid tea bags and use a tea strainer. Retailers incorporate the costs of their bags into the pricing of other items in the store. Well, plastic fibers were found in 80% of the 159 samples of tap water analyzed, and in all brands of beer and sea salt. You can also buy your legumes, rice, pasta, and nuts in bulk stores. Which is the most effective? Purchase bottles in the form of boxes instead. Toss a couple of flat plastic containers into a drawer to help keep things organized. Many thrift stores will reuse plastic bags for their merchandise. #1 Refuse plastic, take your own reusable bags In the U.S., the average family accumulates 15 plastic bags on each trip to the grocery store. The probability that sea turtles will consume even more plastic increases every year. To find out more about the damage that plastic bags cause, read our article about thepitfalls of disposable plastic bags. Cotton bags should be used 131 times during the course of their life. A study of the scientific journal Science estimates that in 2010 they ended up at sea between 4.8 and 12.7 million tons of plastic. Required fields are marked *. Weve discussed how and why plastic bag use has become such a large issue in the above topics. Even paper teabags contain a small amount of polypropylene, which makes them non-recyclable and non-compostable. Can You Put Hand Warmers In Plastic Bags? Here are 4 Ways to Reduce the Waste of Plastic Bags: Decline the bag . If not, invest in a filter system. It took me a while, but I can assure you that after a few months of persevering it becomes second nature to remember to carry the reusable bags with you. Most large grocery chains, home improvement stores and retailershave plastic bag recycling collection bins, so take them back there to make sure they are processed correctly and dont end up in landfill. There are numerous great bag brands available, including L.L.Bean and Saint Laurent. In fact I still see 99% of buyers coming out of stores carrying plastic bags. There is a cost at some point in the consumption process. [5] Bring fewer clothes to the dry-cleaner's to reduce your bag use as well. Many disposable water bottles end up in the trash, so it helps to have your own container you can use multiple times. Way #8: Reduce Takeout Waste. If we do nothing, in the year 2030 2 garbage trucks full of plastics will be dumped in our seas every minute, and by 2050 there will be four trucks per minute. Within two days, you can place an order for a maximum of 25 shipped items. 1. RECYCLE whenever/ wherever you can OR opt forrecyclable/ biodegradable bags. By banning their use, we can help to reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in our landfills and oceans. It has contaminated our food chain, so it should not surprise us that microplastics are in our bodies. Be disciplined and train yourself to refuse plastic bags Set realistic goals and achieve them one by one Keep a set of reusable canvas bags in the car Keep a set of reusable produce bags in the car When checking out of any store ask yourself: "Do I really need a bag?" Buy produce that is not packaged in plastic bags Buying loose tea in bulk and using a tea infuser or strainer is a zero-waste way to enjoy a cup! A tiny wax worm can dissolve plastic pollution with its saliva, new research has found. Another way to consume fewer plastics is to buy household cleaning products, such as scrubbers or hand soap, in specialized bulk stores that already exist. We often check out at convenience stores, for example, with ONE or TWO small items in it. Cotton tote bags are also environmentally friendly, as they can be reused over and over again. Way #3: Give Up Gum. Youre about to find out why that is, and also why we should get rid of them as quickly as possible. Non-woven polypropylene bags should be used 11 times more frequently than cotton bags, and cotton bags should be used 131 times more frequently than non-woven polypropylene bags. Thats just a simple example of refusing when we do not NEED! Using a reusable water bottle is a good example. The first measure that I suggest reducing the consumption of plastic is to buy your fruits and vegetables in bulk at your usual supermarket or store and have them weighed separately in your own biodegradable cloth bags that you bring from home. Typically made from petroleum (a non-renewable, unsustainable resource), it emits CO2, which contributes to global warming. cardboard is an oversized package. If an animal mistakenly consumes the plastic bags, it may suffer serious health problems and even death. Or use a bag for only one or two specific items, wasting the rest of the space. Hand-carry the items out of the store if you can. Very few grocery stores in my area do offer a paper option, however it seems that most people opt for plastic. 2. 2. DIY your cleaning products- use a mixture of 1 part vinegar to 3 parts water as an all-purpose spray cleaner (storing it in a reused spray bottle) and produce wash. Because of the prevalence of infectious diseases in the post-pandemic world, it can be difficult to keep oneself free of them. Re-purpose plastic bags as trash liners or pet waste bags. In some places plastic bags are banned altogether, however, while we wait for businesses to help out, individual actions are fundamental in making a difference and this is really one area where they can. All you have to do is reuse the containers of this type ofproducts you already have at home and fill them in bulk stores like these. According to a study carried out in 2013, plastic ingestion led to about 35% of turtle deaths. Advice on How to Reduce Your Use of Plastic Put an end to using plastic straws, especially in establishments like restaurants. Providing shared reusable tubs and drinks cups for staff to use to collect their lunch or snacks is a very quick win in the fight against single use plastics. Each time you reuse a plastic bag even if its for a different purpose youre reducing its environmental impact. When he's not reading, cooking, or lifting, he's helping families level up their kitchen and dining gear with relevant blog posts. 4. Reusable shopping bags are very durable and can be reused many times throughout their useful life. You make a shopping list to know how many cloth bags you have to take from home. Although there is no simple answer to this problem, research can shed light on the effects of common types of reusable bags. They contribute to a lot of waste which keeps collecting over the years. They are stylish and earth friendly. REFUSE the bag Ask yourself, Do I really need this right now?. From a purely aesthetic standpoint, charging for bags could help make for a more litter-free community. When you go shopping, choose a bag or container that you can reuse to cut down on the amount of disposable shopping bags you use; Reuse your old plastic shopping bags for several journeys to the store; Reuse plastic bags as garbage can liners or as bags for collecting waste from pets; Refuse to take a bag even for products that are convenient . Plastic that is not recycled usually ends up in a landfill. In todays post, you will learn why reducing plastic bags is so important. And last but not the least is to make the corporate businesses and the government to acknowledge and take action to address your and our planet's plight. Some department stores and grocery stores will also often have a location to drop off clean plastic bags to be recycled. List 2.0. Instead of using a bag, carry your toothpaste tube and gum pack to the car, bagless! It is recommended that low-density polyethylene bags, or thicker plastic bags commonly found in supermarkets, be used at least four times. (and some estimates are higher!). Of course, its not always possible or convenient to use a reusable tote. You can read more on this specific topic in our other post on plastic pollution in the ocean. Although gum was originally made from natural materials such as sap and rubber, manufacturers now use a type of plastic instead. We addressed how plastic negatively impacts wildlife, on our lands, in the air and sea. Let's look at how you can start building a life without plastic. The best option is always tochoose a reusable bag. Try natural beeswax coated cloth wraps instead of plastic cling film Buy necessary plastic items used instead of new Compost food waste to avoid plastic garbage bags If you have the option, choose paper bags rather than plastic to carry home your groceries. It is also one of the more difficult sources of waste to tackle - at least as a consumer. I myself used to not worry so much about it, thinking that I recycled the bags after using them. Similarly, all other bags in the house are not replaced weekly anymore but on a need basis. Remember to add some extra bag you find something you like and that you did not plan to buy. Similarly, if organic vegetables come in plastic I opt for regular. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 2022 Parkland Design & Manufacturing Inc. All Rights Reserved, Shorten The Straps On Your Tote Bag For A Perfect Fit, The Perfect Michael Kors Handbag For You At An Outlet Store. Cotton tote bags are not only environmentally friendly, but they are also reasonably priced. Then, these cloth bags can be placed in your shopping cart or in a tote bag to carry them comfortably to your home. It is a matter of searching the internet for an online fruit and vegetable store that distributes in the area where you live and that they do not bring them from far away so that there is not much air pollution due to the combustion of gasoline during transport. On average, taxpayers end up spending about $88 per year on plastic bag waste alone. Certainly, the grocery store was one major source of plastic bags. Consider food packaging. Through their extraction and production, they emit greenhouse gases, which contribute to global climate change. We've ranked the ways of reducing your impact according to the hierarchy of 'Refuse, Reuse, Repurpose, Recycle'. Take Them to the Grocery You may have plenty of cloth grocery bags on hand, but if you end up with a few extra plastic bags, use them for their original purpose. Because they are contributors to a large percent of the plastic pollution of our planet on both sea and land and because they are for the most part unnecessary. There are various prices to choose from, ranging from $7.15 to $12.25. A screen-friendly bag to go with an accent box. Take Reusable Bags To The Grocery Store. More than one million bags every minute. When you go to your supermarket or your usual store with your own cloth bags, you just have to tell the shopkeeper thatyou have brought your own bags because you want to reduce the consumption of plastics and put the products you choose in them. The proliferation of plastic products in the last 70 years or so has been extraordinary; quite simply, we cannot now live without them. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In addition there were small bags to clean the cats litter box and Ziploc storage bags to pack my daughters lunch. If you must smoke, consider using filterless cigarettes or switch to e-cigarette 'vaping'. In recent studies, it has been discovered that plastic litter has an impact on the food chain, so you and your family may be impacted as a result. Way #1: Stop Using Plastic Straws. Firstly, plastic bags are a major source of plastic pollution. Instead of purchasing potatoes and onions in five-pound bags, I now buy everything that is non packaged. That adds up! One way to do that is to switch to reusable totes. Petroleum-based plastic bags are composed of very resistant synthetic polymers that may take up to 1,000 years or never until they completely degrade in natural environments. Even if you only reuse them for one more shopping trip, thats still a whole trip worth of plastic bags you just prevented! Signing a petition that addresses the issue of single-use plastic . We call plastic those materials that we easily mold using heat and pressure to adopt all kinds of solid shapes such as a bag, a bottle, or a taper. Enjoyed this post? How about carrying things out to the pool? If bags are not completely clean of food residue, they risk being sent to landfills. Way #2: Buy A Reusable Bag. The billions of bags that end up as litter are harmful to wildlife, the natural environment and human health, as well as being very costly to clean up. If kids love using straws at home (or need to use one because of a health condition), biodegradable paper and reusable metal options are also available. 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