Plastic is everywhere...it's even in places where people aren't aware of it.
This is the case for polyester-based clothing, for example. This is also the case at the bottom of the oceans...
There is a lot of talk about it in the media at the moment, the urgency to act is felt. And as the population is slow to act, the government is preparing to create new laws. It's a somewhat nebulous concept for us. Simple common sense should be applied but it also seems that it is not enough.
There are a multitude of actions that may very simply be possible to do. Simple changes to our habits can make a big difference... Let's not forget, it's us as consumers who have the most power in all of this .
We present to you some ideas. Some you may already know, others that go a little further.
As plastic is omnipresent, this list is not exhaustive at all but is intended to be a good start towards something better...
1. Bring your bags
500 billion plastic bags are used worldwide every year. This is a real disaster for the environment!
We often hear about it: the bags handed out at the checkouts when shopping at the grocery store are used less and less. This is not yet entirely the case for bags of fruit and vegetables which are used for only a few minutes nor is it entirely the case for purchases made in shopping centers.
Having reusable bags at all times is simple and significantly reduces the use of plastic.
2. Ditch the plastic straw
Americans (United States) use nearly 500 million straws daily .
Of the 8 million tonnes of plastic that end up annually in the world's oceans, we suspect that plastic straws are not the most present.
Although straws represent only a tiny fraction of the plastic polluting the oceans, their size makes them one of the most harmful polluters.
Indeed, not only are they numerous but marine animals and fish consume them and for this reason, many activists want to reduce their use.
3. Abandoning plastic bottles
Too easy to carry around your reusable bottle and drinking water, there are almost everywhere in Quebec and Canada!
It is estimated that 480 billion plastic bottles are sold annually worldwide, or more than 15,000 per second. Although the massive growth in these numbers comes from Asian consumers, we certainly have a role to play.
Most plastic bottles used are made from a large amount of a petroleum product known as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) .
Adding the oil used to transport the bottles, if you fill a plastic bottle with liquid so that it is a quarter full, that is about the amount of oil needed to make the bottle. For an individual, single use item, this is HUGE.
4. Finish the polyester
Due to its low manufacturing cost, polyester is one of the most used synthetic fibers in the world. However, they present a certain environmental risk.
Firstly it is a fiber made from petroleum, then the dyes used require toxic carriers and finally, when washing this synthetic fiber, plastic microparticles are released without being captured by our water treatment systems and become found in our precious waterways.
Polyester has the advantage of being infinitely recycled. As a result, there are recycled polyester alternatives or what we call eco polyester s. These productions are commendable but in no way prevent microparticles from spreading in our environment and the fact remains that clothing (plastic) will take centuries to decompose in our landfill sites.
5. Denounce and refuse overpackaging
Overpackaging is a calamity of our century. It's invasive and so unnecessary.
The alternative of bulk products is made quite accessible in most regions. We can also take our containers to our local butcher or fishmonger to avoid the need for trays.
We can also support local agriculture by going directly to the producer and bringing our containers. And if we can't find what we're looking for other than through excess packaging, we should tell our grocer and why not simply unpack our purchases directly in the store and leave them there before going to the checkout?
Do you see how simple actions can have a positive impact on the environment? It's time for action! And all these actions clearly demonstrate that being more ecological can be more economical! Do you feel like a drop of water in the ocean? There is strength in unity, be part of the movement...
Ecologically yours
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