More than just a trend, going plastic-free has become a real way of life in recent years, gaining more and more followers.
Today, it is possible to find many associations that aim to inform and support people who want to contribute to this cause. However, the results that this practice allows to obtain are well below those that are expected.
Furthermore, while awareness is growing and is initiating changes in the business landscape, it is happening slowly, to the benefit of plastic waste that continues to accumulate.
To understand the importance of going plastic-free and the impact it could have on the planet, it may be useful to recall what this practice consists of and how to adopt it daily.
What is plastic-free?
Although it is one of the most used materials today, plastic is also one of the things that ends up in the trash the fastest.
However, it does not disappear and can take decades or even centuries to degrade in the environment. Difficult to eliminate, objects made from this material are poorly managed, leading to observable pollution in the seas and oceans.
It is to reduce this misuse that plastic-free was born. Its objective is to find biodegradable, even natural alternatives to replace the most used packaging around the world.
How to adopt this lifestyle?
Adopting a plastic-free lifestyle starts with small everyday actions at home. By revisiting the habits adopted at two important positions in the home, it is possible to contribute.
In the bathroom
many cosmetic brands have adopted the trend of recyclable plastics for the packaging of their products.
It is worth remembering that if the bathroom is one of the rooms where the most plastics to be thrown away come out, manufacturers have little choice in finding containers that can withstand the conditions of use in these rooms.
A container that can be reused at will is, therefore, part of the objective of ecological practice, without eliminating the use of the material.
Other items such as toothbrushes, cotton buds, and disposable razors, however, are finding plastic-free alternatives on surfaces.
In the kitchen
Present in the kitchen, as much as in the bathrooms, if not more, plastic finds its use for transporting provisions, storing meals, and even cooking.
However, there is no shortage of alternatives once again, and if a majority of the population decided to move towards the following solutions, the impact would be immediate:
- Glass and stainless steel for keeping food or liquids hot;
- Biodegradable, healthier food packaging;
- Wrapping cloths or a bag to carry provisions.
In addition, many manufacturers and distributors are also going plastic-free to help individuals conserve their supplies. Simply search for the eco-friendly label for the product you are looking for to find an alternative to plastic.
Why is this change necessary?
According to some studies based on current trends, there will be nearly 1.3 billion tonnes of plastic waste in nature in 2040, compared to only 1.5 million tonnes recorded in 1950.
Annual plastic production does not seem likely to decline without a collective global awareness.
Furthermore, while some of the plastic used is sent to recycling centers, more than ¾ of this waste ends up in the sea. In these environments, it is ingested by fish, which, when they do not die, end up in fishing nets and return to the kitchen.
All in all, going plastic-free is an alternative that, if adopted massively, could well provide a solution to reduce the pollution caused by humans on the environment.
