Ok, minimizing our plastic consumption can’t be so challenging, we just illuminate plastic water bottles and single use plastic bags.We try to buy in bulk and recycle as best as we can. But what can be done upon that. What are the items we never think about but use every day, itemswhich could be replaced with a better and way more sustainable product. Even better compostable products.
As humans are themselves compostable and all natural materials around us, why do we choose to hang on to stuff which will last way beyond our lifetimes. That sounds pretty radical but think about it and ask yourself what you personally can do to reduce, reuse, refuse and recycle. To leave a small footprint behind and make an effort to save our planet for future generations.
For a starter here are some ideas:
BIG SMILE Let’s start with getting up in the morning, first thing we all do is? Yes, brush our teeth. And we do that as long we live. How many toothbrushes are we going through in our lives? Do you have a guess? Well, according to “The Human Footprint” it is 156. Now if we multiply that with our population that ads up to a huge amount of waste.
So next time you buy a new toothbrush check out the ones made out of non plastic materials like the Brush Naked Bamboo Toothbrush, 100% bamboo-handled , with biodegradable, plant-based bristles.
GOOD MORNING Oh, I love my coffee in the morning. Yes, I do and I will not skip that. My expresso maker is one of my best friends. I go traditional, but i know that many have changed to a faster way to make their cup of Jo. Coffee capsule or pods became very popular after George Clooney became the face of Nespresso’s coffee pods, as a matter of fact the global market for fresh ground coffee pods went from $7 billion in 2010 to $17 billion in 2015. Unfortunately all these pods end up in the landfill and are true killers for the environment and our planet. So if you love coffee like me, go traditional or use compostable coffee capsules, like for example BLACK PANAMA – COMPOSTABLE COFFEE CAPSULES
OUT OF THE BOX When i go to work i bring a lunch. Over the years I am just tired of not having a nutritious snack on my lunch break. The fast food choices do not cut it and i noticed I have so much more energy with a healthy choice of my taste. Yes, it takes a bit of time in the morning, but it is so worth it. Not only because of my tummy, also for reducing the impact on the environment by not supporting the insanity of fast-food choices.
Ok, if I feel like it, I might go to a restaurant.
To fully enjoy my non conformity I have a pretty good set up, I might even say “outfit” for my daily lunch adventure. There is an antique metal lunchbox I scoredat the flee market, perfect to hold all I can eat. But of course,there are so many cool containers, like for example the FLUF KING SHARK LUNCHBAG.
I am a bit phobic when it comes to keeping my food sustained and clean. Food rap is the key. There are many kinds but please look out for the biodegradable ones.Abeego for example. It is a bees wax wrap, all natural, it’s zero waste, it lasts and it uses minimal energy to produce. And the best of all it breathes. Of course, not only your lunchbox will love to carry this wrap, your refrigerator will too.
So, what is missing besides the food? Containers to hold leftovers and a bottle for hydration. I went for the starter kitwhich I ordered online at one green bottle. And to make my lunch feel like a picnic in the park I bring a dishtowel instead of paper napkins from the office bathroom.
CONFESSION We all have our weaknesses and if drinking out of a straw is one of them and you absolutely can’t skip that habit there is a solution for your smoothie addiction,
love for milkshakes and protein drinks or the occasional after work cocktail event: Paperstraws, which are biodegradable, they are available in many many colors and patternand if you maintain a compost bin even better they compost for you. COMPOSTABLE BLACK COCKTAIL STRAWS JUMBO SMOOTHIE PAPER STRAWS
TOP IT ALL To top it all, check out these shoes that bloom.Oat shoesare not only the coolest thing I have seen in a long time, they really promote the cycle of life. So when these sneakers are worn out or might be a bit smelly just plant them in your backyard and flowers will bloom from seeds hidden in the tongue of the shoes. The shoe itself will decompose back to the earth.
Similar idea but not quite that self composting. Ten trees is a company that not only has pretty cool casual fashion it is committed that ten trees are planted for every item purchased. They state that they plant trees in over 6 different countries around the world. Each planting site is unique and benefits from tree planting in different ways.
If you read this far I would like to say thank you for trying, considering and challenging your habits