10 Things You Can Do - Personal plastic management guidelines
These ten tips can help you reduce your personal plastic footprint. If enough of us follow these guidelines, we can amplify our impact by influencing buying and manufacturing habits, serving as role models for the consuming world.
1. Become aware of your own plastic habits!
Take an inventory of all the plastic you use in one week—everything. This includes your toothbrush, the straw from the drive through, take-out coffee cup lids, wrappers for paper towels, grocery bags, packing peanuts, bubble wrap, and more. Count or weigh it and document it. Multiply the total by 4 or 12 to see your monthly and yearly use. Post the results on your refrigerator or social media. Reflect on your usage and become more conscious of it. How much of it is single-use plastic? Are you above or below average? Researching this can help you determine your next steps.
Now you are more aware - and face a classic moral dilemma. If I fail to take action, am I accepting this? Can I ignore this? Ask yourself, “What can I do about this?” Then do that.
Now you are more aware - and face a classic moral dilemma. If I fail to take action, am I accepting this? Can I ignore this? Ask yourself, “What can I do about this?” Then do that.
2. Become environmentally literate.
Before you take sides in this discussion, check your facts. Listen to all sides of the story. Pay attention to who is speaking and who pays their salary. It takes extra effort to become informed but is always worth it in the end.
It is useful to ask yourself “What if they’re right?” and "What if they're wrong?" Usually in science if someone tells you that certain facts are indisputable, it should raise skepticism. The scientists who are always questioning their own answers are the ones that are worth listening to.
It is useful to ask yourself “What if they’re right?” and "What if they're wrong?" Usually in science if someone tells you that certain facts are indisputable, it should raise skepticism. The scientists who are always questioning their own answers are the ones that are worth listening to.
3. Become aware of your surroundings.
Take a look around you. What is going on in your neighborhood, town, favorite recreation area, etc. Are the streets and parks clean of plastic litter? How about the stream and riverbanks? How does it feel to you and do you think anything needs to change? Are you the right person to do something to raise awareness about this problem? If not, then who is?
The first step to taking action is recognizing a problem exists and how it affects you, your loved ones, and your community. Some solutions are simple and inexpensive, others are complex and demand incredible resources. Each has its own level of urgency and resources can be expensive. Consider becoming involved in your community. That can have a huge impact toward a clean planet.
The first step to taking action is recognizing a problem exists and how it affects you, your loved ones, and your community. Some solutions are simple and inexpensive, others are complex and demand incredible resources. Each has its own level of urgency and resources can be expensive. Consider becoming involved in your community. That can have a huge impact toward a clean planet.
4. Make conscious choices.
When we purchase anything, we write public policy. We dictate the market because we ARE the market. If we collectively choose to reject plastic convenience that market will diminish. This trend can be the end of the line for a product because it is not profitable without the demand.
Be conscious that the double cello-wrapped bananas may be convenient, but there is a price to pay for management of our waste - and right now those who are profiting are not paying that cost. Our children’s environment and their health are paying for it.
Be conscious that the double cello-wrapped bananas may be convenient, but there is a price to pay for management of our waste - and right now those who are profiting are not paying that cost. Our children’s environment and their health are paying for it.
5. Consider bulk shopping.
As a consumer you help write store policy. If customers want to buy in bulk, the store will provide what they ask for or lose their business. It may take a while, but it will work, ESPECIALLY if you convince your friends and family to do the same.
Bulk food can be cheaper, fresher, higher in quality, and lower in preservatives compared to packaged food.
Bulk food can be cheaper, fresher, higher in quality, and lower in preservatives compared to packaged food.
6. Consider powdered laundry and dish soap, and shampoo/conditioner bars.
For laundry soap, try laundry sheets delivered in paper envelopes, completely biodegradable liquid detergent pods, or powdered soap in cardboard boxes. Dishwasher detergent also comes in powdered and biodegradable pod form. Shampoo and conditioner bars have increased in availability and are surprisingly effective and easy-to-use. If you must use liquid, consider refillable.
TO HELP REDUCE MICROPLASTICS WHILE LAUNDERING: Use cold water and full loads to minimize the mechanical release of small fibers while washing your clothes. Look for new laundry micro filtering options that are in development in the U.S. (and are already available in Europe!). New clothes release the most fibers, so shopping second hand can help reduce microplastics, too!
TO HELP REDUCE MICROPLASTICS WHILE LAUNDERING: Use cold water and full loads to minimize the mechanical release of small fibers while washing your clothes. Look for new laundry micro filtering options that are in development in the U.S. (and are already available in Europe!). New clothes release the most fibers, so shopping second hand can help reduce microplastics, too!
7. Take your own containers and utensils with you.
The global pandemic and its increase in plasticware have redefined what is “cool”. Forks in the glove box and personal chopsticks used for sustainable sushi are now in. For many people, the personalized coffee mug and the well-travelled stainless steel water bottle are standard procedure now.
Bringing your own glassware instead of using the restaurant's plastic to-go containers is pretty hard-core but that will soon be mainstream, and we will laugh to think we ever did it differently.
Bringing your own glassware instead of using the restaurant's plastic to-go containers is pretty hard-core but that will soon be mainstream, and we will laugh to think we ever did it differently.
8. Engage with an advocacy group.
This can be challenging—sometimes even more so than donating money. However, if we care about the water we (and our loved ones) drink and the air we breathe, it's crucial to take action now.
For plastic pollution, some groups aim to influence public policy, while others focus on education. Additionally, some take direct physical action, such as organizing beach cleanups. COI is a bit of a combination.
COI is working to provide practical plastic waste solutions for informed and motivated local communities worldwide. These communities are the front-line defenders of sustainable living on our beautiful planet. Addressing this issue will require multiple solutions to match the scale of the problem.
For plastic pollution, some groups aim to influence public policy, while others focus on education. Additionally, some take direct physical action, such as organizing beach cleanups. COI is a bit of a combination.
COI is working to provide practical plastic waste solutions for informed and motivated local communities worldwide. These communities are the front-line defenders of sustainable living on our beautiful planet. Addressing this issue will require multiple solutions to match the scale of the problem.
9. Support those working on your environmental goals.
Many of us believe that we could be happy on the front lines of environmental causes, saving whales or cleaning up oil spills. However, these efforts are often noisy, smelly, dangerous in the short and long term, and paychecks are as rare as that great white whale.
Not everyone can do this kind of work, but it remains crucial. Monetary donations to those who fight for these principles are equally important. The size of your support is personal - aim for regular, manageable donations that provide long-term grassroots support. Automatic payments are an easy way to make a difference!
Not everyone can do this kind of work, but it remains crucial. Monetary donations to those who fight for these principles are equally important. The size of your support is personal - aim for regular, manageable donations that provide long-term grassroots support. Automatic payments are an easy way to make a difference!
10. Don’t be too hard on yourself.
When something you love is in peril you do what you can to provide protection. Sometimes we are able to make a big difference; sometimes we are of lesser means. We can only do what we can - only you can decide what is appropriate for you.