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Breaking Free of a Plastic World: Consumer Choices that Protect our Seas, Ourselves, and the Air We Breathe

0 Heart it! Arika Rapson 5
September 10, 2018
Arika Rapson
0 Heart it! 5

Breaking Free of a Plastic World

Consumer Choices that Protect our Seas, Ourselves, and the Air We Breathe

Many around the world have read the recent story of the mother orca who carried her dead infant for 17 days, surrendering it only when the body began to disintegrate. This story hits close to my heart. She is part of a pod that swims the waters surrounding the San Juan Islands, the place I now call home. A home I chose, in large part, for its pristine beauty and wildlife. A place free of the development craze and pollution surrounding Seattle.

The orca’s story is a painful reminder to me that moving to a less polluted area is not the same thing as living somewhere “pristine.” Pollution is now an inescapable global phenomenon. And pollution is one of the top reasons this pod is struggling for survival.

This has me thinking about microplasticsthose teeny, tiny pieces of broken down plastic accumulating at alarming levels in our oceans. Just how much plastic are we talking about here? Well, it’s roughly eight million metric tons a year that ends up in the ocean. That equates to 150 plastic grocery bags per person each week in North America, where plastic consumption is highest in the world. There is so much plastic in the ocean that some marine animals have as much as 74% plastic in their diets. No wonder they’re struggling to survive.

But the smaller microplastics are so plentiful at this point that they’re not just building up in the oceanthey are now floating around in the air we breathe!Imagine plastic particles so small that once they get into your system, they can slip right through the body’s natural defenses and lodge deeply into the lungs, kidneys, the blood stream or lymph nodes, and even across a mother’s placenta. Long term health risks to humans remain largely unknown, but there is much we can learn from observing the sea animals we see struggling for survival now. No living creature on Earth was meant to live on a diet of plastic.

Fortunately, there are a number of things we can do right now to cut back on plastic consumption. Here are some ideas for getting started:

1.) Check out the Packaging – When possible, buy products with minimal or recyclable packaging.

Example: For herbal supplements, try companies like Gaia Herbs that come in glass bottles rather than plastic.

2.) Phase out Synthetic Fibers – Synthetic fibers such as those found in clothing and home furnishings release microplastics into the air we breathe, and when washed, end up in the ocean. When it comes time to replace something in your wardrobe, stick with natural fibers.

Example: Buy clothing made of wool, cotton or hemp.

3.) Wash Responsibly – Start washing your synthetics in ways that minimize how many microplastics get flushed down the drain.

Examples: Use a Fiber Filter Bag (sold by Patagonia) or a Cora Ball. Only wash clothes when absolutely necessary, and spot clean when possible.

4.) Switch to Natural Materials – As it comes time to replace items in your home, avoid plastic and synthetic materials if you can.

Examples: For your next toothbrush, try switching to bamboo. If you happen to be getting new flooring in your home, skip carpets (this will improve your indoor air quality too!) Start transitioning to cotton reusable grocery and produce bags if you haven’t already.

5.) Think Ahead – Whenever you leave the house, whether for a few hours or a lengthy vacation, take time to think ahead about what items you should pack with you to avoid waste while you are out.

Examples:Try keeping  a bag in your car that has items like a thermos, to-go container, eating utensils, and canvas grocery bags.

6.) Drive Less – A significant amount of microplastics  originate from road runoff—mostly the little bits of your tires wearing off over time. Find ways to reduce your time on the road!

Examples: Carpool, schedule errands efficiently, and bike or walk if you can.

7.) Speak Up – When sustainable alternatives are not available, write to companies and let them know how much this matters to you as a consumer.

Example: Contact the company that makes your favorite brand of yogurt/milk and let them know how much you enjoy their product, but value sustainability and are looking for recyclable packaging. You could reference another brand that is already offering glass bottles for their products.

Final Thoughts

Keep in mind that it will take our collective efforts to clean up the ocean, but the choices you make now will have an immediate impact on your own home and body.

What’s good for you is also good for the orca, the oceans, and the planet!

References/ Further Reading

https://www.earthday.org/2018/04/05/fact-sheet-plastics-in-the-ocean/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5516159/Plastic-particles-air-supermarket-fish-sample.html

https://storyofstuff.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/IUCN-report-Primary-microplastics-in-the-oceans.pdf

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0 Heart it! Arika Rapson 5
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