How much plastic do you use?

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

We have all been to the beach and seen plastic litter left behind by others—empty bottles, broken buckets, discarded food wrappers, etc. Consequently, most, if not all, of this ends up in the ocean. However, not only is the plastic from the beaches polluting our oceans; on average, one truckload is dumped into our seas every minute.

The amount of unrecycled plastic waste we produce as a species is becoming uncontrollable. Yet we know how to clean up after ourselves, recycle, and shop for plastic-free or sustainable alternatives. Therefore, we must ensure we are doing all of this now to stop harming our planet.

What are microplastics, and why are they so bad?

The plastic entering our oceans is affecting our wildlife, environment, and planet’s future. One of the biggest issues is microplastics. Which mainly come from larger pieces of waste broken down by the ocean and found in clothing, house paints, cosmetic products, and much more.

Furthermore, microplastics destroy and change the ecosystems we need to survive. They affect the brains of sea creatures and lower their fertility and growth rates. Fish inhaling and digesting microplastics end up on our plates.

A heartbreaking discovery

An American explorer named Victor Vescovo descended 35,853ft to the bottom of the Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean. By doing this, he broke the current world record for the deepest submersible dive ever. And heartbreakingly, he discovered yet more plastic; bags and sweet wrappers were at the bottom of the trench.

“It was very disappointing to see obvious human contamination of the deepest point in the ocean.”

Victor Vescovo

How much plastic do you use?

It’s doubtful that many people realize exactly how much they use. It’s only by taking notice that you realize the extent of your consumption throughout the day. Firstly, take a moment to think about how much you use in just one morning.

You will most likely use six or more plastic items just getting ready in the morning, Soap bottles, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, clothes hangers, sandwich bags, water bottles, and makeup. These items can be replaced with sustainable alternatives; we simply have to look for them. Now think about how much you use in a whole day!

How can we stop using plastic?

Here are a few easy things you could do to reduce your usage:

• Begin by using reusable bags – preferably one made from sustainable materials. Around one trillion bags are used annually across the globe. That equates to nearly two million every minute.
• Stop using plastic straws. We use nearly 500 million straws every day. Use paper, bamboo, grass, or stainless steel as an alternative.
• Buy a reusable water bottle. Glass, bamboo, and steel bottles are the most sustainable. You can find them pretty much anywhere nowadays.
• Swap your toothbrush for a bamboo one. On average, one billion plastic toothbrushes are thrown away every year. And they will never biodegrade.
• Invest in a metal razor. We throw out a billion plastic razors every year. A metal razor may cost a little more, but on the other hand, it is more sustainable and often lasts a lot longer.
• Shampoo/ Deodorant/ Soap Bottles. Ditch the bottles and buy bars. Shampoo bars, deodorant bars, and soap bars last much longer. Plus, they have a much better impact on the environment.
• Facial Wipes. Instead of buying disposable facial wipes that contain plastic, choose reusable facial rounds combined with a moisturizing soap bar or your chosen cleanser. Keep the environment clean.

These are just the tiniest portion of how to reduce plastic usage. There are thousands of alternatives for so many different things out there. All we need to do is open our eyes and educate ourselves. Bamboo plasters, coconut pan scourers, and ahimsa silk dental floss are all plastic-free and sustainable. So go and have a look at what other alternatives are out there.

Want to learn more?

There are many more ways to ditch plastic life and begin thinking about our environment. Try reading one of the many plastic-free books out there for inspiration. Our favourites include:

• How to Live Plastic Free by Luca Bonaccorsi
• How to Give Up Plastic by Will McCallum
• No. More. Plastic. by Martin Dorey

Start today!

Give it a go. Ditch your plastic and begin to buy more sustainable products. Your world and future will thank you for it. Finally, for more wellness tips and information, look at our blog. Plus, don’t forget to tag us in any of your plastic-free photos @surrender_to_happiness. We use recycled and sustainable materials as much as possible in our shop, so please feel free to take a look.

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