Alternatives to Plastic.

Please do not think that your individual actions do not matter.

YES, we NEED to pressure companies and the government to turn green but YOU as a CONSUMER are important. It’s not simply greenhouse gases that cause climate change. It’s our consumer lifestyle that fuels the greenhouse gases that cause climate change. Until we end consumerism, we will not solve the climate crisis.

Have you ever wondered what that number on top of your coffee cup actually meant?

For way to long have I neglected to properly look into what the products I consume are actually made of so, I'm gonna briefly take you through the plastic categorisations and the impact they have on your health.

People might find this intimidating maybe but we need to know whats in our products. In 2018 Plymouth University conducted an experiment on second hand toys and found that 16% of the sample were hazardous to children. Containing arsenic, antimony, barium, bromine, lead and more. Of the most dangerous were lego bricks, a common toy seen in the mouths of toddlers. What is truly scary is that we tend to ignore the facts and put trust into a government that creates poisonous material for us and our children to use in order for them to save profit.

1 = Polyethylene Terephthalate

Is the easiest plastic to recycle. Commonly used for water bottles and food packaging, recycled back into bottles. This does not contain BPA however in the presence of heat can produce the antimony metalloid, if dissolved from cheap enamelware it can cause sickness and diarrhoea. 450 – 1000 years decompose. It should be noted that when plastic states that it is microwaveable safe, it just means that the shape will not warp in heat, there is no discussion around chemical leakage.

2 = High Density Polyethylene

Mostly used for detergents, milk, oil and hair products. This can be recycled into more bottles or more plastic bags however the plastic needs to be durable due to the acidity of the products inside and therefore takes centuries to decompose. This plastic type does not contain BPA.

3 = Polyvinyl Chloride.

One of the biggest environmental and human health threats, it is toys, your furniture, piping and packaging. The world health organisation recognises this as a substance capable of causing cancer. The chemical additives in PVC evaporate into the air over time. Most household drinking water piping is made from PVC Plastic. There is now a major safety concern for piping made before 1977 – how to combat this, please invest in a water filter for your home. Most PVC plastics contain BPA.

4 = Low density Polyethylene

A thermoplastic used for food wrapping, sandwich bags, bin bags and packaging. This does not contain BPA but in the presence of heat also leaks antimony. LDPE is non-biodegradable and largely unrecyclable and it makes up most of our single use waste. Think before you buy.

5 = Polypropylene

Most commonly used in clothing, yogurt pots and for rope. It can be broken down and recycled into fibers. One of the safer plastics it is increasingly being accepted into recycling programs. Some bin collection recyclers however do not take it so double check with your authorities. This type of plastic takes 20-30 years to degrade in landfill.

6 = Polystyrene

Is very difficult to recycle. Used in cups, food trays, food packaging, electronics, automobile parts, household insulation and toys. It contains the toxic and possible cancer-causing substances: styrene and benzene. Hot substances cause the breakdown of Styrofoam which causes toxins to be absorbed into our bloodstream. While scientists say any chemical leakage into our food is under our daily safe limit, many companies have turned to using alternatives. Boost juice bars changed from polystyrene cups in 2013 while many small cafe's still use them.

7= A mixture of any and all of the above plastics

These are not recyclable, and your bin men will not want them.

MOST COFFEE CUP LIDS SIT HERE. Have a look next time you’re at costa.

Alternatives to plastic – think before you buy.

Bioplastics are now made from either hemp, corn or mushroom rot (same same as Quorn). 100% biodegradable, non-toxic and as durable as plastic. Flame and UV resistant, it is physically comparable to synthetic plastic. If you see any companies using hemp or corn alternatives support them if you can, I'm pretty sure its going to be our future.

Below is a timeline of hemp plastic during degradation.

As follows is a concise list of a few ways in which you can start to live plastic free, save yourself some of that hard earned dolla and look after the health of yourself and your loved ones <3

· Companies have to pay for rubbish collection. Please take off the packaging at the checkout and leave it for them to dispose of. The best way to influence the big boys is through making them spend ££.

· DON’T BUY PLASTIC BAGS, even if you forget. It isn’t funny anymore you just look like a fool.

· Make your own lunch and refuse plastic cutlery. Who wants to pay £3 for a melon slice and eat it with a plastic knife and fork?

· Reusable and biodegradable Bamboo toothbrushes £1 on eBay and cutlery sets are available on eBay for as little as £3 but… I am sure you have a metal set.

· Reusable coffee cups and water bottles. You’ve read about the dangers of microplastics, bottled water isn’t a luxury but a harmful item. You’re paying to destroy the earth and your health.

· Refuse receipts they are covered in microplastic and non recyclable.

· Invest in clothing. Recycle. Upcycle and shop organically. STOP buying into fast fashion and love the items you have. Organise a clothes swap with your friends. 900 million items of clothing are sent into landfill each year. Clothes are covered in microplastics and take thousands of years to degrade.

· Stop buying cleaning products that always come in PLASTIC BOTTLES. Natural bleach is £3.50 online it is non-toxic and completely biodegradable.

· Switch from shower gel to soap.

· Lush uses 100% recyclable pots for shampoo and conditioners.

· Facewashes with microbeads in = more plastic that ends up in our ocean. These tiny beads are most commonly ingested. African black soap is a fair-trade way to keep your skin exfoliated naturally.

· Forget clingfilm – reusable beeswax food wraps are £3.99 on eBay.

Below are some really interesting documentaries. If you watch them I promise you the world will look a lot different. Interesting and shocking they visualise the issues we all put into the back of our minds.

Before the flood -Netflix.

Cowspiracy -Netflix.

The true cost -Netflix.

The war on plastic with Hugh and Anita -BBC.

A plastic ocean - Netflix.