Did you know, plastic can take 20 to 1000 years to decompose! When you throw away plastic, it can sit in a landfill for centuries, and end up in the ocean. This can lead to harming animals, and filling our beautiful sea with trash. Here are 5 different ways to swap out plastic for an earth-friendly solution! *We'll add links to some of our faves*
Plastic Water Bottles
Plastic water bottles take approximatly 450 YEARS to decompose! Studies show that people around the world buy a total of one million plastic bottles per minute. That's almost 1.5 billion plastic bottles per day!
Solution: Taking the extra step to buy a reusable water bottle. Americans end up spending $5 a week on plastic water bottles. That is $260 a year! Saving you money, and saving the earth some trash!
Get your reusable water bottle today!
2. Plastic Grocery Bags
Plastic grocery bags take over 500 years to decompose.
Q: Yes, the plastic bags don't decompose quickly, but still, they aren't going in the ocean, they stay at the landfills. So, what's the big deal?
A: IF the plastic bag didn't end up in the ocean (in most cases it will), the plastic bag won't break down completly. It will photo-degrade, that will become microplastics! These tiny chemicals absorb toxins and harm the soil as well as pollute the earth.
Solution: Buy a reusable grocery bag! It saves you money from those extra cents they charge you for plastic ones! They will last you a long time, and will ensure you one step further to nursing our earth back to health.
Did you know? A sea turtle's main source of food is jellyfish. To them, a plastic grocery bag looks like a jellyfish! They eat these bags, and then they die! One less bag, is one more life to save!
3. Plastic Sandwich Bags
Plastic bags also photo-degrade, but there are some more options to use instead. We'll highlight some of our favorites!
Silicone Reusable Sandwich Bags:
BLUE AVOCADO: We use these in our lunches everyday. They seal tight, and come in all sizes!
STASHER: These awesome bags come in all sorts of colors and measurements.
Compostable/Recyclable Sandwich Bags:
RESPONSIBLE: This company is filled with lots of plastic-free items. Check it out!
LUNCHSKINS: You can find these bags at your local grocery store! These bags are so cute: you can write a note, and peel off a sticker! You can compost or recycle these bags.
Plastic Straws:
If you ask one of my family members, specifically my sister, they will tell you I have yelled at them at least twice for using a plastic straw. Here's why. A plastic straw that you put in your mouth is then put in the trash. That trash either goes to the landfill and photo-degrades and pollutes the soil OR gets into the ocean and gets stuck up a sea turtle's nose. They die. If we keep using plastic straws, sea turtles will go extinct. It's not funny. So the next time you are about to use a plastic straw, try swapping it out with something like this:
METAL STRAWS:
SILICONE STRAWS:
BAMOO STRAWS:
PAPER STRAWS:
Plastic Milk Jugs/Plastic Yogurt Containers:
These bulky jugs will take CENTURIES to break up, and still pollute the earth! And yogurt containers will also fill our soil with microplastics.
Solution: When you finish with your milk jug, poke holes in the top of the cap to make it a watering can! And with a yogurt container, put a little dirt, a seed, and watch your plant grow!
We hope you enjoyed these tips and facts! Remember: next time you go to grab something plastic, you must think before you act. Every action makes a big difference!
John 15:12 :)
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