Plastic is a problem, and it’s only getting worse. According to statistics, in 2016, a global population of more than 7 billion people produced over 320 million tons of plastic. This amount is set to double by 2034.

It’s also estimated that 8 million pieces of plastic find their way into our oceans every single day, and that 100,000 marine mammals and turtles and 1 million sea birds are killed by marine plastic pollution every year.

It’s time for us to do something to put a stop to this.

It’s in the Little Things

Dealing with the plastic problem is similar to conserving water. Every drop counts, and so does every tiny piece of plastic. Every time you refuse to use a plastic straw when you dine out, or refuse a plastic bag at the grocery store, you make a difference. It’s the little things that add up to make a big impact.

Here are five simple ways that you can cut back on using plastic and contribute to a solution:

Purchase a Re-usable Straw

Countless online retailers are selling convenient re-usable straws at affordable prices. Some are made of stainless steel, others are made of silicon. Get yours from Faithful to Nature, Superbalist or Takealot today!

Buy Re-usable Grocery Bags

A single plastic bag takes approximately 1000 years to degrade. Stop buying plastic bags at grocery stores and retailers – invest in durable fabric bags instead. They’re fairly priced and should last indefinitely.

Buy a glass water bottle

Say ‘no’ to plastic water bottles, even if you intend to re-fill them more than once. Glass water bottles are much more eco-friendly, they’re healthier (BPA-free) and they’re cost-effective too!

Shop at package-free stores

These stores are starting to pop up everywhere. South Africa’s very first package-less grocer opened its doors just this year in Fourways. It’s called The Refillery and, according to IOL, it’s “an exciting, new planet-friendly grocer offering a stylish, convenient, plastic- free, ‘weigh-and-pay’ shopping experience that helps you to stock and restock your pantry with the highest quality, ethically-sourced products without all the wasteful packaging normally associated with a trip to the grocery store.”

Switch to cloth nappies

Disposable nappies are a massive contributor to our planet’s plastic crisis. Cloth nappies are a much greener alternative. They’re extremely well-made nowadays and are a lot more practical than you might think. They also work out to be endlessly cheaper in the long run. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/2IdUqsg

Looking for more helpful tips on reducing your plastic use? Contact Letsolo today on 082 821 6621.

 

Sources:

https://www.sas.org.uk/our-work/plastic-pollution/plastic-pollution-facts-figures/