Last summer, Starbucks made news with their goal to eliminate plastic straws from their stores by 2020. A lot of people questioned the impact this would really have as cold beverages only make up a portion of its drink menu. The big environmental win was that a lot more people became aware of what often happens to plastic straws in their afterlife. I was only a few seconds into watching this video where a poor turtle has to have a renegade straw removed from its nose before I was ready to give up straws forever (heads up, it will tear your heart out).
In America alone, it’s estimated we use more than 500,000 plastic straws every day. Straws are made of polypropylene and are technically recyclable, yet few straws actually. make it to the center. Like plastic bags, they are lightweight often blow away en route to wherever they are going.
But the point of this post is that plastic straws are just one of those many plastic things that have become commonplace, yet we could easily do without. Why the issue with plastic? According to this National Geographic article (that will blow your mind), plastic takes more than 400 years to degrade, so most of it still exists in some form. And just when you’d think people were starting to become more aware of the issue, the most recent data shows that Americans are actually recycling LESS plastic than previously.
So what if we just stopped using so much plastic? We’ve all seen the little green triangle accompanying the words “Reduce, Reuse and Recycle” but it could actually be a square. “Refusing,” the fourth R, is a powerful way that we can reduce the amount of waste we consume before it ever enters our homes. And if enough of us refuse, it sends a message to suppliers that they need to come up with another solution.
A few easy REFUSES to consider:
So no to plastic bags: In our house, this started with grocery bags but has since expanded to Target, Home Goods—basically anywhere that sells a bunch of stuff I probably don’t need and should also refuse but this is a process and I’ll. get. there.
When it comes to reusable bags, Trader Joe’s tops my list of favorites. The insulated versions are heavy-duty and large enough that you can put more than just a block of cheese in it. The best part is that they’re durable enough to become your go-to bag and will cost you as much as a coffee at Starbucks.
For produce, go with no bag or these mesh bags that you can reuse and wash.
So no to plastic straws. Like plastic bags, it’s easy to drop reusable straws in your purse/car or somewhere for easy access for those times when you’re not planning to dine out, but suddenly you’re seated at a table with a glass of water and straw laying in front of you.
Groupon has several options right now that are worth checking out, for a few dollars less than you can find them on Amazon.
If you want to go with silicone, these are cute.
Say no to plastic bottles. I won’t go down the rabbit hole on this one because you only have to look alongside any Midwestern road after the snow melt to see just how many plastic bottles litter the ditches. So gross.
I bought my first Swell bottle almost 10 years ago and it changed my life. I wish I could stay I still had my original bottle, but I’ve lost a few despite repeated protests with airport security. That said, they’re WELL worth the investment and make great gifts! While there are some cheaper versions now available, a Swell will keep cold items cold for 24-hours and warm items hot for 12. I can still find ice cubes in my bottle when I take a drink in the morning. Just make sure not to ever put them in the dishwasher.
Say no to styrofoam and plastic food containers: From foam to plastic, a lot of the containers we receive for carryout or leftover food in restaurants are single-use and end up in the trash. Think about all the plastic coffee lids on to-go coffee cups. While some businesses have transitioned to compostable plastic containers, this is a huge source of waste.
From stainless steel to collapsible silicone to glass, there are a variety of super cute and reusable containers available. We’ve put a mix of glass and silicone into our mix, which can be used for lunches, picnics or leftovers.
This is collapsible set one of my favorite options, as you can adjust the size/height of the container depending on the amount of space you need. They store nicely too.
In more green-friendly cities like San Francisco and Portland, innovative companies like GO Box are also helping reduce single-use disposable plastic containers. But until such solutions come to our area, we can start with refusing as much as we can.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
— Margaret Mead