5 Environment-Friendly DIY’S to Cut Down Plastic

Shoppers worldwide use approximately 500 billion plastic bags per year. Consequently, about 1 million sea birds die from plastic every year. 

We all know the hazardous effects of plastic. Yet, we use it, as it has become an inseparable part of your lives. 

Today, we discuss some easy DIY ways to cut down the use of plastic. 

1. Don’t use single-use plastic

The majority of plastic items we use are one-use, such as plastic bags, plastic cutlery, coffee-cup, etc. These items make a large chunk of environmental pollution. 

Therefore, the easiest thing you can do to cut down plastic use is to replace one-use plastics with reusable versions. For example, you can use jute bags for shopping or a thermos flask for your coffee. 

When at the supermarket, buy fresh produce instead of packaged items. This way, you’ll naturally cut down your plastic usage. 

2. Say goodbye to gums and smokes

Chewing gum is made of fossil fuel-based polymers used in industrial processes. This material doesn’t decompose. And since we dispose of gum irresponsibly, it ends up in the soil and rivers and oceans. So, try kicking this habit away.

Plastic lighters commonly appear in the stomachs of aquatic creatures. Smoking in itself is a life-threatening habit, but if you can’t quit, at least stop using plastic lighters. You can use match sticks or refillable lighters instead. 

3. Stop using microbeads

A myriad of personal care products, like soaps and toothpaste, consist of tiny plastic beads. They’re so minuscule that they easily pass through water-treatment plants. Therefore, they end up in rivers and oceans and are consumed by sea creatures. 

Finding products that don’t contain microbeads can be difficult because companies don’t mention them on the ingredients list. But by doing some research, you can easily determine the products that contain these microplastics. 

4. Don’t buy bottled water

A study from the Guardian suggested that one million plastic bottles are sold across the globe every minute. 

The average weight of an empty plastic water bottle is 10 grams. So, every minute, 10 million grams or 10,000 kg of plastic are bought. This makes it 14.4 million kg plastic per day and 5.25 billion kg per year. 

Instead of buying a plastic bottle, carry reusable water bottles and find places where you can fill fresh drinking water. 

5. Put pressure on manufacturers

We live in a consumer-centric era, where our actions determine what companies produce. If we collectively take a stand against the use of plastic, companies will be forced to move away from manufacturing plastic products. 

Writing an email or sending the company a tweet is the easiest way to make manufacturers realize that you’re against them. You can also join support projects and organizations fighting to tackle plastic pollution. 

Conclusion

The change begins with you. Take a look around, and you’ll find a bunch of plastic-based items. What about your mobile cover? Or the tube of moisturizer you use every morning? 

If you want to join charities fighting against single-use plastic, check out Kanexon for volunteering opportunities.