Summer Sustainability Challenge: Your Summer, Your Impact
- Youth Environmental Alliance
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
By Nicole Castilla, Marine Biologist and Florida Master Naturalist
Plastic-Free Swaps
Plastic pollution is a huge problem in the environment, especially in our oceans. According to the Sea Turtle Conservancy, an estimated one million marine animals die every year as a result of the plastic in the ocean. Much of the marine debris in the sea is made of plastic, especially single-use plastics that can be easily replaced by sustainable swaps.
Making the switch to plastic-free alternatives is a very environmentally conscious change you can make, starting now! With so many options out there for just about everything, finding something plastic-free is a pretty simple task! Let’s take a look at some easy everyday plastic items you can swap out for eco-friendly ones!
Cutlery and Utensils
This is one of the most simple swaps you can make! While plastic cutlery may be a convenient option, it is not a sustainable one. A whopping forty billion plastic utensils end up being used and discarded every year, which is terrible for the environment. Many of these end up in the ocean, in landfills, and as litter alongside roadways and community spaces. Their unique size and shape makes them unable to be recycled a lot of the time- falling through the cracks in recycling facilities.
Besides the environmental impact of plastic utensils, they also can leach microplastics into your body when utilized, especially when hot. When a plastic utensil (or any plastic or styrofoam container) is placed in a microwave or exposed to a hot temperature such as when a hot food or drink item is placed in them, the polymers in the plastic break down faster than at room temperature, therefore leaching harmful chemicals into the food and drink that people end up ingesting, getting more than we bargained for with every meal.
Research on microplastics is fairly new; however, the findings are quite alarming. These microplastics have been detected in various organs including the heart, brain, and placenta, and have even been found in breastmilk and urine. Although more evidence and research is needed to confirm if they cause specific ailments, some studies have shown that they could possibly be linked to cancer and autism.
Although some believe that bioplastic utensils are a better option than petroleum-based plastic ones, many actually are not any better. These plant-based bioplastics often still contain hazardous chemicals and fossil fuel based additives, fossil fuels are burned as they are produced and they do not necessarily break down in the environment fast enough to avoid being ingested by wildlife. Most of them are not easily biodegradable or compostable and are not as environmentally friendly as its marketing suggests.
Reusable utensils provide a more eco-friendly approach to on-the-go cutlery, as they can be easily washed and used hundreds, if not thousands of times. Just stick them in your car or go-bag so they are always nearby. Some reusable alternatives include stainless steel, bamboo, and wooden utensils.
Bags
Plastic bags are extremely harmful to wildlife and the environment. Each year, an average of 5 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide. Once these bags are discarded, wildlife including birds, dolphins,seals, fishes, crabs, sponges,sea turtles, whales, manta rays, whale sharks and more become entangled in them or ingest them, causing harm or death to our wild animal neighbors. Why? For example, sea turtles can ingest them as they mistake them for their jellyfish prey due to their strikingly similar appearance. This in turn causes them to eat less because they are “full” with plastic, which does not pass through their system, eventually causing starvation. For filter feeders such as baleen whales, manta rays, whale sharks and the like, they have no way of filtering out plastics, which float along with their food, krill and plankton.
Although recycling them sounds like somewhat of a solution, it is actually not economical. One ton of plastic bags costs anywhere from $300 to $30,000 to recycle which can only be sold for approximately $300-that makes recycling not fiscally responsible, thus not a good option for a recycling business! When plastic bags are thrown into residential recycle bins, they can end up tangled in recycling facilities, causing mechanical issues and delays. They can take up to 20 years to decompose, which is an environmental nightmare. When plastic breaks down, it breaks down into tiny microplastics and poisonous petro-polymers, which never go away. Little by little, these microplastics and chemicals seep into the soil, waterways, and eventually the environment as a whole, invading the food web on a molecular level, we are the top of that foodweb! Moreover, even touching plastic bags too often can cause health issues. A woman reported to YEA that she used to weave with upcycled plastic bags. She started to get strange ailments and rashes. After multiple visits to doctors, they discovered the plastic bags were poisoning her. Reusable canvas, cotton or upcycled bags provide a win-win situation for both people and the planet, being sturdy and multi-use.
Instead of using plastic bags next time you are at the checkout line at the grocery store, opt for reusable bags instead or if you do not have a lot of product, just carry it out of the store without a bag. Reusable bags are better choices for you and the earth.
Water Bottles
Plastic water bottles are notorious for harboring microplastics and PFAS, also known as forever chemicals, which can enter our bodies when drinking water from a plastic bottle. These dangerous particles can pose serious health threats to humans and staying hydrated should never come with a cost. Switching to reusable bottles is a great option if you want to avoid all of the above! Bottles made from glass, ceramic, or stainless steel are very sustainable choices and many of these bottles even keep the water cold, as opposed to water in a plastic bottle that gets hot fairly quickly!
You’re probably left wondering–the bottles may be reusable, but where do I get the water from to pour into the reusable bottle? When filling your reusable bottle, the most sustainable option choice would be to use filtered tap water. When tap water is filtered, it reduces your chances of being exposed to harmful chemicals found in plastic bottles, all while costing less than purchasing bottled water. A single person can even save up to an average of $1,000 per year by switching to a water filter!
Straws
According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, plastic straws are one of the most commonly found items on the beaches during cleanups. Most plastic straws cannot be recycled, thus ending up in landfills and polluting the planet.
Choosing to say “no” to straws or to switch to reusable straws is another huge win for the planet! Instead of plastic, many eco-friendly straws are made with sustainable materials that can be recycled, composted, or reused. Glass, stainless steel, and silicone straws are easily reusable and can be washed alongside dishes. Many restaurants now are promoting greener initiatives and are using agave, paper, or wheat straws which can be composted or recycled.
Putting an End to the Problem
Plastic waste is a problem but you can be part of the solution to combat it! Across the state and the country, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved and educate others on the dangers of plastic pollution. At the Youth Environmental Alliance, we offer several educational and community outreach programs that you can be a part of. Visit https://www.youthenvironmentalalliance.com/ to learn more and find ways in which you can join those making waves in environmental conservation!
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