Single-use plastics are a problem for the environment. These items, like straws and plastic bags, are used once before being thrown away. They are not recyclable and can take hundreds of years to decompose. In this post, we will look at 3 tips to replace single-use plastics in everyday life. These tips include using products made with plant-based polymers, replacing typical plastic items with alternatives like paper straws and metal or glass containers, and eliminating plastic waste in our day-to-day lives.
Switch to Plant-Based Polymers
Fruit and vegetables contain cellulose fibers that are made into polymers to produce plastic materials. Plant-based plastics have a lot of benefits including biodegradability, renewable energy sources, and zero emissions.
These plant plastics can be used to package food, ship products, and make other goodies. With this option, you are cutting back on the amount of plastic that is used and wasted in a single-use process while keeping your produce and other items fresh.
While plant-based polymers are still relatively new, they offer a great number of benefits over traditional plastics and could be one of the best things to replace plastic altogether.
Replace Plastic With Alternatives Like Paper and Glass
Another option to lessen the use of plastic is to switch to things made out of paper or glass. Paper straws are becoming more popular as an alternative to plastic and metal or glass containers of all shapes, sizes, and colors can be found in stores everywhere.
Toothbrushes made with nylon bristles can be replaced with a bamboo toothbrush instead. Plastic bags for produce can be swapped for reusable cloth baggies when you go shopping. You can avoid buying single servings of foods and beverages and instead buy larger sizes and create your own reusable travel containers.
Choose Single-Use Plastics That Get More Than One Use
It is important that we do not forget about other types of single-use plastics which get more than one use. Take biodegradable cups, for example, they are made from corn starch plastic and do not require a lot of resources to produce. These cups can be used multiple times before being recycled into other products like park benches or children’s toys.
While it is still not ideal, swapping to recycled plastic is a small step towards a greater goal. Many manufacturers that don’t yet have sustainable materials are opting to switch at least a portion of their manufacturing over to recycled material, including plastic.
As demand for sustainable manufacturing grows and new options become available it will be much easier to replace plastic completely. Until then, every small step we take lessens the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills and the oceans and makes our environment a little greener in the process.
