A lot of arguments in the last month begun with "...but what can we do, it's all that we get" to which I countered saying "that's not true".
We think that plastic is the only option that we have when we go outside to shop and when we buy products. To be honest, it has never been easier to live a plastic-free life.
On 1st June, I attempted to live plastic-free life and here are a couple of revelations I experienced. With the government pledging to crack down on plastic waste, it has become easier. During the warm summers, our kitchens usually reek of the sour scent of plastic milk bottles and yoghurt cartons.?
But have you ever thought about the zero-waste lifestyle? The one that demands you to buy in bulk, bring your own containers for purchase, give away plastic that you own for upcycling, use the same upcycled products and then pump the system over and over?
Not just in UK or US, a plethora of zero waste ventures, shops, cafes and services have popped up for people who tout to have more awareness than others. These individuals who are putting their money where their mouth is are the ones who have reduced their carbon footprint drastically.?
These free/bulk/unpackaged/refill/zero waste shops are dedicated to urban heroes who are not contributing in the plastic repertoire and taking responsibility of what they use and how they use. These stores allow you to refill your own bags and containers, saving on food and packaging waste. Living a zero waste life is a very big battle closely linked to living a plastic-free life since, in a zero waste, you are majorly fighting plastic only.?
We contribute to estimated 12m tonnes of plastic entering our oceans, polluting marine life, on a yearly basis, and that's just one part of the billions of tonnes of debris that we throw out every year. If we lived a zero-waste life, we would be helping to reduce that damage greatly. Simply put, a zero waste life is where you consume less, you discard less, you own less and you waste nothing.
I wrote a blog on how you can switch to a zero waste life and what are the things you need to do to ensure that.?
The idea to go plastic free is simple at this age, given our options are endless. It is not only in the most obvious things we invest in but also the places where it is hidden and mostly go unnoticed. Our next major is caused by clothes, which are thrown away in millions of tonnes every month, which too contain plastic. Then comes the sanitary napkins and more.
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With recycling, upcycling and total abandonment of plastic by erudite like us, we can fight a battle that has always been ours.?