The sad truth about plastic usage and plastic recycling
Did you know that only 9% of all plastic ever produced has been recycled?
Globally, we produce 300 million tonnes of plastic per year, and the majority of it ends up in landfills or in our natural environment.
When we’re not witnessing the impact of plastic pollution first-hand it can be very hard to comprehend statistics like these - but unfortunately for people in other countries such as the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand, the reality is a nightmare.
It may surprise you to know that in New Zealand there are seven grades of plastic, but only plastics numbered 1, 2 and 5 are recycled, and in some areas not all of these can be recycled.
Given the overwhelming scale of this systemic global problem, it’s easy to feel helpless or to push the responsibility on others - but just as we are all part of the problem, we all have a part to play in the solution.
Ultimately to create meaningful and lasting change, we need to slow the rate of plastic consumption while also improving the way we manage plastic waste.
At Morphum, sustainability is at the heart of our business and our way of life.
Our care for the environment is reflected in every decision we make from our day-to-day business operations, through to selecting suppliers and determining project outcomes.
A core focus for us at all times of the year is waste management and reducing our reliance on plastics, in particular single-use plastics.
So, this year, we’ve approached Plastic Free July as an opportunity to reflect on our plastic use, share tips and tricks from our team for reducing plastic consumption and continue to push ourselves to do better.
To help you on your journey to plastic-freedom, we’ve brainstormed our top 9 ways to reduce single-use plastic.
Top 9 ways to reduce single-use plastic
1. BYO wherever you go!
A significant way to reduce your single-use plastic waste is to Bring your Own Keep Cup or coffee mug (most cafés will accept a regular kitchen mug), water bottle, lunchbox, cutlery, and straw wherever you go.
Keeping lunchboxes and Keep Cups in the cupboard for staff to take with them when they go out to buy lunch makes it easy for them - and it’s especially handy if you’ve left yours at home!
Not feeling guilty or unsure of how to dispose of meal packaging, is even sweeter when you’re also showing your colleagues how easy it is to make a difference by creating an alternative to waste creation.
Remember, it’s not just cafés that will accept your containers, supermarkets will too.
2. GYO (grow your own) vegetables and herbs
Sometimes we don’t even realise where some of the plastic sneaking into our bins comes from… like the soft plastics containing veggies and herbs from the supermarket.
A great way to start growing your own veggies and herbs is to start with just one (e.g. spinach) and expand from there. That way you won’t be daunted by the equipment, time and space to maintain a veggie patch.
And don’t forget that a lot of people in lots of places, doing lots of little things for the environment makes a big difference!
3. Zero-in on Zero-Waste Shampoo, Conditioner and Soap Bars
Making your own DIY shampoo and conditioner bars is easier than you think, and there are lots of easy recipes online.
But if DIY isn’t your thing, there are lots of retailers including Huckleberry, GoodFor and supermarkets selling Zero-Waste options.
These bars take up a lot less space in the shower and don’t wash any nasty chemicals down the drain.
They last a long time and you won’t have an empty plastic bottle left at the end.
4. Refill instead of re-buying
When you’re on the road to plastic freedom… a refillery is your best friend! It’s easy to repurpose your jars as containers to refill from bulk bins at the supermarket or for whole foods from bulk stores such as GoodFor, The Source or your local refinery store.
If you’re lucky enough to have a coffee roastery nearby - refill your jars with coffee grounds or beans instead of buying packets.
Lewis Road Creamery is offering milk refills at selected outlets - hopefully this trend continues and we can have refillable milk kegs one day!
5. Wrap your snacks in beeswax wraps
Re-useable beeswax wraps are a nifty and eco-friendly alternative for wrapping sandwiches, cheese and fruit etc.
You can easily make them yourself, or buy them in stores, online or at your local weekend market.
As well as helping our environment, you’ll be delighted by the colourful patterns in your fridge, that can brighten up your day.
6. Always choose paper before plastic
If you arrive at the supermarket without your own veggie bags, grab paper bags from the mushroom or baking area, instead of using plastic bags.
Don’t forget, you can ask for boxes at the checkout if you’re short on bags or helping hands - you’ll be surprised how eager staff are to help your environmental mission. You might even inspire the person behind you in the queue to follow suit!
7. Don’t mix and match with mixed-fabrics
Donating clothes and op-shopping have become popular ways to increase the lifecycle of our favourite garments. However, clothes don’t last forever and textiles that aren’t 100% organic won’t break down in the environment.
Synthetic fabrics can leach up to 9000 micro-plastic fibres per wash, and the majority of these micro-plastics end up in the ocean - damaging our marine life and ecosystems. If you are buying synthetic clothing try to avoid mixed-fabrics.
Choosing 100% of one synthetic fibre e.g. 100% polyester or 100% nylon, gives the material the best chance of being recycled.
Currently, mixed-fabrics such as 50% polyester / 50% cotton can’t be recycled.
8. Clean and shine with home-made cleaning products
To save buying new cleaning products to use around your home and office - repurpose your spray bottles with your own home-made cleaning products.
There are lots of easy 100% natural recipes that use only a blend of vinegar and baking soda… add an essential oil to create your own favourite cleaning aroma.
9. Clean and scrub, naturally
Instead of buying new cleaning cloths repurpose your old sheets or towels or buy natural cleaning cloths and scrubbers online or from a store that stocks eco-friendly options.
Often with eco-friendly scrubbers you can simply buy a new head to replace a worn one, which is also more economical than replacing a plastic one!
The Plastic Free Journey
These ideas are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to reducing plastic consumption - we can’t expect to be 100% Plastic Free overnight.
We’re all on a learning journey and we all make mistakes along the way, such as forgetting to say “no straw” when ordering a drink.
The first step is being conscious of our plastic consumption so we can begin to make changes.
But we all have the opportunity to uplift, inspire, teach, and encourage each other to reduce our reliance on plastics, so we can all live in harmony with the environment, that gifts us all that we need.
