Cut down on plastic – one room at a time

It’s affordable, multi-purpose, and is an item few people can live without. Although these items are designed to be thrown away after just one use, this item does not go away. Guess what it is? It’s our beloved plastic!

There is no doubt about the excellent use of plastic products that have made our lives easier. Products like helmets, car seats, and medical equipment (just to name a few) are essential items that not only improve, but also save our lives. We can call them a “good plastic”.

The plastic I’m going to talk about today is Superfluous Plastic. As you read this article, it is very likely that he is present near you. Turn right, then left, do you see any pen, food container? No? Try again! Now, do you see a computer or a mobile? Maybe mouse or keyboard? I think the answer is obvious now. So where am I going with this? The answer is pretty obvious. Bad plastics are everywhere! It is like taking care of your own nose every day. However, although he sees it every moment, like his own body, he also tends to ignore this bad plastic.

Given that no one (not even me. I can’t lose my job!). I’m going to stop using a cell phone or computer, go room by room through the house highlighting what disposable plastic can be found, and definitely offer some solution (practiced by me) to reduce its use.

Plastic containers: Let’s start with the kitchen. Today, everyone has had a microwave-safe plastic container for storing food scraps. Sure, storing food is good and the container works as it should. However, there is a problem, the lifespan of this container is quite short according to usability. When the time comes, once your beloved container cracks and breaks, without a second thought, you tossed it in the trash. And there goes your $ 10 for eternity in a month!

These containers are not only quite easy to break, but they also cause many health hazards. When you keep your food in the plastic container, the plastic releases harmful chemical toxins into the food. Keep using this plastic container and I am sure that in a few months you will have to go to the doctors. Believe me, I was there too!

What should you do? Let me tell you what I did! After returning from the doctors, I went to the supermarket and bought a food-safe steel container. They cost me a bit more and you do too, however, they are sturdy and not as flimsy as a plastic container. They are super easy to clean, I can easily put them in the freezer. I have been using them for almost a year now and I think I will be able to gift them to my grandchildren too! Although it is not possible to use them inside a microwave, it is nevertheless quite easy to transfer the food to a serving plate / bowl before reheating.

Food Containers: We all have to eat, yet it is quite impossible to keep a good distance between plastic containers sometimes. When I go to the supermarket, I sometimes stare at food and think, “Food producers can be obsessed with single-use packaging!” Yes, it would be a great idea for everyone to go to the local farmer’s store and buy mud covered food and vegetables in a jute bag. However, most of us live in the city and to shop at the farmers market we have to travel even miles. If you’re okay and excited about it, I’d say “Don’t do it.” Since air pollution can be just as bad as plastic pollution itself. In this situation, you can use your right to free speech against excessive packaging.

You can also do something that I do regularly. After completing the transaction, you can remove the plastic and throw it in the trash in front of an authorized person. This is a good way to promote a non-violent protest against excessive packaging.

Cleaning Products: This one is quite frustrating – cleaning products usually come in a bottle, and obviously you can’t make your own eco-friendly bottle. However, there is a way. Have you ever heard of Ecover? If you haven’t, you can use our old internet to collect information. They are practically a trend today. You can find them in almost all supermarkets. What’s so cool about it? Well, they are committed to using 100% renewable material and this helps a lot in building a green and healthy future.

So there you have it, just three suggestions on how you can conquer disposable plastic in your kitchen. I’ll be back next week with ideas to reduce the problem of plastic in other parts of the house.