"Understanding the 'why' behind what we do is the compass that guides us through the complexities of life. It gives purpose to our actions, infuses meaning into our endeavors, and empowers us to navigate with intention and conviction."
Click on each single use item, to find out why it negatively affects the environment, and what sustainable swap is best!
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Dryer sheets are typically made from non-biodegradable materials and are designed for single use, contributing to the growing issue of disposable waste in landfills. Many dryer sheets release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other chemicals into the air when heated, which can contribute to air pollution and potentially harm human respiratory health. The chemicals present in dryer sheets can leach into wastewater yo during the laundry process, eventually finding their way into water bodies and potentially disrupting aquatic ecosystems.
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Paper towels negatively impact the environment. It’s just SUSTAINABLE SWAP- NOT PAPER TOWELSe little paper towel, but globally, discarded paper towels result in 254 million tons of trash every year. As many as 51,000 trees per day are required to replace the number of paper towels that are discarded every day. If every household in the U.S. used just one less 70-sheet roll of paper towels, that would save 544,000 trees each year. In the US alone, we use 13 billion pounds of paper towels each year
BUT CAN’T I JUST COMPOST THEM??
Composting paper towels can have some negative environmental impacts if they are contaminated with chemicals or other substances. For example, paper towels that have been used to clean up spills or other messes may contain harmful substances that can leach into the soil and water when composted.
In addition, composting paper towels can also lead to increased greenhouse gas emissions if not done properly. This is because paper towels are made from plant material, which can release methane and other greenhouse gases as it breaks down in a compost pile.
Furthermore, if paper towels are not properly sorted before composting, they can contaminate the compost with materials that are not suitable for composting, such as plastics or metals. This can make the compost unusable and create additional waste that must be disposed of elsewhere.
Overall, while composting paper towels can be a great way to reduce waste and create nutrient-rich soil, it's important to do so responsibly and with caution to avoid any negative environmental impacts.
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1 REUSABLE BAG CAN REPLACE OVER 700 SINGLE USE PLASTIC BAGS OVER ITS LIFETIME!
Ziplock (or any brand of single use plastic bags have a profound negative impact on the environment! Annually, over one trillion plastic bags, which includes a significant portion of Ziplock bags, are produced worldwide. Shockingly, a mere 1% of these bags are recycled, leaving the vast majority to end up in landfills, where they can take up to 1,000 years to decompose.
Moreover, plastic pollution in the world's oceans is estimated to kill over a million seabirds and 100,000 marine mammals every year, many of which ingest or become entangled in plastic bags.
This escalating environmental crisis calls for urgent action to reduce the production and consumption of these harmful items.
WAIT THERE’S MORE… plastic can be harmful even before it hits your garbage can. Did you know that you should not freeze plastic. Only put plastics in the freezer if they have a freezer-safe label. Freezer temperatures can cause plastics to deteriorate, which increases the leaching of chemicals into the food when you take containers out of the freezer to thaw or reheat.
It may not be clear if the plastics are freezer safe, so the best thing to do is avoid plastic products altogether. Just don’t buy them, you don’t need them. Instead try a gallon everything bag! Freezer safe, and plastic free!
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Every year nearly 80 million Americans have used at least one roll of plastic wrap, but more than five million Americans have gone through more than 10 million boxes, which when added up, is enough to go around the circumference of the earth 30 times over!
If you’ve ever used plastic wrap(aka cling film) you know that it’s very difficult to reuse. It sticks to itself, and rips easily. As convenient as it might be, it’s absolutely horrendous for the environment. Most plastic wrap is made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a flexible form of plastic. PVC releases dioxin, a toxin known to cause reproductive and developmental human health issues, during manufacturing…PVC also takes up to 1000 years to breakdown in landfills- leeching chemicals all the while, and harms marine life in the oceans who mistake it for food. On top of that, because it bundles up so small, it can’t be effectively recycled.
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40 billion plastic utensils are wasted annually in the US alone! Used just one time, most of them are thrown out, and end up in landfills and waterways. Plastic forks, knives and spoons are ranked among the most harmful types of marine debris to ocean animals. Plastic pollution ends up covering the water surface leading to the impermeability of air to the water masses. We’re literally suffocating our marine life with plastic garbage! Moreover, some of these small plastic cutleries such as spoons and forks can be ingested when mistaken for food by marine life leading to death. Even if you put it in the recycling bin, it won’t get recycled- It’s too contaminated, too small, too lightweight. So those 40 billion plastic utensils per year are a literally a complete waste. I can’t tell you how many plastic forks are thrown away in the ICU alone. They do have biodegradable options, and although some are legit, watch out for green washing.” Greenwashing is the process of conveying a false impression or providing misleading information about how a company's products are more environmentally sound. Compostable and many biodegradable plastics are made from naturally occurring polymers such as starch or cellulose. ... and although there is a way to compost them, it is not as simple as throwing them in your backyard compost pile.