Category Archives: Green Living

Simple Swaps for Plastic

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June 8 is World Ocean Day. Although it’s a day late, let’s talk about ways to reduce our use of plastic to help protect our oceans, but also to protect animals (land animals, sea animals, and humans)!

Here are some of the many issues with plastic:

    • It is not biodegradable. It may break down into smaller and smaller pieces, but it never goes away. Once they become “microplastics,” they are nearly impossible to collect.
    • We are in a recycling crisis. China no longer accepts most recyclables, so much of it ends up as trash. A small percentage of plastic is recycled anyway, about 8% in the US.
    • Even when plastics are recycled, it can usually only be done once as they are typically turned into another product that is not recyclable.
    • Plastics kill animals by causing entanglement, starvation, strangulation, and even pierced organs.
    • Production of plastic is increasing and is expected to double by 2050.
    • Plastics are made from fossil fuels, a major source of pollution and contributor to climate change.
    • Plastics contaminate our food chain. Even plankton consume microplastics, which then works its way up the food chain.


Video by New Scientist

What can we do about it? We can start by reducing our use of single use plastics. For the next day or so, start taking note of the plastics around you. You will realize that they are everywhere, and there are many simple replacements that maybe you just haven’t considered before. The good news is that we’ll lay out a few easy swaps for your consideration!

Bathroom Plastic Swaps

Bar soap (vs. liquid soap or shower gel)

Bar soap
Bar soap in the shower, but can also be used for handwashing

A study on personal hygiene products showed that people use about 6 times more liquid soap than bar soap by weight. On top of that, it takes about 5 times more energy to produce liquid soap. Additionally, liquid soap contains a lot of water, increasing the carbon footprint of shipping. Aim for bar soap that has minimal (if any) packaging. You can even find ratings of soaps at EWG, including ones that are EWB Verified, meeting their strictest health standards.

 

Cotton swabs with paper/cotton sticks (vs. cotton swabs with plastic sticks)

Organic cotton swabs and cotton swab with plastic
Organic cotton swabs vs. a swab with a plastic handle

Leave the wax in your ears! If you need to use cotton swabs for other purposes (makeup, cleaning, arts and crafts), aim for ones that don’t have a plastic handle. Better yet, buy ones made of organic cotton – not so much for your health, but for the environmental benefits of organic agriculture or just find a reusable alternative!

 

Natural loofah (vs. plastic loofah)

Plastic and natural loofahs
Natural loofah (right) vs. plastic loofah (left)

Traditional loofahs are made from plastic and must be thrown away, ideally after about 1 month. Natural loofahs are actually made from a vegetable! They can be composted at the end of their lifespan. You can even grow your own!

 

Refill soap containers (vs. buying new containers)

Liquid soap in bulk
Liquid soap in bulk vs. liquid soap in individual containers

If you have a store that sells liquid soap in bulk, take advantage of it! Bring your own container, such as an empty soap refill container that you already used. This doesn’t completely eliminate plastic, but it does allow you to reuse it if you just can’t make the switch to bar soap.

Menstrual cup or organic cotton tampon (vs. tampons with plastic applicator)

Menstrual products
From the right: Menstrual cup, organic tampons without plastic applicator, organic tampon with plastic wrapper and no applicator, vs. a conventional tampon with plastic wrapper and plastic applicator.

Menstrual cups are a tampon alternative that can be reused for years. You can even leave it in for up to 12 hours! They are usually made of silicone or latex rubber, so be sure to buy a 100% silicone one if you have a latex allergy. There are also other reusable options such as period underwear and reusable pads.

Menstrual cups may not work for all people or all situations. If you use tampons, aim for ones that don’t use a plastic applicator. Take it a step further and choose one that is made of 100% organic cotton. Tampons are regulated as medical devices, which may make them sound safer. However, this actually means that manufacturers are not required to disclose all ingredients. Tampons and pads are typically made of cotton, rayon, or polyester, and can contain other chemicals, including dioxins, pesticide residues, and “fragrance.” Better tampon options include ones made of 100% organic cotton, ideally without the plastic wrapper.

 

This post will be updated with other plastic swaps, such as simple swaps in the kitchen. What plastic swaps do you recommend?

 

Beeswax Wraps

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Beeswax wraps are not edible, but they are an eco-friendly alternative to plastic wrap. These wraps sell in some stores for around $18 for a 3-pack. You can make many more wraps for the same cost or less, plus you can choose other fabric designs and shapes. Use these wraps to cover bowls or cups, wrap up a sandwich, or store leftover cut produce (such as a cucumber) or cheese. Use a string or rubber band to hold it together, or sew a button and thread onto one end so that the string can wrap around the button to hold it closed.

When cared for properly, they can last up to a year. Once they are worn out, you can either re-wax them, or cut them up and compost them.

Care Instructions:

  • Only wash with cold water and mild soap (such as castile soap). Hot water will melt the wax.
  • Do not use for raw meat since they cannot be washed with hot water
  • Store rolled rather than folded – folding creates more cracks

Materials Tips:

  • Fabric – You can reuse old fabric such as a t-shirt, bed sheets, or curtains, but the fabric must be thin and natural, such as cotton or linen, rather than thick or synthetic, such as polyester or canvas. Just make sure you wash it with soap and very hot water first.
  • Beeswax – You may be able to find local beeswax in a block, or you may find it at a craft store in beads.

Alternative Method:

  • You can also use an iron instead of an oven, but you may have to designate the iron and ironing board for wax projects only. If the wax sticks to the iron or ironing board, it will stick to your clothes and will not come off!
  • To use this method – place the fabric and beeswax between two sheets of parchment paper. Iron over it on low heat, moving the iron constantly, until wax melts, or about 1 minute.

 

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Homemade Beeswax Wraps

This recipe is NOT edible - it is a plastic wrap alternative that you can make at home and reuse countless times! It makes a great gift.

Ingredients

  • Beeswax
  • Clean fabric
  • Pine rosin (optional)
  • Jojoba oil (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to its lowest setting, or 200°F. Optional: line a baking sheet with foil to ensure that no wax sticks to it.

  2. Grate beeswax using grater unless you bought it in beads. A cheese grater with large holes works best.

  3. Use pinking sheers to cut fabric into desired shape and size – this will reduce fraying. Try 8” or 11” squares that but make sure they fit on the baking sheet.

  4. Cover the baking sheet with parchment paper. Place a piece of fabric on top and sprinkle with grated beeswax. Start with a light sprinkling, about 2 teaspoons – you can always add more. If using, add a very light sprinkling (1/4 teaspoon) pine rosin and a few drops of jojoba oil.

  5. Place in the oven and let it melt for 5-10 minutes. One the wax has melted, use the brush to cover the fabric evenly. If there are any spots that aren't covered (the fabric will appear lighter in color), add more wax and repeat this step.

  6. Let fabric cool for a minute, then peel it off the parchment paper. Wave it around for a few seconds and the wax will harden. Set aside to allow to fully dry.

  7. Repeat with remaining fabric.

  8. When finished, tear up parchment paper and compost it. Dip grater into a pot of boiling water to soften wax that is stuck to it, then wipe down.

Source of information: Ecology Center

Before wax is melted
After wax is melted