Some things I've started doing that I haven't noticed recommended yet:
using bar shampoo
reusing tupperware for leftovers and dining out
buying seasonal from the farmers market (can bulk freeze the fruits for out-of-season smoothies in the appropriate tupperware)
not buying as much unless it's needed, and preferably secondhand or ethical/upcycled (if applicable)
The most impactful thing I've committed to is going plant-based though. Fishing nets are a large bulk of the plastic waste in the ocean (x), and animal agriculture (including the resources used as feed) is a main culprit for greenhouse gas emissions and deforestation (x,x,x). So, I super recommend cutting down on- and especially cutting out- the support of animal agriculture through a plant-based diet.
My work is all about saving the environment so it's even more motivating to be the same way since you're in thst atmosphere daily.
I now:
-have a reusable water bottle
-use tote bags when grocery shopping
-switched to a menstrual cup
-dont buy anything in horrid/wasteful packaging
-take shorter showers
-only use heat/AC when necessary
-walk whenever I can
-use resuable tupperware/glassware for lunches
I'd like to:
-have beeswax wraps
-have reusable ziplock bags
-get a safety razor
-maybe a bamboo toothbrush
the straw debate is also all a tactic by people in power to distract attention from the much bigger ocean polluter that is fishing waste by the fishing industry. if anything needs to be banned, it's plastic fishing nets. plastic straws also wouldn't be an issue if the recycling system was better implemented, but that would cost companies money so of course they don't want to look into doing so.
(end of plastic straw ramble)
don't get me wrong, recycling is good. reusable bags and water bottles are great and i think we should all continue with the little gestures if we can! however, i think we also need to add and prioritize informing people that we consumers are the least of the problem when it comes to pollution and climate change (100 companies alone are responsible for 70% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions since 1988!), as well as put much more pressure on large corporations along with people in power. protesting pipelines, attending climate strikes, and voting for leaders with strong plans for the environment (if you're of age) all send a much stronger message in my eyes, as using our voices is the most effective thing we can really do as consumers. even spreading the word and being informed is just as important as being out there.
overall/tldr; keep on with the small gestures if possible, but shift the blame from ourselves and each other onto the 1% where it belongs.
the straw debate is also all a tactic by people in power to distract attention from the much bigger ocean polluter that is fishing waste by the fishing industry. if anything needs to be banned, it's plastic fishing nets. plastic straws also wouldn't be an issue if the recycling system was better implemented, but that would cost companies money so of course they don't want to look into doing so.
(end of plastic straw ramble)
don't get me wrong, recycling is good. reusable bags and water bottles are great and i think we should all continue with the little gestures if we can! however, i think we also need to add and prioritize informing people that we consumers are the least of the problem when it comes to pollution and climate change (100 companies alone are responsible for 70% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions since 1988!), as well as put much more pressure on large corporations along with people in power. protesting pipelines, attending climate strikes, and voting for leaders with strong plans for the environment (if you're of age) all send a much stronger message in my eyes, as using our voices is the most effective thing we can really do as consumers. even spreading the word and being informed is just as important as being out there.
overall/tldr; keep on with the small gestures if possible, but shift the blame from ourselves and each other onto the 1% where it belongs.
I try to do what I can because the environment and the health and welfare of animals is very important to me.
I have been using canvas totes for years. When I do get plastic bags, I reuse them to bring my lunch to work and then drop them in the recycle bin at work. The company I work for is actually pretty good about having recycle bins for different things so it makes it easy to recycle the trash that I generate there. I have a cup that I use for water at work. I have switched to a menstrual cup. I never have used straws or other little disposable items like that.
But...the fact that I don't use those things doesn't stop restaurants from giving them to me anyway. I can tell them no straws and I end up with 4 in my bag. I tell them no sauce or ketchup and still end up with handfuls of packets dumped in the bag.
My city also needs to do a better job of setting up a recycling system. They do have recycling bins in a few locations, but they can be really far away. I don't like making the trip unless I've built up a significant bulk of items and I don't have room in my house to do that. They also offer to pick up recycling, but if you want separate bins for everything it gets very expensive as each bin comes with its own rate.
So in the end, while I will continue to do my best, until we get buy-in from the cities/counties regarding better waste management and the corporations to stop being so wasteful, I don't think we'll make any real headway.
At the same time, we do need to also be respectful and understanding of individuals who cannot make certain sacrifices whether it is due to disabilities, financial situation, or other reasons.
the straw debate is also all a tactic by people in power to distract attention from the much bigger ocean polluter that is fishing waste by the fishing industry. if anything needs to be banned, it's plastic fishing nets. plastic straws also wouldn't be an issue if the recycling system was better implemented, but that would cost companies money so of course they don't want to look into doing so.
(end of plastic straw ramble)
don't get me wrong, recycling is good. reusable bags and water bottles are great and i think we should all continue with the little gestures if we can! however, i think we also need to add and prioritize informing people that we consumers are the least of the problem when it comes to pollution and climate change (100 companies alone are responsible for 70% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions since 1988!), as well as put much more pressure on large corporations along with people in power. protesting pipelines, attending climate strikes, and voting for leaders with strong plans for the environment (if you're of age) all send a much stronger message in my eyes, as using our voices is the most effective thing we can really do as consumers. even spreading the word and being informed is just as important as being out there.
overall/tldr; keep on with the small gestures if possible, but shift the blame from ourselves and each other onto the 1% where it belongs.
Thank you for posting this, I wanted to post about this but didn't have that graphic handy. A lot of blame is shifted onto disabled people (in my personal experience, I have chronic fatigue issues and often need to use disposable dishes because there are some days where I'm too tired to do the dishes and would have to fast in order to avoid using disposable dishes) because disability aids are not always the most environmentally friendly, but the impact disabled people have on the environment is nothing compared to how much corporations are allowed to get away with.
I try to do what I can because the environment and the health and welfare of animals is very important to me.
I have been using canvas totes for years. When I do get plastic bags, I reuse them to bring my lunch to work and then drop them in the recycle bin at work. The company I work for is actually pretty good about having recycle bins for different things so it makes it easy to recycle the trash that I generate there. I have a cup that I use for water at work. I have switched to a menstrual cup. I never have used straws or other little disposable items like that.
But...the fact that I don't use those things doesn't stop restaurants from giving them to me anyway. I can tell them no straws and I end up with 4 in my bag. I tell them no sauce or ketchup and still end up with handfuls of packets dumped in the bag.
My city also needs to do a better job of setting up a recycling system. They do have recycling bins in a few locations, but they can be really far away. I don't like making the trip unless I've built up a significant bulk of items and I don't have room in my house to do that. They also offer to pick up recycling, but if you want separate bins for everything it gets very expensive as each bin comes with its own rate.
So in the end, while I will continue to do my best, until we get buy-in from the cities/counties regarding better waste management and the corporations to stop being so wasteful, I don't think we'll make any real headway.
At the same time, we do need to also be respectful and understanding of individuals who cannot make certain sacrifices whether it is due to disabilities, financial situation, or other reasons.
I totally get what you mean about being forcibly given trash even when you don't want it. Something I've noticed recently is that, I usually use self check-outs when I go grocery shopping because I have some social anxiety and like to avoid talking to a human cashier when I can, but while at the cashier check-outs, they'll usually ask me if I wanted a receipt or not, when I go to the self check-outs, the machine will print my receipt without asking if I actually wanted it or not.
