A SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET A SPECIAL INTEREST SECTION BY MEDIAPLANET
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Rethinking Plastics & Packaging
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Kathryn Kellogg’s Advice on “Going Zero Waste” Mediaplanet sat down with Kathryn Kellogg, zero waste influencer and author of “101 Ways to go Zero Waste” to learn her tips on leading a sustainable lifestyle.
What sparked your passion for a zerowaste lifestyle? It might be surprising but I didn't start going zero waste because I loved the planet: I suffered from a major hormonal imbalance in college which led to a lot of pain, doctor visits, full-blown cystic acne, mood swings and mental health issues. So, I started reducing my exposure to endocrine disruptors which are found in a lot of products we come into daily contact with. One of my favourite books on this topic is Estrogeneration which explores the link between synthetic estrogens with our bodies and nature. There’s not a lot of regulation or testing on many of the products we buy like plastic, beauty products, and cleaning products, so I started being very mindful of what I brought into my home by reducing plastic, eating more plant based, and DIY-ing a lot of my cleaning products etc. It all clicked for me when I moved to California, that the changes I was making to my personal health weren’t only better for me, they were also better for the planet.
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Q&A
I started my blog goingzerowaste.com because I wanted people to know they could save money, be healthier, and be more ecofriendly. It seemed like a no-brainer, and I wanted to help people make this transition easy and fun.
What are your top tips for getting started?
1.
Say no to straws. If you need straws or like them, try and opt for a reusable one. My personal favourite is glass.
What does zero waste or eco-friendly living mean to you?
2.
Ditch plastic water bottles. Did you know tap water is more regulated than bottled water? If you don't like the taste of your water, invest in a filter, you will save so much money in the long run. I prefer an insulated water bottle that keeps hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold.
3.
Bring your own bags to the store. If you tend to forget, get a couple that fold up real small and attach to your key ring so they’ll always be with you.
4.
Avoid coffee cups which are actually lined with plastic and unrecyclable in most places. The lids aren't recyclable either. If you have your handy-dandy insulated water bottle on you, you can grab your coffee, or ask for it in a real mug to stay.
To me, it’s just about wasting less and being a good steward of what I have. Buy fewer items. Use that last drop of shampoo. Upcycle your glass salsa jar to store leftovers. Reuse that promotional cotton tote until the straps fall off and then stitch them back on. Invest in products that will last a lifetime. Focus on timeless things that bring you joy rather than trends. Shop second hand. Eat fewer animal products, more plants, and remember, it's not about being perfect. We need to hold corporations and legislators accountable to ensure safe access to clean air, clean drinking water, and a safe environment for everyone.
I recommend that everyone start with the big four.
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Plastic Pollution is a Threat to Global Security The plastic pollution crisis meets the underlying criteria necessary to classify the issue as a threat to global security, yet it lacks a legally binding global treaty. Chloé Dubois, Co-founder and President of the Ocean Legacy Foundation
T Chloé Dubois Co-founder and President, Ocean Legacy Foundation
he potential long-term detrimental health effects of plastic pollution remain contentious while environmental implications are wide-ranging and globally devastating. Investigatory research demonstrates genuine cause for concern and evolving consequences when evaluating the effects of mismanaged plastic waste. When defining matters of global security using a plastic pollution lens, traditional definitions of security are widened to include matters of environment, health, and civil rights. These matters are increasingly being considered politically important and as matters of security as they take the center stage of many political agendas globally.
species loss, invasive species, ozone depletion, and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). These recognized threats have extensive binding global treaties which catalyze global action to minimize or eliminate their effect. What is alarming, however, with the issue of plastic pollution is that, although it meets all the same criteria, the world has not yet developed a globally binding treaty to curb the devastating effects and serious risk of this ubiquitous pollution. To make matters worse, plastic pollution contributes to many of the existing recognized ecological threats to global security, worsening their cumulative effects such as atmospheric carbon.
Finding solutions among the disparity Defining security and plastic pollution When defining matters of global security, research demonstrates that specific criteria must be met, which include: • Threat to preservation of international peace • Transboundary threat • Political action has been taken • The issue has “real-world” consequences • Drastically threatens or degrades the quality of life of state inhabitants over a brief timespan These underlying criteria are found in other significant environmental crises that are well established as threats to global security such as global climate change, biodiversity and
There are no proven formulas which provide one solution to ending the plastic pollution crisis. Solutions must be localized, diverse, accessible, and as equally complex as the issue of plastic pollution itself. Over the last decade, Ocean Legacy has been creating a plastic pollution emergency response program called EPIC, a strategic platform which integrates Education, Policy, Infrastructure, and Cleanup. This program was designed to educate a global population around the effects of plastic pollution, to build advocacy tools, and identify policy gaps that build effective practices which manage plastic wastes, to give plastic waste an economic value and stimulate the plastic circu-
lar economy with infrastructure development, to provide training to facilitate cleanups, and to develop immersive learnings and tools to steward the natural environment. The future of plastic is circular. Circularity is a founding ideology that I believe will become the accepted norm which sustains the very basis of humanity’s survival. Circularity is where humanity learns to harmonize its behaviour with nature and provides the opportunity to reevaluate and redesign our current state of affairs. To move forward into a life-supporting reality, establishing the following will be critical: • We need a coordinated globally binding treaty to catalyze world-wide action and to harmonize patch work policy • We must teach our children the importance of building a meaningful relationship with the natural planet and educate the general population on the threat of plastic pollution • The need for more long-term research on the human health effects of plastic pollution is urgent • Mandating recycled content standards in manufacturing and redesigning products with their full life cycle in mind must become common practice • Capital investment to build new systems which foster behaviour change and develop infrastructure are paramount
To read the full report Plastic Pollution is a Threat to Global Security and learn how you can get involved in Ocean Legacy’s work, visit oceanlegacy.ca. This article was sponsored by Ocean Legacy.
Publisher: Raman Walia Business Development Manager: Melanie Kosev Country Manager: Nina Theodorlis Content & Production Manager: Raymond Fan Designers: Kylie Armishaw, Giuliana Bandiera Content & Web Editor: Karthik Talwar All images are from Getty Images unless otherwise credited. This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve The National Post or its editorial departments. Send all inquiries to ca.editorial@mediaplanet.com.
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