SINGLE-USE PLASTIC FIXES

If your thoughts at reading this title were “again with the plastic?!”, please do not stop reading just yet.

Yes, this is an article on the dangers of plastic, but it is also an article that will try to explore how you, the average (yet very good-looking) person can attempt to save the planet by not wasting copious amounts of plastic.

In summary; plastic is bad, but is not going away anytime soon. It is increasingly difficult to go through a day without using some kind of plastic. Grocery bags, water bottles, food containers, etc. How is it possible to ever cut plastic out of our lives forever?

The simple, yet unfortunate answer is that there is no quick fix for the overall Plastic Problem. It is everywhere and is still being produced in masses by the second. Entirely eliminating plastic globally seems nearly impossible, and even within a household it may appear like a daunting, and massive task.

Big supermarket chains and suppliers have mostly started by eliminating plastic bags or alternatively charging for them. This is already a big improvement as it has forced consumers to start using re-usable bags or to spend money to purchase the plastic bags. It is now a common site to see people walking into a shop with their own grocery bags in tow. This is a step in the right direction. The trouble arises, however, within the grocery shop itself. Consumers are no longer using as many grocery bags as they used to, however fruit and vegetables are still found in their own individual packaging.

Cereal in a box is also in a plastic bag. Yoghurt, cheese, ham, bread, etc. are all packed in their own lavish, branded plastic packages. This brings up the question that is pivotal to the Plastic Problem, and that is “But how else would we purchase these essential items?” Changing materials to metal and glass is not a logistical solution. But is one single yoghurt container where everyone scoops out some yoghurt into their own personal glass jars a viable option? What about hygiene? What about contamination?

Human beings are interesting in the sense that we are so used to our own personal luxuries that anything outside of what is the norm and what is comfortable for us is just one massive inconvenience. Humans do not like to be inconvenienced. And fair enough – why do something in a complicated and drawn-out way when a quick and simple task will suffice? Does anyone enjoy sitting in traffic? Our animosity for being inconvenienced also aggravates the Plastic Problem. Many small local farmers or local markets exist selling consumables such as fruit and vegetables, often at a much cheaper rate than at the supermarkets, which is fantastic in theory. The fact remains; why would people go to a few separate, smaller markets or shops when we can go to one giant shop and not only get our groceries, but also our cat food, our toilet paper, and even our gardening tools? Small stores such as the Zero Waste Store in Windhoek offer multiple arrays of plastic alternatives, however, if we are late, and need a bunch of items, that store is last on the list. Essentially, humans are addicted to convenience and we will not settle for less.

The solution to this tremendous dilemma and all the complications that arise from it is, however, not as difficult as one might think. The solution is very simply just small, individual changes. A big offender to the Plastic Problem is single-use plastics. Plastic items that cannot, or are not, being re-used. Popular examples of these are water-bottles, or take-away coffee cups. They are used once and then thrown away, thus increasing the demand for more of them.

There are actually, finally elements that we can change. It will not be easy, but here exists an opportunity for us to make the change we so desperately want to. Below are a few small changes everyone can try which can potentially make a phenomenal difference.

PURCHASE A REUSABLE COFFEE MUG

If you cannot survive without your take-away coffee, then this is a must. Buy yourself a reusable cup and ask the baristas to use it instead of a take-away cup.

BUY A STEEL OR A GLASS WATER BOTTLE

This is an obvious and easy one. If, however, you find yourself on the brink of dehydration and your trusty glass water bottle is accidentally at home – go ahead and purchase a bottle of water, but try to use that bottle a few more times before throwing it away.

STRAWS

This was a campaign you might still be familiar with. Give up straws to save the turtles. Straws are truly detrimental to our oceans and so an admirable effort it was. Try paper straws or not using them at all.

NO MORE CLING WRAP

This is a difficult one. Cling wrap is indeed handy. Try foil instead as it can be recycled. Otherwise make use of beeswax wraps found at The Zero Waste Store. Otherwise try and stock up on different sized reusable containers for all the left-over snacks.

Keep yoghurt tubs, cream cheese containers, feta containers, etc.

Don’t throw away these containers. Wash them and store them for use at another time. You can keep left overs in them or they can be used for DIY, paint mixes, soil, etc. You can pack your left overs in these and give it to your friendly car guard.

There are countless other ways to reduce the single-use plastics we find in our everyday life. What is important to note with all these tips is that we, as people, have to WANT to make a change. It is difficult and inconvenient, but start with just one small challenge for yourself for one month and see how it goes. If everyone in 1 community makes 1 small change, we would truly see a difference.

Daniela Steenkamp