Johan

Alternatives to Disposable Coffee Cups and Water Bottles

Many people in the US have a coffee shop habit which results in mountains of trash every year, including plastic or plastic-coated cups, plastic lids, plastic stirrers and straws, and more. Half a billion plastic straws are discarded every day in the US alone; imagine what this could add up to on a global scale.

In terms of health, most of us now know that it is important for us to stay hydrated. The recommended guidelines suggest 8 eight-ounce glasses of fresh water per day. That is the equivalent of four bottles of water per day.

The Need to Recycle

Not everyone is careful about how they dispose of their trash. And not everyone takes the trouble to recycle. Others will reuse the same bottle, refilling it from the tap or from a filtered water jug. Even assuming some people take time and trouble over their trash, can you imagine the amount of plastic bottles polluting our landfills and oceans?

The Dangers of Plastic

Plastics are a particular threat to marine life. The huge trash slick in the Pacific Ocean sits in warm water, exposed to the sun every day. Chemicals of various kinds leach from the plastic. The plastic also increases the temperature and acidity of the water, having a major impact on this delicate eco-system. Plastic has even been found to contaminate the waters around Antarctica despite there being no human habitation there.

The plastic also leaches into our drinking water. The resulting contamination interferes with endocrine function (thyroid issues, diabetes) and with our sex hormones, potentially leading to difficulty conceiving, low sperm counts, and more.

Alternatives to Plastic Water Bottles

There are a number of alternatives to plastic water bottles. One is stainless steel. Most models have a clip on the top of the bottles so you can take them with you anywhere. They are very durable and will last for years.

Glass bottles are another alterative to many European brands of mineral water are found in glass bottles. They are reusable and recyclable.

The Hydro Flask is reusable and insulated as well, so it is good for both hot and cold drinks. The models vary in terms of openings at the top, such as wide-mouth, suitable for a straw, and so on.

Or you might wish to try the Lifefactory glass water bottle, which is durable, leak-proof and comes in a range of colors.

Coffee Cup Chaos

It’s easy to cut down on coffee cup chaos. It is just a question of how frugal you want to be. The cheapest solution is to make coffee yourself at home using a traditional coffee maker with a reusable stainless steel filter to avoid on paper filter waste. Buy a travel mug and take your coffee with you everywhere.

If you just can’t stay out of Dunkin or Starbucks, bring your travel mug with you and ask them to place your drink in the mug.

Contigo offers a range of travel mugs in a variety of colors. All are stainless steel and therefore incredibly durable.

Ecoffee offers some gorgeous alternatives to paper coffee cups in their range of reusable bamboo cups. They’re lightweight and many are attractive enough to be a work of art.

11 Ways to Cut Down on Plastic When Food Shopping

Food shopping is one of the most common trouble spots when it comes to plastic waste piling up and ruining the environment. Here are some easy ways to cut down on plastic when food shopping.

1. Steer Clear of Plastic Shopping Bags

These are extremely dangerous to land and marine animals. Depending on what they are made of, they can take more than a thousand years to break down. Use reusable shopping bags for all your purchases.

2. Buy in Bulk

Buy staples in bulk such as cereal, pasta, and rice. The food is cheaper and you are cutting down on packaging.

3. Cook Your Own Beans and Soups from Scratch

Most tinned food items have a plastic coating inside and out, which can leach into your food. Many canned goods are also very high in salt (sodium), which is used as a cheap preservative but can increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Buy your beans in bulk and boil them up for your various recipes. Add fresh fruits and vegetables to make your own soups.

4. Buy Concentrated Juice

You will find small tubes in the freezer aisle. Defrost, dilute, and pour into a glass bottle or jug rather than buy plastic containers of juice every week.

5. Steer Clear of Frozen Meals

These tend to have a lot of packaging. In particular, watch out for TV dinners. If you must use them, check the plastic tray for the recycle symbol and the number inside the symbol. Then check with you local sanitation to see which types of plastic, numbered 1 to 7, they are able to recycle. If they can’t accept them, think of ways you can reuse them yourself and make these TV dinners a rare treat only – not something you eat every day.

6. Buy from the Deli Counter, Not from the Refrigerator

If you love ham, bologna and so on, buy from the deli counter to avoid the plastic that pre-packaged cold cuts usually come in.

7. Bring Reusable Packaging to the Deli Counter

This will also help you cut down on the plastic package they usually use for cheese, cold cuts, and so on.

8. Buy Fresh Bread from a Bakery

Don’t buy your bread wrapped in plastic. Buy a fresh loaf and wrap it in a cloth bag.

9. Shop Locally

Online grocery shopping is very convenient, but it also results in a great deal of packaging. Where possible, shop at local farmer’s markets instead. This will cut down on gas, the produce will be fresher, and your money will help sustain the local economy.

10. Avoid Tetra Paks

They may seem green – a neat little cardboard container, but the truth is that Tetra Paks are treated with a plastic coating to make them waterproof. Buy your milk in glass bottles instead.

11. Avoid Teabags

Teabags are actually very resource heavy and can be unhealthy for you. The bags are sometimes treated with plastic, or bleached to make the paper very white. They usually come in large cardboard boxes wrapped in plastic. The bags also often come with string, paper tags and staples. All of these would have to be removed if you ever wanted to compost the tea leaves. Use loose tea with an infuser instead and use a travel mug to take your tea with you wherever you go.

With these tips and substitutions, you can do your bit for the environment every time you go food shopping.