What you can do
What you can do
HOW YOU CAN REDUCE PLASTIC
350 million tonnes of plastic is produced every year, 50% of which is deemed as waste within the timeframe of just one month.
Only about 8% of this plastic is recycled, 25% is incinerated and 56% goes to landfill. What's left is lost in the environment, which means that somewhere between 8 and 14 million tonnes of plastic enter the ocean every year. If we carry on as we are this figure is projected to rise to somewhere between 23 and 37 million tonnes of plastic entering the ocean on a yearly basis by 2040.
Plastic never goes away and it doesn't degrade. Instead, it breaks up into tiny microplastics or nanoplastics, which contain toxic chemicals and can be found everywhere. They are in the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat, and they have even made it into our blood. They have been found at the highest mountains, at the bottom of the deepest ocean trenches and they are spread around the ocean, from the coasts out to the open ocean, from the surface to the ocean floor. There is clearly a lot we need to do to clean up this mess and to prevent it getting worse. And that's where each and every one of us can do our bit to become part of the solution, starting at home. There are many things you can do to reduce the amount of plastic in your everyday life.
Lets make impact together!
Tips to save the ocean
Buy reusable straws (e.g. Silicon) or biodegradable straws (e.g. paper) 500 million straws are
used only in the U.S. every day. You can cut down on that amount of waste by replacing them with a set of reusable / biodegradable
Food in reusable containers.
The average American uses 540 single-use plastic ziplock bags a year. Cutting these out of your life is a win-win for you and the environment. Less plastic waste in our landfills or oceans, and more money in your wallet!
Instead of plastic utensils, pack one of the many sets of reusable
utensils, such as utensils made from potato starch or cornstarch, or these reusable bamboo utensils in your lunch, or bring silverware from home.
The average American household uses 1,500 plastic shopping bags a year. Make the switch today! Don’t by new – reuse. When you bring your own bag when shopping you can help save the environment and your wallet
The average American creates 2 Kg of waste each day. That’s nearly a ton a year, which fills a lot of plastic garbage bags. If you are going to create some form of non-recyclable waste, at least throw it into a biodegradable bag.
Alone in the US 50 million pounds of plastic toothbrushes end up in the trash each year and can take up to 500 years to break them down if they end up in the ocean. Kick-out the plastic and say hello to bamboo.
91% of all plastic is not recycled and ends up in our landfills or in our oceans. We can significantly cut down on this number if we just throw our plastic containers in the recycling bin instead of the trash.
Up to 12 million tons of plastic waste end up in our ocean every year. Most if it is plastic bottles. Plastic bottles are one of the most frequently found items on our MBRC beach clean-ups globally. The lids commonly end up in seabirds’ stomachs. Try to bring your own bottle wherever you can – reuse is important!
When it comes to food shopping, buying little and often requires more plastic packaging than buying lots in one go! Encourage your family to shop for snacks, cereal and pasta in the bulk, then store it in reusable glass jars for when you need it.
Plogging is the newest fitness craze to hit the United States. It’s a combination of jogging and picking up litter on your route. The trend started in Sweden in 201 following increased concern about plastic pollution. Let’s go Plogging - Together, we can make a difference for our Earth’s ecosystem and for future generations.
Microplastics are pieces of plastic that are less than 5mm in length. They are a big problem, especially in our oceans, as fish, Turtles or other see animals will often unknowingly consume microplastics. You can also find microplastic in cosmetics and are called Microbeads (tiny, manufactured pieces of plastic added to cleaning products, toothpaste, cosmetics and more).
Further these is Microplastic which is called Microfibers which come from clothing and other soft furnishings.
All microplastics are harmful for our oceans and the environment so that’s why it’s helpful to buy plastic-free fabrics and cosmetics. You can learn more about microplastics in our MBRC Academy.
However, the way you choose to spend your money can put pressure on manufacturers. Choosing
to buy from a company is like a vote of confidence – if manufacturers see that fewer people are buying from them because of their attitudes to plastics, they are likely to make positive changes.
If you’re looking for more practical ways to prevent the spread of plastic pollution, look no further than a local clean-up. This is particularly easy to get involved in if you live by the sea, as MBRC and other organizations are constantly organise beach clean-ups. Please contact us and we find you the next beach Clean-up in your area. However, you don’t have to wait for an organized event.
Take a binbag with you to your town center, beach, park or local beauty spot, and remove all the litter.
For our final tip, we encourage you to inspire those around you. The easiest way to make a difference as individuals and communities is to encourage our friends, families, peers and coworkers to adjust their lifestyles. This doesn’t have to be in a preachy way – you just need to discuss the facts, give useful information, and offer practical and simple solutions for reducing plastic waste. If you are as passionate about as we are please don’t hesitate to contact us to become an MBRC Ambassador