6 plastic items you didn't know you could replace to help our planet

3/3/2021

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Science Story: 6 plastic items you didn't know you could replace to help our planet

There are more pieces of plastic in our oceans than there are stars in our galaxy! If we don’t start changing some of our habits we will soon drown our planet in plastic. Here are 6 plastic items you can replace today.

Plastic is a huge environmental problem and one that doesn’t get enough attention. In the US alone, more than 100 billion plastic bags are used and discarded every year.

#1 Kitchen sponges

Although they’re not an item you would traditionally think about, kitchen sponges are basically polyurethane which is a plastic material. Consider switching them with biodegradable dish brushes.

#2 Facial scrubs

Unless the manufacturer has stated otherwise, the exfoliating beads in your scrub are actually plastic. These don’t dissolve and end up being consumed by ocean creatures.

Consider switching to a chemical exfoliant or using a coffee scrub. It’s better for your skin as well as the planet.

#3 Tea bags

A lot of tea bags contain plastic. Switching to loose leaf tea will elevate your tea drinking experience while reducing your overall plastic consumption.

#4 Toothbrushes

Dentists recommend that we switch our toothbrush at least every 3 months. This is sound dental advice but it makes for a lot of wasted plastic. Find a brand that sells bamboo toothbrushes - they’re biodegradable!

#5 Coffee pods

Coffee pods are very convenient but they’re an ecological catastrophe. Think about switching to a French press or coffee filters to minimize your impact.

#6 Shower curtains

Most shower curtains contain PVC (polyvinyl chloride) and they’re not only bad for the environment but they’re also bad for your health. Fabric shower curtains are non-toxic and much more ethical.

But don’t stop here. Try to notice when you use plastic and research what you can replace it with. You’ll be surprised by how much waste you’ll eliminate!

What other household items can be replaced? Do you use any eco-friendly products to help our planet?

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What are your thoughts on this subject?

17 Comments

Chris Swift

While all these items may have plastic in them, the overall quantity is relatively small. The biggest use of plastic that needs to be reduced or eliminated is plastic water bottles. The amount of refuse from plastic water bottles is magnitudes greater than all these items combined. Recycling plastic water bottles is not economical so most of them end up in landfills or polluting the oceans.

Vimala Padmaraj

I USE TEA LEAVES TO MAKE TEA. I ALSO USE COFFEE POWDER TO MAKE FILTER COFFEE. IN MOST OLDER TYPE OF BATHROOMS IN INDIA, WE DON'T NEED SHOWER CURTAINS. AND I USE A HERBAL SCRUB FOR MY FACE. I AM AN OLDER PERSON AND BEGAN LIFE WHEN THERE WAS NO PLASTIC.

Edna Mohrmann

Every little bit of less plastic pollution that end up in the ground and water is the step forward of reducing contaminants ! But the origin of these pollutants need to be addressed firstly: the producer! and then the user needs to understand that he has the power to "boycott" plastic products.

Doris Dallaire

Only thing I use is a plastic toothbrush. I will be changing that. I do try to minimize the plastic and a couple of years ago I found out teabags contain plastic! It’s not good for us either and actually leaf tea is much tastier! Those coffee pods I’ve always found to be a horrible invention!

Caroline Weis

RECYCLE MOST OF YOUR PLASTIC ITEMS, IT WILL SAVE THE PLANET AS WELL AS BEING REDONE INTO THINGS THAT ARE HEALTHFUL. Sorry for shouting but when you take things to the recycling centers, they bundle it and ship recycled items were they can be shredded or crushed and used to remake other items.

Ilias Tsiabardas

why the Government's don't enforce laws to limit the amounts of plastic containers and other items ?

Shelley Welch Dunivan

I do either french press or pour over! They both work beautifully!

tmaretta

I recently ordered laundry sheets on line, made in USA! Tired of lugging plastic jugs and standing at the washer making sure every last drop of detergent gets used. I’m sure for every 10 bottles of detergent at least 1 load is wasted in detergent that won’t come out.So, so long liquid detergent. Also use a gold reusable coffee filter instead of paper. Now to find Tetley teas loose, bamboo tb,. I’m trying! I never use water bottles, use refillable bottle( I have very good well water).

tmaretta

David Holmes, French press is a great way to make coffe! It’s very tasty!

Betty Wiendels

I used cloth diapers @ home when my almost 44 yr old daughter Tanya was a baby. Only used disposable diapers during the trips. My partner Paul and I drink filtered water from a Brita pitcher instead of water bottles.

Molly Cleator

Look at the photo. The glass jar looking item is a French press. Put ground coffee in the bottom, pour in boiling water and press down with the plunger in the lid to make coffee. IKEA sells for $10David Holmes,

Louella Wilson

David Holmes, I have 2 which are clearly called "coffee plungers" on the boxes that I still store them in. I also have a stove top espresso machine which is over 33 years old and still works perfectly.