Plastic has infiltrated our lives (old news). The majority of it is in packaging, but there are many daily items that we take for granted, too. For instance, bags, cutlery, straws, phone chargers, and decor all contain plastic to some degree. But there are a lot of items that you probably use everyday that, in your wildest dreams, you would never think were made of or contained an insane amount of plastic.
Recently, there has been even more chatter about plastic, especially now that the UK has banned single-use plastic plates, trays, bowls, cutlery, balloon sticks, and certain types of polystyrene cups and food containers since in October 2023. Furthermore, Thailand also plans to ban plastic waste imports from 2025 onwards to cut pollution. The idea is simple from the beginning: plastic and the pollution it generates are beyond alarming. There was even a study published in 2022 that found microplastics in human blood for the very first time and another groundbreaking study published earlier this year that found microplastics in every human testicle. So without further ado, here are 10 surprising, and not-so surprising things that
Plastic has even snuck into your clothing
Generally, people think of cotton or wool when shopping for clothes. However, did you know that the majority of clothes also contain plastic? Nylon, polyester, and spandex are all forms of plastic. Research has shown that washing clothes with polyester results in the fibres entering the waterways, thus causing microplastic pollution. Also, clothes that have mixed materials are mostly not recyclable. It sounds like we’re definitely in need of a fashion revolution.
Our best advice here is to cherish your clothes. This is because throwing them away means they stay in landfills or are burned, neither of which are good choices. If you want to find out more about a healthy fashion ecosystem, read some tips on swapping for inspiration. But if you are buying something new, make sure to look for pure and organic blends that do not contain plastic.
Salt bae has nothing on this…
We hope you’ve seen our campaign called Plastic Salt. If not, let us tell you more (and you can watch it above). There are loads of microplastics in the ocean, and a lot of our salt comes from the ocean. So, it is no wonder that microplastic ends up in our salt. Many of the particles are so small or translucent that you probably can’t tell them apart from salt. Experts even say that we unknowingly eat 5g of microplastics per week.
This is really tough to combat. You can pick salts that are made in various ways, but they tend to be really pricey. Also, it is probably not something that people would splurge on either. What can we do then? We need to cut it off at the source, like with going zero waste and reducing plastics.
To add to the number of reasons that cigarettes are nasty
Did you know that the most common form of ocean litter is cigarette butts? A huge misconception is that cigarettes will biodegrade since they are made with paper and tobacco. But this couldn’t be further from the truth. There is a plastic lining on cigarettes so that they don’t burn too close to the fingers.Â
Cigarettes do not just contribute to plastic pollution. They are also one of the top 10 air polluters in the world. Then, the air pollution generated does not just harm the lungs, but the whole body. So, our advice? Quit smoking if you can. Save your money, your health, and our planet.
This could be a tough pill to chew…
Most people are shocked by this one. Of all things, you wouldn’t expect chewing gum to include plastic, but most gum does. Gum producers often don’t list their components because many “gum bases” are legally protected trade secrets, not only to hide the fact that they are made of plastic. Consequently, they are free to use general words like “gum base.” Customers find it challenging to determine the precise contents of their chewing gum as a result.
Nevertheless, polyethylene, the same material used to produce plastic bottles and shopping bags, is present in the majority of gum bases.
And here we thought Tetra Pak and paper cups were a safe bet
Like metal cans, Tetra Pak and paper cups are also lined with plastic, but for a different reason. The plastic lining keeps the cardboard or paper portion of the packaging sturdy. If not, the liquids would soften the paper and the packaging would lose its shape (not to mention spill coffee everywhere).
Currently, there are very few recycling plants globally that can separate the paper from the plastic. Hence, they mostly end up in the general trash. Even the paper cannot be salvaged; hence, avoiding them all together is the best option. Easy solution: if you are getting takeaway coffee, bring your own mug or tumbler. Like we always say, breaking up with single-use items is easier than you think.
Not even produce stickers are spared
It shouldn’t be necessary to use any plastic while buying fruit or vegetables from your neighbourhood supermarket, but sadly, it is. Even if you remembered to bring your reusable bags to the grocery, chances are, you’re still not free from plastic. While it’s easy to overlook them, product stickers are composed of plastic. Although retailers are thankfully looking at alternatives to plastic-produced stickers.Â
Shop at local, organic farmers markets in the meantime if you want to avoid these tags. The majority of farmers don’t label their produce.
How can something so comforting contain so much plastic?
A cup of tea might just be the closest thing to a hug that we can digest. But don’t be surprised when we tell you that a small tea bag contains quite a lot of plastic. You might be wondering why they put plastic in our tea bags. However, a lot of tea bags are actually part paper and part plastic. This is to make the bags more durable, disintegrate slower in hot water, seal the tea bags and keep leaves in the tea bag.
There is a very thin coating of polypropylene plastic. And there’s a significant probability it’ll wind up in the soil as microscopic fragments. Those plastic fragments might end up in our rivers and, eventually, the oceans. You can opt for tea bags that use thin cloths like organic cotton and are biodegradable. However, these tea bags are pricier than their plastic-laden counterparts. We recommend buying tea leaves in bulk. Or just get a tea strainer or infuser, pop in the tea leaves and soak them in hot water.
Not all that glitters is gold
Microplastic beads have mainly been taken out of cosmetics during the past five years. These minute plastic fragments were making their way into our seas and streams, posing serious environmental issues. However, did you know that glitter is, in fact, a microplastic? Although many glitter producers are attempting to create more ecologically friendly glitter that can biodegrade, glitter is a form of plastic that cannot be recycled. It might be preferable to leave the glitter off of your upcoming major artistic endeavour until then.
You might be protected from the sun, but surely not from plastic
Skincare is a big trend right now. And one of the holy grails of skincare is sunscreen. We’re constantly advised to wear it every day and even reapply throughout the day. But did you know that sunscreen contains so much plastic?
There is a substance called UV-328, also known as 2-(2H-benzotriazol-2-yl)-4,6-di-tert-pentylphenol, that adds to the microplastics in your sunscreens. It is a chemical substance that is frequently used as a UV filter in cosmetics and several other plastic goods, including paint and rubber, and is a material of extremely high concern, according to the EU.
Even worse, those microplastic pieces wash off into the water when we swim, shower, or bathe after applying sunscreen. The product components are first joined together by microplastics. As a result, the cream doesn’t separate or split inside the tube. Second, the addition of waterproof qualities to your sunscreen is facilitated by the employment of microplastics. Thirdly, using microplastics is frequently less expensive than using more expensive plastic-free components.
And the fish you eat didn’t just swim with plastic…
A lot of the seafood we consume contains plastic, both large plastics, like bags and nets, and microplastics. Sure, the meme above pokes fun at the current situation surrounding ocean plastics. But it also reveals the direness of plastic pollution. The fact that our oceans contain so much microplastic that it’s meme-worthy is kind of ridiculous.
What should we do about it? Well, while we’d love to tell you to cut seafood out of your diet, we won’t. But as with everything, moderation is key. Make conscious choices, that’s all, and to help you do that, just remember that there could be adverse effects from consuming plastics. Reducing your intake means reducing plastic pollution and creating cleaner oceans; it’s a good start. Going for beach cleanups and supporting campaigns such as #FishFreeFebruary could help generate awareness and also aid in reducing plastic pollution in the oceans and seas and even overfishing.
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