This Daily Habit Is Creating A Toxic environment For Us!
|
The Eco ExperimentNewsletter by The Eco Loop Hey Reader, Ever wonder where all those plastic shopping bags really end up? Every year, billions of plastic bags are used for just a few minutes before being discarded. Contrary to what many believe, these bags are rarely recycled.
​
They often jam sorting machines at recycling facilities and ultimately end up in landfills.
​
If not in landfills, they are incinerated, releasing toxic gases that add to air pollution!
They take hundreds of years to break down and release harmful microplastics into our soil and water. The convenience we’ve grown accustomed to is slowly choking our planet. By the end of this email, you will be surprised to know you already have a feasible and practical solution at your home :) My solution?A simple switch that changed not just my shopping habits but my entire approach to sustainability. Seven years ago, when researching plastic pollution during my postgraduate studies in green buildings, I realized the urgent need for waste management and the importance of reducing single-use plastic use. One day, guilty of my own habits with single-use plastics, I decided to audit my house. I noticed the overwhelming number of flimsy plastic bags that had accumulated from grocery shopping trips. Despite my habit of saving these bags for future use, they kept collecting because I received new ones with each shopping trip. On cleaning days, these bags would end up in the garbage, destined for landfills or incineration!!. I was horrified to realize I was contributing to a growing environmental crisis without even thinking about it. This realization weighed heavily on me. Every shopping trip became a source of guilt as I watched the plastic bags pile up at home. I thought about Annie Leonard’s powerful quote: “There is no such thing as away. When we throw anything away, it must go somewhere.” That “somewhere” was expanding landfills that contaminate groundwater, pollute the air, and destroy wildlife habitats. The thought of my son growing up surrounded by stinking landfills was unbearable. I knew I needed to change, but wasn’t sure how to begin. My transformation started with research. I searched for eco-friendly alternatives to plastic bags used to pack fresh vegetables and fruits at grocery stores. I discovered organic cotton bags online. I ordered certified organic cotton produce bags, which were claimed to be the most eco-friendly alternative, and began taking them to the supermarket. (More on why organic cotton, in the upcoming newsletters ;) ) At first, I would often forget my reusable shopping bags and produce bags and end up buying additional reusable shopping bags in the store out of guilt for not wanting plastic ones. This wasn’t sustainable either! Eventually, I developed a system—placing reusable bags in all my handbags and my car—so I would always have one available.
​
I strategically placed the bags at home at the entrance so I would never forget!
After a few months of trial and error, I knew my habits had permanently changed when I started consistently refusing single-use bags without forgetting my reusable bag at the store. This simple switch transformed me from an unconscious consumer to someone mindful of all single-use items.
Be it plastic, paper, or any other material! Single-use products destroy our environment by exploiting the planet's resources and contributing to the waste crisis!
What started with shopping bags expanded to other sustainable choices in life going forward. Small changes create a meaningful impact. Carrying your own bag reduces waste, saves resources, protects health by keeping toxins out of our food chain, and even saves money. Most importantly, it visibly demonstrates your environmental values to others and inspires them to do the same! Your one small sustainable choice today helps combat the increasing pollution and creates a cleaner environment for all of us to enjoy right now. Begin by reusing the plastic bags already available in your home. :) Easy, right? PS: The good news is that, according to the latest update, Dubai has declared it will be landfill-free by 2027 through its waste-to-energy plants. The Government is encouraging citizens to become mindful of their waste and recycle efficiently. It has also increased the cost of disposing of waste in landfills. Our mindfulness can help the city achieve this goal on time with fewer emissions! We consumers have the responsibility to cooperate and help the government achieve these goals. The Eco Sheroes PodcastTalking about reusing, meet Anitha, Founder of Astu Eco. She made reusable bags a fashion statement while making it convenient not to forget to carry your bag! Want to know how? Watch this episode on The Eco Sheroes Podcast :) With her excellent skills in design thinking and a highly analytical mind, she also devised a technology to make the fashion industry circular, so we can reduce textile waste. You can watch the episode on YouTube here. (NEED TO UPDATE ALL THIS BELOW) If you prefer only the audio version, you can listen to it on Spotify or Apple Podcasts :) If you watch or listen to this or any of the episodes and find it impactful, please like, comment, and subscribe :) I will be very grateful to you for doing this, as you are helping these essential messages reach a wider audience! Thank you so much for your continued support in spreading the word about sustainability.
​ Share this email and help spread the word to get more people to become imperfectly sustainable. :) Thank you so much! See you soon in your inbox! Cheers, Pallavi :) ​ PS: if this isn’t what you want, feel free to unsubscribe. No hard feelings :) ​ |