Plastic - Waste Reduction Week 2020

If you've been following our blogs, you may recognize the term "wishcycling." We're bringing this word back today as we address plastics. Many people assume that the plastics tossed into mixed-recycling bins are remade anew. However, less than 10 per cent of plastics are recycled. So, we're pretty excited to hear that plastic will be officially banned in Canada by 2021 and to explore the alternatives that will emerge.

In case you're still in disbelief that the plastic you chucked in the blue bin didn't magically become recycled into a new product, here are some quick statistics:

Out of the 100 million tons to more than 300 million tons of plastic manufactured every year, only 5% to 9% is being recycled effectively. Even if it does get recycled, the quality degrades every time it is melted into a new product. Therefore, recycling plastic doesn't add much time before it spends eternity in the landfill or in our environments.

Now that we know recycling plastic isn't the best solution, we're excited to see the announcement of the ban coming into play! However, not everyone is excited about this change. 

The Chemistry Industry Association of Canada, an industry group for plastic companies, provided a statement saying it is "concerned with the emphasis on banning certain products solely because they are widely used in society and improperly managed at end of use." We heavily rely on plastics in our day to day life. Switching our ways won't be easy, but it will certainly be worth it. Here are some alternatives we could get started with. 

These beeswax wraps are a great natural alternative to plastic! They are made out of beeswax, organic cotton, jojoba oil and tree resin. Not only are they reusable, they also come in various beautiful designs which could help you organize your food! You can buy yours here: https://www.beeswrap.com/

Although it looks quite similar to plastic, the bottle is actually made out of hemp! Hemp is proving to be a clean alternative to the highly polluting plastics that are damaging our environment. It is a clean, ecological, sustainable and renewable alternative. https://www.hempplastic.com/

Well, it is common knowledge that wood makes sustainable products. Wooden cutlery provide environmental, social, economical, and health benefits for the planet and the things in it. Alongside wood, bamboo is also becoming a popular alternative due to its sturdy yet lightweight nature! Find them here: https://www.bambuhome.com/