The COVID-19 pandemic has elevated within the consumption of single-use plastic as disposable masks and glove utilization has skyrocketed. Moreover, many companies have eradicated the choice to make use of reusable procuring baggage at a retailer or to deliver your personal mug to a espresso store.
There isn’t any doubt these measures are essential to assist cease the unfold of the virus however there are easy steps we must be taking to assist scale back our single-use plastic consumption and obtain a extra sustainable way of life, even throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Listed below are six:
Purchase native
If doable, get out to your native farmers market or butcher to your grocery procuring. Farmers market distributors usually use much less packaging, and you’ll ask your butcher to wrap your meat in wax paper as a substitute of plastic. Purchasing native can also be an effective way to help your neighborhood.
Swap your cleansing instruments
The main spray mop makes use of single-use plastic pads. As the common family makes use of 1411 of those pads yearly, greater than eight million kilos of single-use plastic waste is generated yearly within the US alone2. Nevertheless it’s simple to make smarter, greener selections. For instance, the O-Cedar ProMist® MAX Microfiber Spray Mop contains a reusable, machine cleanable microfiber pad and a refillable bottle to chop down on plastic waste whereas eradicating over 99% of micro organism with simply water3.
Plate over bowl, bowl over plate
For those who’re doing extra cooking at house, you are doubtless discovering your self with leftovers. Ditch the plastic wrap and use your dishes as a straightforward, cheap meals storage answer. To do that, place a plate or saucer over a bowl to cowl its contents or, alternatively, flip any dimension bowl over leftovers on a plate. It is a easy answer utilizing what you have already got. You will be defending your meals from drying out within the fridge whereas eliminating your plastic waste.
DIY cleansing options
With all the additional cleansing you are doing round the home, shopping for cleansing options in disposable bottles to your house will be costly and end in extra plastic waste. The typical family goes via 18 bottles a yr of cleansing answer when utilizing the main disposable spray mop4. As a substitute use a refillable bottle and make your personal cleansing answer utilizing water and your alternative of vinegar or castile cleaning soap.
Put on a material masks
Security tips make it troublesome to go wherever with out carrying a face protecting. However the reputation of disposable face masks has impacted the quantity of plastic within the waste stream, in accordance with a report by the LA Instances. Do your half by opting to put on reusable, material masks – you’ll find them nearly wherever lately.
Keep away from plastic the place you possibly can
If you’re ordering takeout, make sure to ask the restaurant to depart out any additional disposable supplies. For instance, allow them to know you do not want disposable silverware. And though most espresso outlets and cafes aren’t accepting reusable drink containers, you possibly can nonetheless deliver your personal reusable straw.
The following pointers make it simpler to do your half in decreasing plastic waste. For extra data on why it is best to swap to the O-Cedar ProMist® MAX Microfiber Spray Mop, go to https://ocedar.com/swap-your-mop/.
Declare Citations
1. Main spray mop single-use plastic pad refills calculated utilizing shopper consumption knowledge present in Linkage Analysis Report: Spray Mop Habits & Practices Research (March 10, 2020).
2. Annual plastic waste primarily based on IRI Scan, MULO, L52 Week Ending 4/19/20, assumes whole single-use plastic waste from buying refill Pads from main spray mop is equal to 4,435,305 kilos; whole single-use plastic waste from buying refill options is equal to 2,427,748 kilos; whole single-use plastic waste from buying a package is equal to 1,453,283 kilos.
3. Removes over 99% of E. coli and Staph. aureus from pre-finished hardwood flooring and ceramic tile utilizing faucet water, as examined at an unbiased accredited lab.
4. Main spray mop cleansing answer bottles calculated utilizing shopper consumption knowledge present in Linkage Analysis Report: Spray Mop Habits & Practices Research (March 10, 2020).
