There is no such thing as garbage in nature. Nature understands the inherent limitations in a closed system, and as such, has spent billions of years perfecting a truly sustainable system. In the temperate forests of North America, the deep roots of trees pull nutrients from deep below the ground, and share it with other living things as it drops leaves in the fall. When animals die, naturally or through predation, their blood returns essential nutrients to the soil, their flesh feeds multitudes, and as their bones weather away even more critical nutrients are cycled back into the system, nourishing all.
Everything lives, everything dies, and everything returns to the soil, nourishing the multitudes of life that comes after.
This lesson is ingrained in every living thing on this planet, but somewhere along the way, humans have forgotten this unavoidable law. We have forgotten that there is no ‘away’, that we are as intimately connected to a patch of soil on the other side of the world as we are to the meal we just ate, that we exist in a closed loop with absolute limits. Whatever we put into the air we ourselves breathe, what we put in the water we ourselves drink, what we put into the soil we ourselves eat. In truth, we are as vulnerable to that patch of soil on the far side of the world, too.
Plastics are an example of what has resulted from that most unfortunate of brain farts. A product that requires the extraction of resources from the earth but that returns none of them. A product that consumes but restores nothing, provides nothing for the multitudes of life that comes after. It may fall at the foot of a tree just as a leaf, but while that leave feeds, nourishes, and assists in the growth of another generation. The plastic will remain for centuries, grasping it’s components tightly, refusing to share, refusing to collaborate, refusing to nourish anything but itself.
If there is any such thing as an abomination, plastic is certainly it. It will tangle itself in wildlife until the poor creature that encountered it has suffocated, drowned, or starved. It will fill a stomach while the animal itself starves from lack of food. It will break down into small pieces and return to our human bodies in the water we drink, the food we eat, and the air we breath.
Plastic is one of the great evils of the world.
It is impossible, for most of us, to avoid it entirely. But with a small bit of effort we can eliminate almost all of it from our daily lives. The more we refuse to use it the less pollution will result from its extraction and manufacture, the less of it will make it into the natural world killing indiscriminately, and the less we will end up poisoning ourselves. Our refusal to use plastic will undermine the power that industry currently enjoys in the world, forcing those enterprises to reconsider their earth-damaging ways, forcing them to change.
The amount of plastic you use and the opportunity you have to minimize or eliminate it will depend greatly on where you are in the world. Economics will play into it as well, though I have found that while the initial cost for a product may cost more, the fact you only buy it once saves considerable money in the long run. Money can often be saved by simply no longer using a product you have used simply out of habit. As an example, I no longer use any sort of plastic wrap or baggies, and I’ve stopped using dryer sheets altogether. I no longer color my hair, wear makeup, or pain my nails either. The savings these changes result in over time have more than paid for the slight increase in cost for a few more expensive items.
As in all things, your mileage may vary. Letting go of the lessons we’ve grown up with, of the rules of living that many of us have grown up with, is a process. Do as much as you can today, push yourself just a bit beyond your comfort zone, and then do it again tomorrow. You will be shocked at how much change that generates over the course of a year.
Laundry Soap: There are many homemade laundry soap options out there that work very well. If, like me, you are not able to handmake some/all/any of your products, Earth Strips are an excellent option. The product and the shipping material are entirely plastic free and uses dramatically less water in its manufacturing process than more conventional laundry soap products. It is easy to use, vegan, and does not use the chemicals most known to cause water pollution problems such as algal blooms (such as phosphates). I have been using these strips for many years now, it works perfectly on all of our clothes. https://www.tru.earth/
Dishwashing Soap: Dropps is a company on a mission, and it shows. Their dishwashing tablets product works perfectly, it gets the dishes clean and it leaves no film. The exterior box is fully plastic free – you can compost it in your backyard pile – and the tablets themselves come wrapped in a material that dissolves entirely in the washing process. It is free of the usual water pollutants that plague the more conventional washing products. https://www.dropps.com/collections/dishwasher-detergent
Periods: It is time to ditch the disposables forever. The alternatives is infinitely more comfortable, healthier for you and healthier for the planet. The Diva Cup and Period Panties are not as sustainable as reusable pads, but they are incredibly comfortable and can be reused for and extended period of time, so they are an exceptional option. Reusable fabric pads are widely available and are easy to sew on your own if you are so inclined. Many people say the idea of washing their period products grosses them out. I say tossing pads and tampons in the landfill every month is infinitely more gross. Your period blood is not gross, it’s an amazing evolutionary process, and your hands wash. http://divacup.com and https://www.shethinx.com/
Baggies: I’ll be honest, I simply stopped using baggies. I used them to freeze produce from my garden for years, and I admit, they were incredibly convenient for that use. But in the end I simply stopped using them. I bought more tupperware (glass or metal, and used) and now use this for everything I previously used baggies for. Yes, it is bulkier than the baggies and I’ve had to get creative with freezer space, but this approach doesn’t come with the stink of destroying the earth for future generations on it, so I’m good.
Plastic Wrap: I mostly use the tupperware as a replacement for plastic wrap as well, but I did buy some beeswax wraps. I purchased the Etee Shop brand and they are awesome. Two hearty thumbs up! (Plus, they look better than plastic, and smell fabulous too.) https://www.shopetee.com
Plastic Straws: Straws have rightly been catching some serious heat lately. Many restaurants now offer them upon request only. This would be beyond awesome if they’d also stop using those damn Styrofoam to go boxes as well, but I digress. I purchased a couple of steel straws for my husband and I and we both absolutely love them. They come with a wonderful carrying bag and a tool to clean them out with, which is seriously awesome. I even carry mine when I travel. https://www.lifewithoutplastic.com/…/stainless-steel-straw-…
Toothbushes: Plastic is not the only boy in town anymore when it comes to toothbrushes. I made the switch to these Bamboo Toothbrushes and have never looked back. They do feel a little odd at first, but I was over it by the second use. These suckers are seriously awesome. https://www.brushwithbamboo.com
Shampoo/Conditioner: I tried several different flavors of plastic free shampoo, and was absolutely thrilled when I found Ethique. No joke, I love this product better than any other shampoo I’ve tried ever. Seriously, ever. The product and packaging is entirely plastic free – though you need to tell them no plastic in the comments, or they may pad the bars with some bubble wrap. https://ethiquebeauty.com
Paper Products: Giving up printer paper and notebook paper is fairly easy, but we all need a steady supply of toilet paper. It’s pretty easy to find recyclable paper (and always always always by recycled TP) but the fact that they always came wrapped in plastic made my blood boil. No more though! Who Gives a Crap is an awesome company, and their paper comes without a serving of plastic pollution. https://us.whogivesacrap.org
Deodorant: This was probably the hardest product for me to replace. I tried many different brands before I found one that worked for me. This Chagrin Valley deodorant was the best of the bunch for me, and it comes in a glass jar with a metal lid – totally plastic free! If this one does not work for you do not despair! You’ve got to find one that works well with your particular biochemistry so keep looking. There are a lot of brands out there. https://www.chagrinvalleysoapandsalve.com/p/deodorant-coco…/
Mascara: Trying to find plastic free makeup was beyond annoying. I ended up deciding to give up makeup entirely, but I have since backed off of that a bit because I found these folks. I’d never used cake mascara before and it was harder to put on than the ‘normal’ variety, but once you get the hang of it you are good to go. I’m still almost completely makeup free, but on those odd occasions when you want to doll it up, this is the perfect eyelash solution. https://besamecosmetics.com/…/e…/products/new-hidden-product
Dental Floss: This floss is not vegan, so if you are trying to avoid animal products as well as plastic this is not the right solution for you. Otherwise, I love this stuff. The little glass and metal containers are quite nice, the spool of thread is LOOOONG, and it fits perfectly between the teeth. Even better, you can order just the floss spools as a refill, so you can reuse the container for ever! https://www.lifewithoutplastic.com/…/plastic-free-dental-fl…
Eye Liner: This is really where I started getting pissed about the whole makeup thing. You can find some eye liner that is plastic free, but holy hell was this stuff expensive! I have had friends tell me they can find plain pencils in some stores, but I couldn’t find it. In the end I gave up makeup entirely. Why waste precious resources and add pollution to an already overwhelmed ecosystem just to give my eyes more ‘definition’. I purchased one eye pencil here – stupidly expensive – and it will likely last me for the rest of my life. https://credobeauty.com/products/black-eye-pencil
Sun Screen: This screen is a bit oily, but it goes on well and it covers perfectly. I used this on several bike trips this summer and it worked every time. I actually really like the product, despite the slight feeling of oiliness. https://www.butterbeanorganics.com/…/butterbean-original-su…
A few additional tips and tricks:
Bring your own to go containers when you go out to eat. This is a little awkward I admit. But I would rather deal with a bit of momentary sheepishness than live with the guilt of one more damned Styrofoam or plastic container going into a landfill.
Use. Reusable. Bags. Seriously people, it absolutely kills me when see people still using plastic bags! This includes produce bags, by the way. You can find produce bags and reusable grocery bags all over the place, there is no excuse for not using them.
Have some more suggestions? Let me know, I would love to hear them!