Better than Plastic
If we look around, despite all the talk about Climate Change and pledges to change things, the world hasn’t made a single meaningful change yet.
It's like there is a pool and it's super refreshing, but for the last 50 years, we have just been dipping our big toe on it, instead of jumping right in. AND WE ARE ON FIRE. WE NEED TO JUMP IN. For instance, to get away from plastic (99% of plastics is created from fossil fuels, after all), many groceries have been switching to paper bags. |
Some of it is recycled, but recycling itself still requires use of paper, which comes from trees. And using trees in this day and age is in itself a problem.
Recycling paper is hard to do -- first of all, soiled paper is not easily recyclable, and secondly, the process of recycling also costs a lot of energy. A LOT.
There are many environmentally friendly alternatives to using trees. Using bamboo products, for instance, as bamboo is an easily renewable resource that keeps growing and rebuilding itself, is a better option.
But better even would be to do something like this grocery store in the Netherlands, Pieter Pot, where people are encouraged to bring their glass containers and have their food filled that way. Their goal is a zero-waste grocery store.
If more stores did the same, everywhere in the world, just think of the amount of energy, trees and resources we could spare!
Besides, people grocery shopping in places that still use plastic to wrap food are estimated to use 20 kilos of plastic per year, per person... so this solution makes sense!
Recycling paper is hard to do -- first of all, soiled paper is not easily recyclable, and secondly, the process of recycling also costs a lot of energy. A LOT.
There are many environmentally friendly alternatives to using trees. Using bamboo products, for instance, as bamboo is an easily renewable resource that keeps growing and rebuilding itself, is a better option.
But better even would be to do something like this grocery store in the Netherlands, Pieter Pot, where people are encouraged to bring their glass containers and have their food filled that way. Their goal is a zero-waste grocery store.
If more stores did the same, everywhere in the world, just think of the amount of energy, trees and resources we could spare!
Besides, people grocery shopping in places that still use plastic to wrap food are estimated to use 20 kilos of plastic per year, per person... so this solution makes sense!
Look at their pots and bags -- burlap lasts a very long time and is better for the environment.
If you think this is a good idea, then write your local grocery store and ask for this option!
When many people show an interest in something, then things can change.
The change can start with you!
When many people show an interest in something, then things can change.
The change can start with you!