The following quotes are from the Algalita Marine Research Foundation

“Use of plastic materials reached approximately 100 kg per year per capita in North America and Western Europe in 2005 and is expected to increase to 140 kg by 2015.”

“Every year large amounts of plastic debris enter the ocean, where it slowly fragments and accumulates in convergence zones. Scientists are concerned about the possible impacts of small plastic fragments— microplastics—in the environment.”

A single person can make a substantial difference by limiting their use of plastic!

Some sweet suggestions to help you on your way to a personal plastic ban include:

• using glass containers and bringing these containers when you purchase bulk foods (or even bakery bread!)
• save glass jars (they are perfect for storing foods in the fridge!  Goodbye, toot-a-loo… Ziploc).
• if you decide to eat in a restaurant and would like to take leftovers home, bring your own container instead of using a styrofoam container
• using (and re-using) reusable cloth bags for groceries and ANYTHING you buy!
• using reusable cloth produce bags or not putting produce in bags at all
• buy local food (normally requires less packaging and you can also convince the vendor that you have your own container and cloth bag)
  
• avoiding products that are packaged in plastic – there are so many products which are identical yet available in different packaging! – example = ketchup in plastic or ketchup in glass? Glass is natural and easily recyclable.
• plastic bags that are unavoidable, like toilet paper bags, are great to us as garbage bags
• buying second hand clothes… you’ll be surprised by the awesome finds!
• baking and cooking as much as possible
  
• eat less meat! Just think of the plastic material and energy wasted due to the production of meat! It requires the growth of animal feed, methods to grow the animal (including production and use of hormones and antibiotics), slaughtering of the animal, packaging of the meat, transportation of the meat, disposal of packaging. Beans are cheaper and have a lot of protein – they are a delicious alternative.  Beans can be purchased bulk or in recyclable aluminum cans.
  
• instead of chewing gum (which is packaged in plastic and gum itself contains plastic) eat a mint leaf.  Mint leaves are actually really delicious – chocolate mint leaves are my favourite.
  
• plant a garden outdoors or invest in a heat lamp to care for an indoor garden (uber fun to eat the product of gardening!)
• find a toothbrush that has a replaceable “head” so that the handle can be reused
• make your own art (photography, drawing, painting?) its so much more fun and meaningful anyway!

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Always question plastic that is associated with your lifestyle! I bet you’ll figure out a way to replace it, resulting in less of an environmentally devastating impact

Thank you for using less plastic!