I finally got round to watching BBC’s latest documentary on plastic. At the end of blue planet 2 I thought they really only showed us the extent of the issue, and didn’t really do enough to explain solutions and ways that people can help, so I had high hopes for their next attempt (Don’t get me wrong, David Attenborough can do no wrong, just that a lot was left unsaid)
Needless to say, the program did a great job at highlighting the extent of the damage, and shocking the viewer at the sheer volume of plastic. I was also impressed with how the show expressed how important it is to know that it is not necessarily the fault of the individual in countries like Indonesia. It’s all well and good us saying how crazy it is that they dump their rubbish in the river, but could you honestly say you would do any different in their shoes? When in Asia, I was dumbfounded by the logic of using any body of water as a rubbish dump, I kind of get the thinking behind the ocean or a river as it would be swept away, but I witnessed a man throw a water bottle into a fountain… where did he think that would go?! But ultimately, the problem is that these countries just don’t have the infrastructure or funding to provide any alternative. I do think education does also play a part, but it’s a tricky accusation to make.
Personally I believe a bigger factor is the western way of life that we (USA, Europe etc.) have created that centers around consumerism. We have paved the way for a society that relies on single-use plastic and being frivolous with purchases, and so we cannot now turn around and blame these developing countries for following suit. Instead we should try to lead by example, and help drive down the price of environmentally-friendly alternatives to make them more widely available. It was a good watch, and hopefully it will have shocked people into realizing there is a real issue, and giving airtime to such an important issue is, of course, an excellent thing.
These photos were taken during recent travels through south-east Asia and India where the prevalence of plastic in the water bays could not be ignored.
Although the program did show some solutions on a larger scale what I think was missing was a drive to show how the individual can make a difference. By now we all know about coffee cups and plastic straws. But beyond this it becomes tricky to know how to help, it would have been great to see this highlighted a bit more in the show. Because there are so many options and so many people doing amazing things to make a difference.
So instead, here are a few ideas I have found where small, individual changes can help to stop us drowning in plastic:
1. Find a local zero waste shop, where you bring your own containers, weigh and pay! This should be cheaper too, especially if you buy in bulk. Theoretically you are only paying for the product not the packaging too!
2. Failing the above, take your own containers to the supermarket for loose fruit and veg instead of those little plastic bags.
3. Make your own products and re-use old containers! A lot of toiletries and cleaning products are pretty simple to make, plus have no horrible chemicals in! Here are a few ideas to keep you and your home sparkling clean:
Homemade Lip Scrub:
https://www.superdrug.com/blog/tutorials/make-lip-scrub
Bath Bombs:
https://wellnessmama.com/8350/bath-bombs/
Cleaning Spray for the Home: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2015/nov/10/green-home-make-your-own-all-purpose-cleaner
4. Equally, shop for plastic-free alternatives like these: Shampoo bars: https://www.independent.co.uk/extras/indybest/christmasgifts/fashion-beauty/shampoo-hair-soap-plastic-free-green-beauty-environmentally-friendly-a8505026.html Shower Gel bars:https://uk.lush.com/article/naked-shower-gel-dont-you-mean-soap
5. Invest in a silicone cup, or reusable pads to reduce the plastic in your period. Have a look at the great work at City to Sea for more information. https://www.citytosea.org.uk/plasticfreeperiods/
Please let me know what other suggestions you have to reduce plastic consumption, I would love to hear from you!