The plastic free movement has taken off thanks to the likes of the ABC television series, War on Waste and the annual Plastic Free July program. It’s estimated that every piece of plastic ever made will take anywhere from 20 to 1000 years to break down and 6.4 million tonnes ends up in the ocean every year! People are asked to switch single use plastic items in favour of reusable, plastic free options for the sake of our environment.

Take part in the plastic free movement and reduce your chemical exposure by using alternatives to the top 4 most commonly used single use plastic items:

1. Take away coffee cups: These are made of paper with a plastic lining, a combination which means they can’t be placed in regular recycling bins. A better alternative is to purchase a BPA free or glass keep cup. You can take a keep cup to cafés and get refilled time and time again. Places displaying a responsible cafés sign offer a small discount for bringing your own cup.

2. Bottled water: Millions of water filled bottles sold every year in Australia. Purchasing a reusable stylish looking bottle, made of glass or stainless steel is a great, reusable alternative.

3. Drinking straws: Simply say no to a straw or use a reusable stainless steel straw.

4. Plastic bags: Australia alone uses around 3.6 billion plastic shopping bags a year! Swapping to reusable shopping bags is a great way to show you care about the environment.

Endeavour Wellness Clinics is showing its support for the plastic free movement with their great range of reusable items such as jute bags, Eco Lips, Ju Ju cups, and stainless steel straws.

Remember every plastic free choice we make goes towards making a difference to your health and the health of our planet.

Resources

ABC TV 2017, War on waste, viewed 7 August 2017, http://www.abc.net.au/tv/programs/war-on-waste/

Bijlsma, N 2010, Healthy home, healthy family, Joshua Books, Queensland, Australia

Choice 2014, Is plastic food packaging dangerous? viewed 7 August 2017, https://www.choice.com.au/food-and-drink/food-warnings-and-safety/plastic/articles/plastics-and-food

Choice 2017, Are coffee cups recyclable? viewed 10 August 2017, https://www.choice.com.au/food-and-drink/drinks/tea-and-coffee/articles/are-takeaway-coffee-cups-rec...

CSIROscope 2014, An ocean of plastic, viewed 10 August 2017, https://blog.csiro.au/an-ocean-of-plastic/

Ocean Crusaders 2017, Plastic ain’t so fantastic, viewed 7 August 2017, http://oceancrusaders.org/plastic-crusades/plastic-statistics/

Plastic Free July 2017, Plastic free July, viewed 7 August 2017, http://www.plasticfreejuly.org/