We live in a world where plastic packaging is everywhere. It’s found in our homes, workplaces, and beaches, miles away from civilization. What if we were to imagine a world without plastic packaging? In this blog, we will explore how living without plastic packaging could benefit us, our environment, and future generations.
Entering the grocery store, you may notice that nearly every product is packaged. The options are plentiful, from cans of beans to small plastic peanut butter containers, from cardboard cereal boxes to styrofoam egg cartons and plastic clamshells full of produce.
If you visit a coffee shop or lunch spot for a quick bite, you’ll likely come across compostable bowls, paper coffee cups with linings, iced coffee cups made of plastic, and many plastic utensils and water bottles. Plastics do their job once and then get thrown away or recycled.
The Limits of Recycling and Zero Waste Living
Too often, we focus on individual avoidance of single-use packaging or recycling. Only a tiny fraction is recycled, and reusables and bulk shopping are just a drop in the ocean of retail. These efforts will not fix plastic problems. We need to recognize that these efforts will not fix plastic problems. Plastic manufacturing harms the environment and causes climate change, and we need policy changes to keep it from worsening.
A Plastic Free-Future
“It is a wicked problem, isn’t it?” chemist Marty Mulvihill says on the podcast, “What You’re Eating.” We need a safe and convenient way to get food home from the store, and we also need easy ways to eat and drink. “Packaging plays an important role, but it’s a short-term one, affecting the food we eat very intimately.”
How can we do that in a way that does not create so much waste? How can we do it in a way that does not put our bodies at risk from the harmful chemicals and additives used in so much of that packaging? How about changing course now that we have become so accustomed to it and are used to it so much?
It’s not just the environment that is damaged by food packaging, but our health. So we ask: is there a future where plastic isn’t so dominant and polluted? What would it look like, and how can we help it become a reality?
Benefits of a World Without Plastic Packaging
Despite living a life surrounded by plastic, the benefits of a plastic-free life far outweigh the alternative. Here are a few quick reasons why living a plastic-free life is essential.
Health
As a result of plastic-free living, you are encouraged to be more intentional about what you eat and drink. This is because plastic use has been linked to various indirect and direct toxic effects. There are several ways in which reducing plastic use can benefit health, such as it reduces the exposure to toxic chemicals. Many plastics contain chemicals that can leach into the environment or be released into the air when the plastic is used or disposed of. These chemicals can have a range of negative effects on health, including cancer, hormonal disruption, and other chronic health problems. By reducing plastic use, you can reduce your exposure to these toxic chemicals.
Additionally, it improves the air quality. Plastic production and disposal can contribute to air pollution, which can have serious health consequences, including respiratory problems and other chronic diseases. Reducing plastic use can help improve air quality and protect your health.
Education
You’ll learn about new plastic-free products and services as you determine which options will best meet your needs and bottom line.
Intention
Living a plastic-free life allows you to be more intentional with your purchases. It’s also called social investing, putting money where your values are.
Creativity
Plastic-free living is an adventure when you think outside the box and find creative ways to live without plastics.
Environment
Your plastic-free life is about the environment, wildlife, and the world. Plastic pollution can only be turned around by stopping that mountain of waste from entering our waterways, oceans, and rivers. Even though the benefits are apparent, we must all choose to be part of the plastic-free revolution in order for this to come to fruition
Help the World Become a Better Place With SupplyCaddy
Imagining a world without plastic packaging may seem impossible, but it is achievable with the right resources and dedication. We must start to view our environment as something that needs protecting and nurturing rather than something we can use up without consequence. We must all do our part in reducing the amount of plastic entering our environment so that future generations can benefit from a healthier planet, free from the pollution caused by single-use plastics.
Companies like SupplyCaddy are leading this effort by providing sustainable alternatives to traditional forms of packaging. Contact SupplyCaddy today at [email protected] or [email protected] to find out how we can help your business reduce its environmental impact and positively contribute towards creating a cleaner, greener world for us all.
