The Little Things Matter
(First Blog Post)
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By Phoebe A
Hi everyone!
While it's good to focus on how we can limit production of greenhouse gas and achieve a climate neutral world by rallying governments and participating in protests it's also good to be aware of the other side to this environmental problem, the fact that ‘plastic is literally everywhere!’
When using single plastic items we may only use it for 30 seconds (ie a lolly wrapper) however it outlives us by around appx 300 years. Its long lifespan is not the only problem as it disintegrates into microplastics that maneuver their way through the food chain until they eventually find their way back into us. Essentially we are consuming the plastic we throw away! One estimate suggests that we may consume 5 grams of plastic each week, microplastic consumption has been linked to cell damage, oxidative stress and inflammation.
Even though these items may seem like small contributors to the plastic epidemic just by being aware and creating zero waste habits we have the ability to reduce our own plastic footprint and collectively protect the earth that will hold future generations.
Where did my hair tie go?
Have you ever wondered what happens to your hair ties after they are lost or thrown away? Do they decompose or last forever? Hair ties are made from thread and elastic dyed with artificial dyes. These materials are not sustainable, and rely often on non-renewable materials like polyester from petroleum, or cotton grown and colored with chemicals. They take around 500 years to decompose and in that period of time not only do they degrade into microplastics but can also harm the surrounding wildlife. Recently, a platypus was found dead in Warburton, 2 hours east of Melbourne, with an old hair tie wrapped around its neck, according to Geoff Williams from the Australian Platypus Conservancy this is not a rare occurrence.
Make an easy and simple switch to hair ties that are biodegradable and made with raw materials. If you are throwing away old hair ties, masks and elastic bands make sure to cut the string so it doesn't get tangled in the wildlife.
Hey, can I have a piece of plastic?
As Mrs Chiba once said, gum is her least favourite thing in the world, why? Because its annoying, sticky and made of plastic! She’s right!
According to an Iceland-commissioned study, 85% of people didn’t know there was plastic in gum. An ingredient listed as “gum base” in many gum formulas is plastic which is the ingredient that provides the gum with its chewiness. When you’re chewing gum you’re literally just munching on a hunk of flavoured plastic, and sadly it will most likely end up in landfill and take up to five years to decompose when we use it for only 5 minutes. According to Just One Ocean, each year 100,000 tonnes of plastic waste is created from gum alone.
If you ever need to chew some gum (outside of school!!) make a simple change to these products made with unharmful and biodegradable ingredients.
#Phonecaselandfill
Lets say, hypothetically if 70% of the 6.37 billion smartphone users in the world all had a phone case and then discarded it every time they chose to update their phone about how many phone cases would be stuck in landfill and floating around oceans. Billions. Not only do phone cases contribute to a massive plastic problem they are also manufactured in factories that pump greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These cases will take hundreds of years to decompose while also releasing toxic chemicals into the soil, seeping into other elements and the ecosystem and causing detrimental effects.
Here's a chart of the decomposition of phone cases from popular brands such as casetify and otter.
I hope my first blog post was able to shed some light onto some small items that are causing big plastic problems for the environment!
I just found this rug made out of recycled plastic bottles and I am obsessed!!
See you!
Phoebe
Check these great articles on environmental and sustainability issues:
Check these great articles on environmental and sustainability issues:
Saving the Woylie!
Saving the Woylie!
PLC is committed to the conservation of endangered species. We have sponsored the sequencing of the genome of the woylie, a critically endangered species. The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is leading an amazing effort to reintroduce endangered animal species, including the woylie, into the Yorke Peninsula in South Australia. Check it out here:
Climate change petition!
Climate change petition!
In 2019 in the Junior School (Hamilton) Ella Scott, Isabella Chotar, Evelyn Cahill and Surraya Carey (Yr 7 2020) made a petition that was sent to the government. This petition was about making a change and doing something about climate change. By joining SEED we would like to continue with our efforts to do our bit for the environment.
Think about all the things you can do at home to reduce your carbon dioxide emissions....For example, during winter try and use the heater less or do not set it up to a very high temperature, - 22 degrees is more than enough to keep you nice and comfortable. Like us, do your bit to reduce carbon dioxide emissions! Spread the word, we can do small things to achieve great things. Like Paul Kelly sings: "From little things, big things grow"
Palm Oil Free Alternatives!
Palm Oil Free Alternatives!
Palm oil is linked to rapid loss of biodiversity, especially orangutans, Asian elephants, Sumatran tigers and gibbons) when produced unsustainably. The palm oil industry is known for burning and clearing vast quantities of land to grow their trees. It is found in around 50 per cent of packaged foods at the supermarket but is mostly hidden under the label of ‘vegetable oil’.
However, not all palm oil is bad. When sustainably grown, palm oil is a highly efficient crop with a higher yield than other oil crops (meaning less land is required to produce palm oil than other oils).
Look for products (including skin care, shampoos and conditioners and food) from manufacturers that are either palm oil-free or use 100% segregated and traceable Certified Sustainable Palm Oil (CSPO).
Look for:
Mayver's nut butters and tahini
Red Rock Deli chips
Uncle Toby's cereals
Cadbury's dairy milk block and Old Gold
See the full list here.
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