According to the World Wildlife Foundation, each Australian uses 130 kilograms of plastic with 130,000 tonnes ending up in the ocean – choking our waterways and devastating local ecosystems. If that wasn’t bad enough, we’re only recycling 9 per cent of the plastic we use.
5 simple tips for cutting down your plastic waste
ARTICLE
08 June 2021
5 mins read
5 mins read
On top of this, partially disintegrated plastic (called microplastic) finds its way into our food sources and, eventually, onto our plates. A recent study found that Australians are ingesting up to 250 grams of plastic a year – that’s around 50 credit cards’ worth.
The health consequences of ingesting microplastics are wide-ranging, and have been linked with cancer, hearing loss, nervous system damage, hormonal disruption and reproductive problems.
The good news is that small changes can make a big difference. When Australian supermarkets started phasing out single-use plastic bags in 2018, the National Retail Association estimated they prevented a staggering 1.5 billion bags from being introduced into the environment.
More recently, the government has started taking steps to phase out more single-use plastic items – including plastic cutlery, straws and polystyrene food containers – by 2025. But that doesn’t mean you can’t start minimising your use of these problematic materials today.
Here are five simple ideas that can help you reduce the amount of plastic you use in your daily life.
Ditch the zip-lock bags
If you’re a #mealprep type with a freezer full of well-organised meals, there’s a good chance you’ve got an abundance of zip-lock bags stashed somewhere. If you want to part ways with plastic, consider investing in a set of silicone food storage bags instead. They’re microwave, freezer and dishwasher friendly and – most importantly – reusable. Just make sure they’re manufactured with food-grade silicon.
If you need to pack food on the go, a stainless-steel lunch box is a great option. Steel doesn’t stain or trap odours and will withstand years of daily use.
Bin the cling
Single-use cling wrap can’t be recycled. An alternative you’ve probably already got in your kitchen is aluminium foil, which is recyclable when scrunched into a shape larger than a golf ball (sorting machines can’t detect smaller scraps).
Beyond this, beeswax wraps are great for sealing open containers. They’re widely available to purchase or, if you’re feeling crafty, you can make them yourself by treating cotton with cosmetic-grade beeswax. When cared for properly, a single wrap should last for a year. When it’s time to replace them, you can safely compost the older wraps – a much more environmentally friendly approach to disposal.
Beeswax wraps may even be superior to plastic when it comes to safe food storage. Studies have shown that propolis – produced by bees and found in beeswax – has antimicrobial properties, acting as a natural barrier that shields its contents from food-borne bacterial pathogens.
Jump on a bike
Our family does a lot of bike riding, and it’s a great environment for the kids to experience controlled risks. For example, we’ll go down a hill – I’ll be on one end of our bicycle train, and my husband on the other – so the kids get that feeling of independence and exhilaration.
They’ll process these internal questions like, ‘How fast can I go?’ or ‘Am I going to hurt myself?’ These learning opportunities are great for their development.
Bec’s tips for busy parents
- After-school sport with a club is a great way to get kids outside.
- If you can, add sports equipment (like a basketball hoop) to the backyard. It’ll draw your kids outdoors.
- Go easy on yourself if you’re time poor during the week. Aim to get outdoors together on the weekend.
- Pencil in a beach catchup or barbecue with friends. You can socialise while the kids get some play in.
- Make sure your kids always use sunscreen outdoors – it’s important to teach them to be sun smart from day one.
Visit a playground
There are plenty of growth opportunities for children at playgrounds and parks – things like controlling their impulses, self-awareness and learning social concepts like turn-taking and problem-solving.
We recently went to an amazing park on Halloween that was full of kids. Lots of them were racing around and being quite rough, and there was plenty of crazy (and potentially dangerous) play equipment.
It’s important to encourage your kids to have a go. Just watch from afar and make sure they’re safe. These play opportunities are absolute gold.
Explore your backyard
Outside play helps children use their creativity and imagination. Once, I encouraged my kids to play in the backyard when they told me there was nothing to do. I watched them come up with their own obstacle course based on Survivor. They had to climb up a tree, jump down, collect some balls and run around from corner to corner. It was incredible.
As parents, you can give your kids some tips on what they can do outside, but let their imagination take the lead.
Staff Writer
Staff writers come from a range of backgrounds including health, wellbeing, music, tech, culture and the arts. They spend their time researching the latest data and trends in the health market to deliver up-to-date information, helping everyday Australians live healthier lives. This is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances. The information in this article is general information only and is not intended as medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstance
Disclaimer:
This is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a financial adviser, or medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.
This is general information only and is not intended as financial, medical, health, nutritional or other advice. You should obtain professional advice from a financial adviser, or medical or health practitioner in relation to your own personal circumstances.
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