Each year, 8 million tons of plastics enter our ocean on top of the estimated 150 million tons that currently circulate our marine environment, according to Oceans Conservancy. At least two-thirds of the world's fish stocks are suffering from plastic ingestion. [1] With our oceans under pressure due to plastic pollution, climate change and the fishing industry, as an organisation at Organic UK and as individuals, it's key to reduce the negative impact plastic waste has on our planet by making small sustainable changes to our daily routine.
Try following our five top tips to reduce plastic in the ocean and to save marine life
1. Try buying local organic fruit and veg
Reduce your food packaging waste by trying out a local weekly organic fruit and vegetable box scheme this way. You'll also support local businesses and reduce your carbon footprint. We recommend any of the following: Abel & Cole, Riverford, Pikt, (for veggie and fruit boxes) or Coombe Farm (for a meat box), you can check out our where to shop section to support more organic brands. Or alternatively, try visiting your local organic farmer market. It's an easy way to reduce unnecessary fruit and veg plastic packaging.
2. Set yourself a goal to avoid filling your wardrobe with any more plastic
Most consumers aren't aware that 64% of materials are made out of plastic fibres such as polyester, acrylics, and nylon, all cheap synthetics that contain tiny plastic fibres known as microfibers. Every time we wash these materials, they shed millions of plastic microfibres, which are so minute they drain out of our washing machines and pass straight through our water treatment plants into the sea. This leads to sea creatures eating toxic fibres, passing them up the food chain into fish like mussels. Don't like the thought of eating your clothes? Then we suggest buying second hand or buying GOTS certified organic clothing. [2]
3. Grow your own organic herbs
You’ll notice that most of the time you buy herbs in supermarkets, they’re covered in plastic and potentially contain harmful pesticides if they’re not organic certified. Try buying organic seeds and planting your own in your garden or balcony, or window ledge, this way you'll get rid of all that plastic packaging.
4. Opt for a plastic free period
Conventional period products can be full of plastic. You can make it a thing of the past by moving away from big-brand disposable period products that are a potential health hazard, cost us around £4,800 over our menstruating lifetime and cost the earth. Menstrual products are currently the 5th most common item found on European beaches, according to CitytoSea [3]. We recommend switching to organic certified menstrual products like our friends over at Natracare. Their products are entirely plastic-free. Check out our article on plastic free periods to learn more.
5. Make your own home made body scrub
If you’ve already swapped your plastic body wash for an organic bar of soap, you can go a step further and make your own zero-waste organic body scrub! Did you know your should exfoliate at least once a week to get rid of dead skin cells?
Try our east DIY sugar scrub. Go Organic where you can! All you need is:
Ingredients list
150g of sugar white/brown
Pinch of almond oil
2 tablespoons of raw unrefined honey
Zest of a lemon
Half the juice of a lemon
Dried lavender (optional)
Next step
Mix all of your ingredients together in an old jam jar or whatever you can find, zest your lemon first before juicing it, then mix your ingredients together, and your good to go! Keep in the fridge once you are done.
Are you following any of these 5 easy steps already? Which ones will you add to your routine and save some more plastic?
Appendix
1. https://oceanconservancy.org/trash-free-seas/plastics-in-the-ocean/
2. https://www.vox.com/the-goods/2018/9/19/17800654/clothes-plastic-pollution-polyester-washing-machine
3. https://www.citytosea.org.uk/campaign/plastic-free-periods/
Images Credit
1. Abel & Cole
2. GOTS
4. Natracare