6 non-boring ways to learn more about plastic pollution

6 non-boring ways to learn more about plastic pollution

It's the focus of Earth Day 2018

Earth Day 2018 is highlighting the need to end plastic pollution, asap...

The plastic levels in our oceans and landfills are at an all time high. Our mass production of plastic through a non cradle-to-cradle pathway is causing havoc on our planet and our bodies.

But all is not doom and gloom; there are many things that we can do to get informed and communities that are already setting out to achieve eco goals.

In order to truly have an impact on plastic pollution we need to start thinking of everyday as Earth Day. A shift in mindset towards positive changes that will put us in touch with our responsibility to the world around us is needed.

We live in an age where information is powerful, soak it up and move forward knowing that we brought plastic into this world and we can be the ones to be done with it.

Want to better informed on the subject? Well here are six non-boring ways to learn more...

 

Watch: Japan's Town With No Waste 

Keep hearing the phrase zero waste? Doubting you can do it? Here’s a whole village in Japan working together to make it happen. The village of Kamikatsu has pledged to become waste-free by 2020, an astonishing goal but one that as a community they are well on the way to achieving. 80% of their waste is now being recycled compared to other communities around them that reach only 20%.

But how have they done it? Now instead of burning their waste, which releases dangerous carbon monoxide, citizens segregate their waste into many categories to maximise recycling efficiency. “We may have more of a burden but I think we all gained richness in our minds.”

 

YouTube: Alli Cherry

As a Be Zero ambassador, YouTuber Alli Cherry, generates content that inspires a sustainable way of living while not compromising fashion and lifestyle. Her zero waste series features video content on how to shop more sustainably, go zero waste grocery shopping, get hands on creating your own beauty treatments, as well as simple swap hacks to implement into your daily life.

 

Instagram: Andrea Sanders 

The aforementioned Be Zero, is a zero waste campaign founded by Andrea Sanders. Through her Instagram account - bezerowastegirl - Sanders spreads her message with people all over the world, posting content that aims to inspire people to activate a more sustainable lifestyle.

She explains: “Zero waste isn’t about producing or consuming nothing… it’s about carefully and intentionally designing, producing, and consuming without waste as an end product.” A quick scroll  through her gorgeous Instagram account and you’ll be left feeling hopeful about all the things that you can do to live a more sustainable life.

 

If you’re keen to learn more about zero waste a great place to start is with Sanders TED Talk. 

 

Read: Plastic: A Toxic Love Story

If you’re after a more comprehensive look at the issue of plastic we recommend Plastic: A Toxic Love Story by Susan Freinkel. In her book Freinkel comments on our life with plastic, why we began the rocky relationship in the first place, how it has added to our lives and ultimately a production rate that is simply unsustainable.

The book strips back the issue and takes a closer look at eight everday plastic objects. However Freinkel is not entirely anit-plastic noting that “plastics aren’t necessarily bad for the environment; it’s the way we tend to make and use them that’s the problem.”

 

Netflix: A Plastic Ocean

Our Netflix one to watch this Earth Day - A Plastic Ocean - is right on topic. The beautifully shot documentary uncovers what is actually going on beneath the surface and how that is impacting us externally and internally.

Looking at communities that are built on landfills, piecing together how plastic reacts in the ocean, breaking up into tiny particles ingested by fish that we then consume ourselves. With the statement “The most important film of our time” from Sir David Attenborough himself behind it, this is one not to bypass.