Plastic for Dinner?

It's no secret that plastic is everywhere in our lives, and the waste it creates is as well. The plastic epidemic is in full swing, and if animals and our ecosystems dying didn't get your attention, perhaps a 2019 study from the World Wildlife Fund on human plastic consumption might! The issue with plastic is that unlike eco friendly materials like bamboo, it doesn’t fully biodegrade and instead simply breaks into smaller pieces of plastic. These smaller pieces are known as micro plastics, and are around the size of a sesame seed. Micro plastics have been a long standing problem and concern for our earth and its wildlife, and a recent study suggests that humans may be eating a pretty significant amount of these micro plastics each day.

Plastic Bottles on a Plate

Do You Want Plastic With That?

Studies suggest that the most notable source of micro plastic consumption in humans is drinking water and shellfish. As our oceans and bodies of water are continuously polluted with plastic it is unsurprising that we are now impacted by our own actions. Plastic pollution is such a huge issue in North America, that water in the US contains double the micro plastics that water in Europe contains. The World Wide Fund for Nature claims that in the USA there are 2.4 plastic fibers in every 250 ml glass of water. That’s 2.4 too many plastic fibers for something that all life forms rely on to survive! In addition to regular drinking water, shellfish are also a large contributor to human micro plastic consumption as they are generally consumed whole. This means that when you consume shellfish you are also consuming their plastic filled digestive systems. Yuck!

Plastic Floating in the Ocean

How Much??

In total, the WWF estimates that you are eating approximately 5 grams of plastic every single week, and over 20 grams every month! This 5 gram amount can be compared to a credit card, or a Lego brick, and you are consuming this amount of plastic waste every single week. In a year you are likely to consume 250 grams of plastic; enough to cover a standard size dinner plate in a heaping pile.

Lego Brick

Enough is Enough

Obviously plastic is not good for the earth, and certainly not good for our health, but what can actually be done? Well the issue comes down to our consumption habits, and reducing the amount of plastic that we put out into the earth. Unfortunately we are long past solutions like simply avoiding plastic prone foods, as these micro plastics have made their way into our drinking water. Cutting plastic out of the equation is the solution to pollution, and supporting brands like Life UNpacked is a great place to start. Life UNpacked offers all of your bathroom necessities in high quality and zero waste form. There is no reason to keep using plastic toothbrushes, plastic floss, shampoo bottles and other wasteful bathroom products when there are great eco friendly alternatives like bamboo toothbrushes, zero waste floss, plastic free shave bars and so much more! Take a look at our website www.lifeunpacked.com and see for yourself!

Life UNpacked Eco Friendly Bathroom Product Bundle