Take just a minute and look around your room. How many things do you see that are made of plastic? I’m looking around my office and here are just a few things that I see: plastic reusable cup (with a crack in it), lotion bottle, phone, computer mouse, pen, spool of thread, pill bottle, plastic reusable kitchen container, desk sorters, my daughters barrette, and that’s just what’s on my desk.
Did you know that plastic does NOT breakdown and go away – EVER!!!
This past weekend I took my kids to the beach. It was an unusually windy day (a storm was coming) and the trash cans couldn’t keep the trash contained inside them. Combined with the people who think it’s ok to leave their plastic bottles in the sand this is what I saw while my kids were swinging on the swing.
In the short walk back to the car I picked up about 6 bottles and several broken pieces of unknown plastic. They were probably part of a bucket or shovel. I also picked up a lid from a coffee cup and a few cigarette butts. We promptly placed this trash in the garbage can at the exit to the beach but it barely made a dent in the plastic that we saw that day. This happens every time we go to the beach but this has to be one of the worst days I’ve seen in a long time.
I’ve followed Beth Terry’s journey to living a plastic free life for several years now and I’m impressed with her passion for advocating against plastic. She’s even written a book, Plastic Free (affiliate link), that can help to inspire you to live plastic free (and I was interviewed in one of the chapters which makes it even cooler!!). Here is a short commercial on her book – just be careful that you don’t get eaten by the Plastic Sea Monster in the video!
Another one of the companies that I love and admire is Zoe B Organics. Valerie, the owner, has been on a expedition to study the plastic pollution in the Western Pacific Garbage Patch. I’ve been following her journey on the Zoe B blog and Facebook page and can’t wait to hear her stories. Zoe B makes anti-plastic (from corn) beach toys and dishware.
This brings me to the reason I’m writing this post today! My friend Malena with “THE” Balm! is launching a 2 day challenge, Switch 2 in 2 Challenge, to help you make a change. It can be overwhelming to try and change everything (ask Beth Terry) but it can be easy to start with just 2 things!
Pick 2 plastic items that you use in your house and pledge to switch to a more sustainable and non-plastic alternative. When you sign up for Switch 2 in 2, you’ll be registered to win a $50 Gift Certificate from “THE” Balm! “THE” Balm! produces a tropical line of products for mama’s and baby including a bottom balm, natural sunscreen, bug spray and nipple butter. All of their products are made from natural, organic ingredients made locally in their home on the Big Island in Hawaii. They are all packaged in glass bottles or recycled aluminum containers – no plastic! You’ll hear me talk more about a few of my favorite products soon.
So what do you think? Are you ready to start kicking the plastic addiction? Do you think you can Switch 2 in 2? What 2 products would you start with?
Ooh! Those products look fantastic… especially the ones that come in glass jars with metal lids. I would love to review on MyPlasticFreeLife.com. Thanks for posting this and mentioning my book and video!
Beth Terry recently posted..Pitch Me Your Green Product, but Skip the Greenwash. Here’s How.