Reducing Plastic: 4 Tips with a Big Impact

Over the past 50 years, plastic production has increased twentyfold. If we do nothing and continue on this path, there will be more plastic than fish in our oceans by 2050. Reducing plastic consumption is therefore crucial to the well-being of our planet, but how can we do that? We’d like to inspire you with four small changes that can make a big difference.

What is the impact of plastic on the environment?

It can take up to 500 years for plastic to decompose. It has a major polluting effect on the land, water, air, and nature. Greenpeace claims that “a truckload of plastic enters our oceans every minute, damaging marine life and our ecosystems.” Plastic waste is not only harmful to organisms, animals, and fish, but also to our economy.
The fishing industry and tourism are both suffering from plastic pollution in the oceans. And the impact goes even further than that: Our water sources are becoming contaminated with plastic.

What can we do to stop this:

Reducing your plastic use is already a big step. With these small changes, you can already prevent a lot of plastic waste:

Recycle

Most households are already doing it: recycling. Put plastic you no longer use in a plastic bin or trash bag. Whenever you throw something away, ask yourself if it can be recycled. Not sure what can and can’t go in the plastic trash bag? Check the Milieu Centraal Waste Separation Guide.

Reducing Plastic Use Through Reusable Bottles

One very simple change that makes a big difference is using reusable water bottles. How often do you drink from a plastic water bottle that you throw away right after? Or how often do you use a disposable coffee cup that you throw away afterward? By using reusable water bottles and coffee mugs, you can cut down on a lot of plastic waste.

Avoid using plastic when grocery shopping

Single-use plastic is the most polluting type of plastic. After all, once you’ve used it, you throw it away right away. This applies not only to water bottles and coffee cups, as we mentioned above, but also to grocery packaging. Next time, try buying local vegetables without plastic packaging and use your own grocery bag. Do you often forget to bring a bag? Keep one in your purse or in the trunk of your car at all times, so you’ll always have it handy.

Choose plastic-free alternatives

Take a look around your bathroom. How many plastic containers do you see there? You probably have a plastic shampoo bottle, shower gel, and toothbrush. There are more sustainable, plastic-free alternatives for these. A bamboo toothbrush, a shampoo bar, and a bar of soap can all help reduce plastic use.

What else can we do?

Reducing your carbon footprint and cutting back on plastic use are a few steps you can take, but there's more to be done. Learn how you can help build a sustainable future by reading about our mission.