What Sustainability Means to Me: The Impact of Plastics

What Sustainability Means to Me: The Impact of Plastics By Jamie Amsden Sustainability, to me, is engaging in practices that meet our needs without compromising the ability to meet future generations' needs. One example is that I have stopped using plastic bags at the grocery store. I have this foldable organizer that I keep in my cart. When I go shopping, I put it in my cart and add all my items. I also installed a reverse osmosis system in my kitchen. I have well water, and the other options were plastic water jugs or plastic water bottles. Sustainability does have its pros and cons. For me, I will use the example of my current mission to cut out as much plastic as possible. It was unfortunate how expensive it was to put this system in my house. The bright side is that I do not have to waste money on water every week. Another plus is that with my reusable water bottle, my water stays cold all day. I also use Gemz shampoo and conditioner. These are single tablets that you just add a bit of water to use. When you order them, they include a prepaid envelope for returning the little containers for recycling. For someone with thick hair, it was hard to get used to. They are more expensive than buying just a bottle of shampoo. I think it is worth it to have peace of mind that I am not personally adding more plastic and waste to the world. Another change we made in my home is replacing all the plastic food storage containers with glass. Again, it was pricier, but they will last much longer. I know that it is impossible to get rid of all plastic in my life, but I try to reduce it where I can. Plastics, mainly single-use, are terrible for our environment. Even creating them damages the environment. They are obtained through fracking, which, in itself, damages the earth. Then they use a process called “cracking” To get the chemicals that they need to make plastic. This process releases toxic chemicals into the air, affecting the climate and health. After plastic is created, used, and discarded, it remains a problem for us. When plastic is thrown away, it ends up in our oceans. This can be terrible for our marine life. Microplastics not only cause major health problems for marine life, but also for ourselves. Burning plastic is just as dangerous, if not more, because it releases toxins into our air, water, and soil. I believe that a reasonable start to reduce this “death cycle” is to put pressure on big companies to offer better packaging options. For example, I have found only one baby shampoo that is actually tear-free for my one-year-old. But the only option they have is in a plastic one-time-use bottle. As a mother, I struggle with what is right for my toddler and what is right for the planet. I do recycle the bottle, but it would still be better for the planet if they had a more sustainable refill option. There is still a need for plastic in items like airbags, medical devices, and wind turbines, but I think a great first step is to remove single-use plastic from our lives and ensure that the plastic we do need is recycled. Reference: