With the rise of the Zero Waste movement, it's nearly impossible to be blind to the problem of plastic. Litter covers our ditches, fills our oceans, and at this point is pretty much everywhere. It's a problem, but besides ruining the view, and killing some sea turtles, is plastic really such a big deal when it has little to no effect on your life? Especially if you're just trying to survive the pain from your period, temper your mood swings, lose “the weight”, and maybe, have a baby when it's all said and done? Or is it important for the mom of 4 kids who is exhausted? Or the woman who's working insane hours? Or the woman who's traveling constantly? How much concern should you give plastic?
Well, my friend, the problem of plastic has a larger impact on your life than you may realize.
Real quick, it would be impossible to sum up the nuances of this topic in one blog post. So please check out the resources linked in this blog post for more information. And as always, this is not medical advice, contact your doctor or trusted physician when making any changes regarding your diet or lifestyle.
What’s the Problem With Plastic?
BPA is the big bad wolf of plastic. You may have noticed all of the “BPA free” stickers on different food-related products. This is for good reason!
“Exposure to BPA is a concern because of the possible health effects on the brain and prostate gland of fetuses, infants, and children. It can also affect children's behavior. Additional research suggests a possible link between BPA and increased blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.” -Mayo Clinic
Reserch has linked BPA exposure to infertility in both women and men. In animals that have been exposed to BPA studies have found “endometriosis-like lesions” and ”PCOS-like abnormalities”. The book “Our Stolen Future” has an excellent visual of how BPA and other harmful chemicals build up in the animals down the food chain becoming more and more compounded the further up you go finally ending with humans at the end of the line.
Is it any wonder that we are seeing a decline in fertility in both women and men at record rates?
Ok, so BPA is bad… Why don’t we just use BPA-free products? Well due to all that bad press in recent years BPA has been replaced in many products with Bisphenol F (BPF). Problem solved right? Unfortunately, BPF has been linked to Asthma, Hay Fever, Depression, and, drum roll please….. It's an endocrine disruptor!
In addition to these 2 chemicals, you can also find toxic metals, flame retardants, UV-Stabilizers, and many many more hormone-disrupting chemicals that have no business being near any living organism. Read this article from Endocrine.org to learn more.
As if that wasn't enough of a reason to quit plastic. It also has the ability to break down into small particles called microplastics. Microplastics have been found in the ocean, mountains, our drinking water, and even animals. Obviously, they propose a major threat to our ecosystem. And, predictively microplastics have been found in humans as well.
What Can We Do About Plastic?
Breath: In, 2, 3. Out, 2, 3
I understand how overwhelming this information can be. You're reading the words of a woman that once bordered on a panic attack after mindlessly touching a grocery receipt.
But we don’t need all that cortisol running amuck in our system now, do we? We can try to do everything perfectly, but if our nervous system is dumping too much cortisol into our body, we won't digest our food properly, sleep enough, or handle life. This is where I remind myself to give it to God and focus on what I can control.
So before we begin, will you join me in taking a deep breath, and remember to hold this information with curiosity and purpose rather than fear. Ok? Ok.
Limit Our Exposure
We come into contact with a high amount of plastic every day but a surprising amount of that contact is avoidable. I find that there are 3 categories of plastic,
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Obvious plastic: Straws, water bottles, bags, etc. All of these have swaps that, while they may take time to become a habit, are simple and obvious.
Solutions like bringing your own straw or reusable grocery bags or glass containers for take-out meals are all easy swaps.
Sneaky plastic: These are items that have plastic and you would never guess. Like gum, the plastic coating on the inside of aluminum cans, and my personal nemesis, receipts. Yes, they all have plastic! Why do you think gum lasts forever? With a quick Google search, you can find out if something has plastic in it, all it takes is intentionally looking at the things that we allow into our lives. Most sneaky plastics have simple solutions. Can’t give up gum? Try the natural stuff all plastic gum is literally modeled after.
Environmental microplastics: These are those little bits of plastic that seem to have found their way into everything. In Many ways, this category is out of our control, but that doesn't mean that we don’t have any influence on our contact with plastic. Simple steps like getting a water filter that is proven to filter out microplastic is a great place to start. But by reducing your plastic use you are also helping reduce the problem and promote change. It's called voting with our dollar, and some companies are starting to listen already!
As with every lifestyle change, this process can go as slow or fast as you need. Don’t try to tackle everything at once (that's how you end up having an emotional breakdown at the grocery store 🙃) Pick one sustainable change you can make and commit to it for a time, then tackle the next thing.
Invest in Your Health
Investing in glass, wood, stone, cast iron, and cloth are your goals. If you just love the lifestyle that single-use plastic offers, you're not alone, but thanks to the Zero Waste Movement, we have a LOT of options.
Cling Wrap = Beeswax Wraps
Ziplock bags = Silicon bags
Garbage Bags = Reusable Waste Bag
Plastic Produce Bag = Natural Mesh Produce Bags
Laundry Everything = Check out this article for our recommendations
If you think you can't live without it, there's probably a reusable, safer swap for it.
On a budget?
If you're looking for cost-effectiveness, go second-hand baby! When I began these lifestyle changes in college, I did not have any money to spare. On the weekends, my friends and I would go to thrift shops to see what gems we could find. Most of the wood bowls, glass storage containers, stoneware, and even a cast-iron skillet that I found are still key elements of my kitchen.
The beauty of all of these items is that, with the exception of a dropped glass or silicone bag accidentally stabbed, these swaps are an investment that lasts, sometimes for generations!
Summary
Plastic is everywhere, and it's a problem. A problem for our health, fertility, and general wellbeing. My challenge for you is to pick 1 or 2 things to start swapping out.
Straws and reusable grocery bags would be the first two that I'd recommend challenging yourself to change. Give it 30 days and then add the natural gum. In 1 month, you'll have made 3 incredibly helpful changes to your body and the environment.
While we can't control every area where we may come into contact with plastic, we have the power to decide the amount we let into our daily life. Oh, and don't get to breathe. 😉
Blessings,
Rebecca J. Larson
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