A few weeks ago, an email with the subject line “What happened to plastic free?” landed in my inbox. It made me pause and consider if we’ve made any real progress in the war on plastic, or if plastic free living is just an impossible dream. Today, let’s look at where things stand and what’s next in terms of addressing the global plastic problem.
Why we need to be concerned about plastic
The email that inspired all this thought was from Earth911, and it linked to Whatever happened to plastic free? The article includes a reminder of the role plastic plays in two of the biggest environmental crises threatening our continued existence on this planet: climate change and global pollution.
The thing that really struck me though, was the statement that zero-waste and plastic-free living don’t seem to be as trendy as they were a few years ago.
My quest for plastic free living
At the beginning of 2019, I set a goal to reduce single-use plastic. It started when I discovered a local bulk soap supply store that refills laundry soap and other cleaners. Finding that store opened my eyes that alternatives to single-use plastic exist for many products we use every day. One simple swap led to another, and I quickly found many changes to reduce my environmental footprint on our planet.
On a personal level, I’ve made a lot of progress in the last four years. Have I succeeded in eliminating single-use plastic? Definitely not and, to be honest, I don’t expect I ever will.
When I look around though, it’s easy to get discouraged. Single-use plastic is everywhere! And the world’s plastic problem is getting worse, not better. The OECD recently reported that global plastic waste is on track to triple by 2060.
What’s going on? Have we just given up?
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We’ve made some progress
Here in Canada, we’ve made progress. Most restaurants have swapped plastic straws for paper, and many are taking steps to eliminate or reduce plastic takeout packaging. Our national grocery chains no longer offer single-use plastic bags at their checkouts.
On the downside, far too many people continue to drink bottled water, and it’s pretty much impossible to take a walk on any trail or park without spotting takeout coffee cups littering the landscape. And, don’t get me started on excessive packaging on many of the products we buy.
During recent trips to the United States, I observed that our neighbours to the south definitely have work to do to address the single-use plastic problem. When I was in Chicago late last year, I was dismayed to be served a glass of water with a plastic straw. As if that wasn’t bad enough, at a sit-down restaurant at O’Hare Airport, our food was served with individually-wrapped plastic cutlery. Honestly, I just wanted to scream!
It seems the message isn’t getting through and we can’t depend on the goodwill of individuals and corporations to solve the problem. Is legislation the answer?
Plastic bans and other legislation
The first phase of Canada’s ban on single-use plastic items finally took effect at the end of last year, after being delayed due to the pandemic. It is now against the law to manufacture or import several common single-use plastic items: checkout bags, cutlery, foodservice ware, stir sticks, and straws. It’s still legal to sell these items—the ban on sales doesn’t take effect until December of this year. (Full details on the ban are on the Government of Canada website.)
Around the world, legislation to control the plastic issue is inconsistent but there is hope. Representatives from 175 countries have endorsed a United Nations resolution on plastic pollution. As a result of that resolution, the UN Environment Program’s Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee is working an international legally-binding instrument to end plastic pollution.
The instrument, expected to be finalized next year, will support a lifecycle approach to significantly reduce plastic waste in our oceans, while cutting greenhouse gas emissions. Four key areas to support this transition to a circular economy include: “eliminating and substituting unnecessary plastic and hazardous additives, designing plastic products to be reused and recycled, ensuring products are reused and recycled, and managing plastic pollution in an environmentally responsible manner.”
It will take many years for any legislation to take effect. Until then, each of us can make a difference in our own corner of the world.
Let’s all do our part
It may not be possible to eliminate all single-use plastic but, you’d be surprised at how much you can reduce with some simple changes. Here are five things you can today to reduce your personal impact.
- Do a plastic audit where you keep track of your plastic waste for a week or a month. Identify items you use often.
- Make some simple swaps like those I propose in A year of monthly waste reduction goals. For more information, here are some other ideas to investigate:
- Shop at bulk stores where you can bring your own containers.
- Join a neighbourhood waste cleanup.
- Use your vote to send a message by supporting politicians that have concrete environmental policies.
I’m often reminded of this quote that I’ve shared before:
We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly.
Anne Marie Bonneau, The Zero-Waste Chef
We may still be a long way from plastic free living but it’s important not to lose hope. In the end, it’s about progress not perfection. Let’s all commit to making an effort and being imperfect. It will make a difference.
What do you think? Are we any closer to plastic free living? Drop me a comment below and let me know your thoughts.
This is such a valuable reminder as I too feel like the movement and momentum that going plastic free has has somewhat slowed. I have made changes in my daily life but I can see the brands, companies and stores that seemed to be on board with it have not always fulfilled their promises. We definitely have a lot still to do!
Yes, there’s still a lot of work to be done. Sadly, we as consumers can’t do it on our own. We need governments and corporations onside and progress there is slow. There’s a lot of greenwashing going on.
I agree that even though we are a long way from being plastic-free, there has been progress made. In Denmark, they have banned single-use plastic straws, and you have to pay for plastic bags at the grocery store. Also, plastic bags from takeout restaurants are banned. Fast food restaurants like McDonalds and Burger King no longer have plastic toys in their kid’s meals and they opted for books, activity packs, and plastic-free items like that. Denmark also has a return system where you can get 1-3kr back for water bottles and other plastic drink bottles as well as canned drinks and glass bottles that you return. More recently, Denmark has expanded their recycling program to include plastics (along with milk cartons and textiles), however, this puts all the responsibility on the people to correctly recycle their plastics instead of the companies that are producing those items.
On a personal level, I have slowly been making swaps over the years and even though I am nowhere near perfect, it is definitely progress!
Those are all excellent changes. We definitely have to celebrate the progress we’ve made. It’s too easy to get discouraged otherwise. Thanks for reading and commenting!
It’s great that you’ve made progress the last few years. This might be a dumb question, but is it possible to halt single use plastic production and just continually reuse things like plastic bottles? For example, companies just reuse bottles instead of producing more constantly.
That’s the ultimate solution in my opinion. Make the companies take back their waste and figure out what to do with it. Here in Ontario, we have been paying a deposit and returning our beer bottles for as long as I can remember. The companies then clean, reuse and refill them. I’m old enough to remember the days when we did the same with glass pop bottles. The key difference between plastic and glass is glass can be reused over and over again, whereas plastic has a limited life span…especially the softer plastic that’s used for water bottles, soft drinks and other food items.
The Ontario government has plans to shift the cost of recycling programs to the manufacturers that create the waste in the first place. Time will tell if that results in any lasting improvements and changes.
I think individually many of us are closer to a plastic-free lifestyle but, collectively, not much progress has been made. Love that you share previous posts you have written on easy swaps and tips to keep us reducing and swapping as much plastic as possible!
Thanks Layla. Yes, the lack of collective progress is frustrating. I just have to keep reminding myself—and my readers—that I’m just one person and I can only do so much. It’s hard though.
I think we shouldn’t give up and the large corporations need to step up their game.
I agree. Here in Ontario, there are changes coming to our recycling program that shifts the responsibility – and the cost – from municipalities to corporations like Coke, McDonald’s and Walmart that generate much of the waste in the first place. Time will tell if it makes any difference. I’m generally skeptical of anything the government does.
Thank. you for this timely post. I was happy last year to discover a local organic farm within biking distance of my house, which meant that I could avoid any packaging (or re-use plastic bags) when shopping in their farm store once a week. We also did a weekly organic farmshare, which came in a recycled/re-used cardboard box lined with (deep sigh) a huge plastic bag. Both of those shopping options lifted my spirits! But during the fallow season for farming, I am back buying produce at Trader Joe’s and much of it comes in plastic mesh bags or clear plastic packaging of some sort. Another deep sigh. Let’s keep doing what we can as individuals and also prodding our local governments. On a vaguely related note, this article (https://studyfinds.org/buying-used-items/) about a recent poll of 2000 people in the US, reminded me of you and your blog!
Thanks Will. I have found since the pandemic that even the farmers’ markets and farm stores are using plastic bags. Ugh. It’s such a challenge.
That is a great study. It’s wonderful to see people embracing used goods. I’m always happy when I post something I’m decluttering on our local Buy Nothing group and people are so thrilled to find something they need.
I really wonder if plastic free is an attainable reality too. I feel like the pandemic set ditching plastic back a bit because things like individually wrapped utensils give the idea of safety from things like Covid. And I totally understand that, it’s just frustrating to see all of that waste. With the cost of living going up so substantially, I wonder if more people will turn to lower waste, more sustainable, reusable options. I find things like bar soaps and my homemade handkerchiefs much more affordable. Here’s hoping!
Yes, the pandemic definitely set us back and so much of it was unnecessary. It’s like people who think that bottled water is safer yet, unlike municipal water, there are no regulations on bottled water. It’s a shame that many people associate less waste and green living with increased cost. I’ve found it to be the opposite.