25 Nov Five hidden plastics in everyday life and how to find alternatives
Plastic is harmful to the planet; it can take centuries to break down and releases harmful pollutants into our oceans and on land. Many people are doing their bit by swapping plastic bottles or coffee cups for reusable alternatives, but may not realise they could be unwittingly adding to plastic pollution by using items that contain tiny micro-plastics that are often invisible to the naked eye.
Eco-friendly company, Pura, has therefore put together a list of everyday items that contain hidden plastics, with suggestions for greener replacements:
1. Tea bags
Your daily cup of tea could contain billions of microscopic plastic particles. Although teabags appear to be made of paper, some of them contain the plastic polypropylene, which is unlikely to degrade for hundreds of years. According to Canadian researchers¹, some of these plastic tea bags shed high levels of invisible micro-plastics into water. Look out for plastic-free tea brands – there are now a few on the market – or use loose leaf tea, which can be thrown on the compost heap after use.
2. Chewing gum
Chewing gum is essentially made from plastic. Though ingredients vary according to brand, environmental group Friends of the Earth² say that chewing gum is likely to be derived from polymer – a plastic made from oil that’s similar to the material used in car tyres. The good news is that you can buy plastic-free chewing gum that is naturally plant-based, vegan and biodegradable. It’s available to buy online and in certain shops.
3. Sanitary wear
The UK gets through more than 4.3 billion disposable menstrual products a year³, but many people don’t know that sanitary pads can contain up to 90% plastic. The string in tampons, and applicators, is typically made from plastic too. Fortunately several brands have created sustainable alternatives to both plastic tampons and sanitary pads. Where plastic-free isn’t possible, companies are working on alternatives that are made from sustainable materials, like organic cotton, and less wasteful options such as tampons with reusable applicators. A quick online search will reveal the brands leading the way when it comes to eco-friendly menstrual products.
4. Clothes
Many of the clothes we wear are likely to contain plastics. In fact, according to Friends of The Earth*, 64% of new fabrics contain plastic in the form of polyester, nylon, acrylic and polyamide. These garments shed millions of invisible micro-fibres in the wash, which can leach into our sewers, polluting our rivers and oceans and ultimately ending up in our food chain. A new study by the University of Newcastle in Australia** found that, on average, the amount of micro-plastic particles ingested by a person each week equates to eating a credit card. Fortunately there are more sustainable clothes available, made from natural fibres such as cotton, which offer a greener alternative to those made from synthetics, and can now be purchased on the high street at reasonable prices.
5. Baby wipes
Many parents believe that baby wipes contain little more than water and skin soothers, but 90% of UK wipes contain polluting plastic, including plastic resins like polyester or polypropylene, which don’t fully biodegrade. Wet wipes end up in sewers, polluting land, rivers and oceans, or in landfill, where they can last up to 100 years. They are also behind 93% of blockages in UK sewers, causing infamous fatbergs and are changing the shape of UK riverbeds. Luckily there are alternatives available from Pura, the eco-friendly company that is on a mission to ban plastic wipes in the UK and beyond. Pura wipes are made from sustainable plant fibres, are 100% plastic-free, 100% biodegradable and 100% compostable and biodegradable. They degrade in weeks rather than years as you can see in this film: The Pura Biodegradable Wipes Challenge
Pura also offers certified Fine to Flush wipes, which can be thrown down the loo without harming the planet.