Review - Charcoal Water Filter

This is my 18th review on plastic alternatives in my bid to reduce 50 plastic items this year. Hope you enjoy! 

Scoring system: 

❤ = Will keep, I love it / 👀 = Not sure, will try some more / 😐 = Oh dear, it's not for me

Review Eighteen - Black & Blum Charcoal Water Filter

I know what you're thinking - why on Earth would someone trying to reduce plastics need a water filter - surely tap water would do? After all, it's plastic free AND is supposed to be just as good as bottled water according to some studies. 

My gripe with tap water is down to two things - one is I hate the taste and smell of chlorine. My senses are super strong and it literally hits me with the smell. We also have exceptionally hard water in our area leading to limescale. 

For years we've been using Brita water filters. It does seem to help somewhat with scaly kettles and I haven't noticed chlorine smells. Of course these are encased in plastic containers, which made me want to look for alternatives. 

Brita filters can be recycled, although our local Argos (a previous collection point) had moved and we weren't sure where to take the used up cartridges. So when I came across the Black & Blum charcoal filter in Ethical Superstore I thought I'd give it a try.

My review

I used the Black & Blum charcoal filter inside our Brita jug, filled it up and left it overnight. The advice is to leave it for 8 hours for good effect. 

It says on their site that it can help with water softening and chlorine. 'Binchotan is an active carbon made from tree branches and is renowned for its ability to soften water, add good minerals and absorb unwanted tastes and odours, such as chlorine.'

After just two weeks I'd noticed limescale building up in the kettle after a very short time. I also noticed occasionally a chlorine smell and a slight film was appearing on the water. 

The product can be used for up to six months (boil after the first three months) however we decided after the first three months that we'd go back to using Brita cartridges.

So sadly the experiment didn't work for us, so I score this an 😐 = Oh dear, it's not for me!

On a good note, we found where we can recycle our Brita cartridges - Argos had moved into Sainsbury's and the recycling point had been moved there, close to the Brita jug section, so any Brita filters we do use we continue to send off for recycling. 

There's a video on how Brita cartridges are recycled on their site.

If you prefer bottled water, Highland Spring have one available in a glass bottle or sometimes I use Harrogate water which is made using a 50% recycled plastic bottle.

If you're in an area where water is not exceptionally hard, or smell strongly of chlorine then tap water is perfectly fine!

Positive News for Spring

5 More Feel Good Stories for Spring

We like to keep things upbeat, let's take a look at some positive news for 2020 💕 

1. Whales are making a come back. 

Did you know that 75% of the planet’s surface is covered by ocean? Did you know also that trees are not the only things that help absorb CO2?

Per the Good News Network (Mar 2020): Dr. Chiami, an economist at the International Monetary Fund found that just a 1% increase in phytoplankton in the sea would capture hundreds of millions of tons of additional CO2 a year. 

Dr. Ralph Chiami highlights the influence that whales, especially great blue whales—and their poo—have on climate change. It is all due to the predominance of whale fecal matter in the diets of the tiny ocean dwellers called phytoplankton.

It's reassuring therefore to see blue whales making a comeback (see reports below).

'Researchers counted 36 sightings of 55 critically endangered Antarctic blue whales during their 2020 trip, up from just one sighting of two whales in 2018, according to the British Antarctic Survey (BAS) team.'

According to Eco watch (Feb 2020): 'In addition to Antarctic blue whales, BAS recorded 790 humpback whales over 21 days, and estimates that there are now more than 20,000 of them feeding off the island in the summer.'

2. New Climate Change Rules in Europe

According to BBC Environmental News (Mar 2020): 'New rules could spell the death of a "throwaway" culture in which products are bought, used briefly, then binned.' (I can hear you all saying hurrah!)

'The regulations will apply to a range of everyday items such as mobile phones, textiles, electronics, batteries, construction and packaging.'

This initiative is set by the EU, but word is Britain will also benefit, as manufacturers may not be willing to design products for two different markets. 

Let's hope we can do away with our throw away culture, as manufacturers purposefully build in a form of obsolescence to encourage people to buy more.

3. Wax worm has an appetite for plastic!

Wax worms are maggot like creatures which are larvae from a moth that likes to eat the waxy material found in bee hives. They have a special type of bacteria in their guts that acts like an enzyme that helps to digest wax. The discovery though was by accident -when a bee hive was decimated and the worms disposed of in a plastic bag, they merrily digested their way out of it!

This is not to say we should be releasing lots of wax eating moth maggots out into the world but studying how they digest plastic and break it all down is useful science - although of course we do need to reduce our reliance on plastics in the first place.

See initial article in the National Geographic (April 2017).  

In Mar 2020 scientists in Canada discovered these worms can survive entirely off a plastic diet and a form of alcohol is produced as a result!

4. Yorkshire Tea have Fine Tuned their PLA Teabags

Yorkshire tea had some teething problems during their first release of plastic reduced tea bags. Some of the bags would split open, so with the help of Sheffield University they fine tuned their production and are pleased to announce a new version of tea bags (Mar 2020).

They are keen to emphasise that they prefer NOT to call them 'plastic free' as natural plastics are still used (but thankfully not petro chemical ones). PLA plastics can be made from corn, coconut, banana leaf and all sorts of other natural fibres.

Click here to see how other tea companies are doing to reduce their plastics in tea.

5. Farm Trial Declared a Success for Wild Life

Positive News Site (Mar 2020) reports that a trial subsidy scheme to allow farmers in England to use their land to encourage biodiversity has been a success. 

'The two-year pilot was carried out on farms in Norfolk, Suffolk and Yorkshire. According to Natural England and the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority, which led the trial, participating farms had 43 per cent more seed-bearing plants than nearby sites that claim existing subsidies. Such plants provide a rich food source for birds in winter.'

This trial was co-funded by the EU, let's hope the British government keeps up the good work to help protect our local countryside, as we certainly need to do more!

Before You Go!

I leave you with a video on what it's like to save trees and how 50 million trees have changed the world. 

Do consider helping to support Ecosia, this is a web search engine tool that donates trees for clicks so you can donate just by doing your daily browsing. Enjoy!

Some Other Links of Interest:

Positive News Jan 2020  / Lovelier Planet News 2019 
Can Seagrass Help Us Breathe? / Trees for Life

Review - Turn the Tide on Plastic

This is my 17th review on plastic alternatives. Hope you enjoy!

Scoring system: 

❤ = Will keep, I love it / 👀 = Not sure, will try some more / 😐 = Oh dear, it's not for me

Review Seventeen - Turning the Tide on Plastic 

The paperback book 'Turning the Tide on Plastic' is written by Lucy Siegle. Some may be familiar with Lucy as she regularly appears on the One Show (UK TV). She (like me) loves facts, figures and statistics. The author includes quotes for her words at the bottom of each page so curious minds can read up more later.

The book reads very much like a novel - at first I was a little bemused when I saw no graphics, no colour, no imagery at all. I am a lover of colour and variety, so at first I thought I would struggle to absorb the text, without anything to break it up. But to be honest I only managed to read bits at a time anyway, so it really didn't matter not having anything to break up the text.

Lucy has a lot of knowledge on the subject and explains it in a way that most households can appreciate. I found myself writing notes of things to look into later! 

She explains the need to take action now. 'Without big action, by 2050 there will be more plastic than fish in the seas.' 'It is estimated that 5.1 trillion tiny pieces of plastic litter the world's oceans.' are examples of quotes to make us all think.

My Verdict?

I found the writing matter of fact and helpful and something you can pick up and read a bit at a time to absorb the information. I think for me, seeing graphics does lift up my interest, but I realise graphics means colour print which can push up the costs and extra ink. I guess it's down to the reader what they prefer. Beth Terry's book I reviewed in a previous post had a mix of graphics and text and is my preferred choice of the two.

Having said that, the text is more relevant to UK readers than Beth's and I found the links at the bottom of the pages and the resources section at the back very useful, so I will score it a love ❤ from me! 

♻ See also our list of books on the following pages:

10 books on reducing plastic for adults
10 books on plastic waste for children 

📚

Mother's Day & World Book Day

A Look at Mother's Day, World Book Day & Some Gift Ideas

When is Mother's Day?

In the UK, Mother's Day is on 22nd March 2020. Also known as Mothering Sunday, it usually falls on the 4th week of lent and in the US it falls on the 2nd Sunday in May. It's also known as the Virgin Mary Day in some catholic countries. Dates however vary widely from country to country (see wikipedia for more).

Flowers and cards are a firm favourite as gifts for the matriarch of the family. If you're looking to reduce plastics in your life, one way is to avoid buying cards with glitter* and if you have a gift, make your own wrapping paper from magazines, acid free sheets of tissue or fabrics and tie with string. 

*Plastics in glitter/wrapping paper was mentioned in our xmas post last year.

For card ideas, I recently came across a lovely site called Tree Cards. The card itself comes with seeds that Mum can plant and a tree is planted with every purchase. Each card is made from recycled wood pulp and printed using vegetable dye inks. What a lovely thought, especially as the season of Spring is a perfect time of year for planting seeds.

Sainsbury's back in September 2019 announced a trial of offering flowers wrapped in recyclable paper and sealed with recyclable paper tape. This was only available in 160 stores as a trial but plastic wrapping on flowers is something to be aware of when you're choosing gifts for the eco conscious mum. 

Or offer a gift of a trip to a gardening centre where mum can choose her own growing plant (although sadly many are sold in plastic pots!) It's great to see from September 2019, Dobbie's Garden Centres are offering to take back old plant pots for recycling. Or a trip out to her favourite park and cafe would be a nice a gift too. 

An alternative to flowers, is to try seed bomb kits which are available in tins, hessian bags or cardboard pillow envelopes. The seed balls can be thrown in the garden and contain compost and clay to keep the seeds nurtured. I have seen some with chilli pepper mixed in also to deter pesky pests as they begin to grow. 

Another thought is alternative wash cloths*. Scouring pads often have plastic mesh to provide the scrubbing side. If it says 'poly' something on the label it most likely contains plastic. Sellers on etsy have alternatives called non sponge or unsponges. These can be made from cotton, linen, hessian, bamboo and other natural products making them suitable for composting at the end of their lives. Many are also machine washable.

*It may seem strange buying something to wash up for mum but to be honest I find them very cheerful as I have several myself. The cloths come in so many designs so if mum likes birds or flowers or even whales, she can have a cloth adorning her kitchen sink with her fave image to admire on a daily basis. I even use mine in the bathroom as a face cloth!

World Book Day Coming Soon!

UK Schools are gearing up for World Book Day on Thursday 5th March 2020. 

Per wikipedia, 'World Book Day is a charity event held annually in the United Kingdom and Ireland on the first Thursday in March. On World Book Day, every child in full-time education in the UK is given a voucher to be spent on books.'

Reading is perfect for fun and imagination and helps readers switch off from the world around them. Conversely, reading can also be a way of learning about the world around them. 

Lovelierplanet has produced a list of 10 adult friendly books on reducing plastics and 10 eco-friendly books suitable for children.

I learnt a lot from Beth Terry, author of How I Kicked the Plastic Habit (see my review for more). Meanwhile, happy reading and here's to Mother Earth on Mother's Day!

Review - Plastic Free Sanitary Wear

This is my 16th review on plastic alternatives. I hope these help give some ideas on alternatives you can use in your daily lives.

Scoring system: 

❤ = Will keep, I love it / 👀 = Not sure, will try some more / 😐 = Oh dear, it's not for me

Review Sixteen - Chemical and Plastic Free Sanitary Wear

Why on Earth are sanitary towels made with plastic I hear you ask. But is this true? 

According to Natracare, they say, on average, there may be 36g of plastic in every packet of period pads. That’s 2.4g of plastic per pad, and 2.5g for the outer pack itself. That’s the equivalent of 5 plastic carrier bags per pack. They go on to say that the average woman uses 11,000 menstrual items in their lifetime. And that's just one person!

Discarded items sometimes wash up on beaches (menstrual products are the 5th most common item washed up on European shores). 

I'm sure the Marine Conservation Society weren't particular happy when they found 20 tampons and sanitary items per 100 metres of shoreline during a beach cleanup in 2016!

Despite the name, 'fat bergs' in sewers are mostly made up of personal care products:- According to the BBC wet wipes contribute to 93% and the other 7% included feminine hygiene products. Only half a percent was actually made up of fat!

According to friends of the earth tampons have plastic in them too – even in the string – and plastic applicators are made from polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). They say 90% of a menstrual pad can be plastic and 6% of a tampon.

If that's not enough to put you off how about this:- A recent study from the US found that non-organic rayon-based tampons contain nasty chemicals including Carbon Disulfide, a known reproductive toxin and Methylene Chloride which is a chemical found in paint stripper! (Carbon Disulfide was not found in organic cotton tampons thank goodness).

So What Can We Do?

Friends of the Earth recommend switching to menstrual cups (have seen them being sold in local supermarkets), or washable pads from online stores or look for the organic plastic free alternatives that are chlorine free.

With this in mind I have been switching to a brand called Natracare. Made from organic cotton and wood pulp, according to their web site, Natracare pads have been plastic free since 1995.

As well as Natura Care I have also tried a product called Flo which is a natural, plant-based product, biodegradable and hypoallergenic - they use materials like organic cotton and organically-grown bamboo. 5% of proceeds goes to charities, which includes providing sanitary wear for schools and asylum centres. 

According to their site the pads use plant based biowrappers although the pad backing, and tampon wrapper and applicator is made from plastic (they're currently working on compostable materials). I have noticed on ethical superstore that their FLO tampons now say the applicators are made from plant based plastic so looks like advancements are being made.

Their sanitary wear is free from chlorine, synthetics, chemicals and fragrance free which is an added bonus.

My Verdict?

I have tried the Natracare tampons with no problems to report. They are very much the same as my normal product, but I rest safe in the knowledge that these are plastic free, organic, chlorine free and are also biodegradeable.

The natracare pads I tried were soft and comfortable. A little on the short side but they do stick very well. (You need good muscles to peel them off after use!)

With the Flo sanitary towel I bought the night and day pack. You get more day time ones which makes a lot of sense. The product with wings has the wings about a third of the way up meaning you can't position the item centrally. I find this doesn't work as well as those that do position centrally (for me anyway!) 

I love the box - it says 'Hello Gorgeous' on it and was nice to think some profits goes towards charities. Having a product that uses bamboo is a nice change to try and help save the trees.

So my verdict for both Natracare and Flo products was a love from me 💗. You can order both brands from ethical superstores.

Check out this video, it may help you make the change!

https://www.natracare.com/blog/turning-the-tide-on-plastic-period-waste/

Green Wash and Wish Cycling

What the Heck is Green washing?

No I haven't made these terms up!

Per Wikipedia, based on the term whitewash, 'greenwashing' was coined in a 1986 essay regarding the hotels practice of placing placards in each room, promoting reuse of towels ostensibly to "save the environment." 

Author Westervelt noted that in most cases, little or no effort toward reducing energy waste was being made by these institutions. More money or time [may have] been spent advertising being "green" than is actually spent on environmentally sound practices.

An example of this practise is Kimberly Clark's claim of "Pure and Natural" diapers in green packaging. It gives consumers a sense that it is purely natural from the brand name. The product uses organic cotton on the outside, however they keep the same petrochemical gel on the inside.

In 2018, in response to increased calls for banning plastic straws, Starbucks introduced a new straw-less lid that actually contained more plastic by weight than the old straw and lid combination.

More on these plus references at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing

I got Tripped up Too!

I fell into this trap myself during my experiment to reduce or replace 50 single use items for my 50th year on this planet. 

I bought some teeth flossing harps (called floss picks) that were touted as mainly made from corn starch material. In fact when you look at the package it says corn starch in big letters. It was only after I'd ordered them did I realise only 40% was corn starch, the rest was PP (Polypropylene) materials (on the packet I bought), I've seen others say PLA plastics.

On their own website it says:

'Our floss picks are made primarily from corn-starch but are not fully compostable. In time, we hope to be able to find a solution to ensure the firmness and quality of the floss pick handle with a fully compostable material.'

This is not mentioned on the listing details so unless you dig through the FAQ you wouldn't even realise. Many folks reviewing the product are delighted they have found a fully natural and compostable product when in fact it is neither of those things!

Also the flossing part itself is made from nylon (they say for their bamboo toothbrushes for instance that nylon bristles should be removed before disposal).

The Good and Bad.. 

For me I do love that companies big or small are looking for ways to move away from petro chemical based plastics. BUT we have to be careful that folks are not being misled into thinking their product can be thrown into the compost bin which could then contaminate good compost material. I would assume industrial composters sift out final product anyway so it may be removed eventually, but I don't like the idea of plastics sitting in compost material leaching chemicals when we're trying desperately to keep fragments of plastics away from the natural environment.

It may also encourage consumers to choose one product over another believing they are doing right for the planet thereby giving the companies that do use greenwashing techniques the upper hand. Oh they do love a gullible consumer!

Do I Have any Solutions? 

Not really, other than be informed, look for alternatives and reduce your waste. You will be tripped up from time to time. If the companies aren't honest, for instance putting corn starch in big letters at the front when you realise it's only 40% corn starch which you don't see until you look at the back after purchase, I would say this is misleading. Even more misleading when the company does not give you the option to take a look at the back of the packet on their website, or at least paste their FAQ in the buying section to let consumers be aware of what they're buying and how to dispose of it properly!

Here's a wee video on greenwashing if you have a spare moment..

 

What is Wishcycling?

According to Recycle Nation 'Wishcycling is the process of putting items in a recycling bin instead of the trash even if you’re not sure whether they are recyclable or not.'

Seems pretty harmless right? Surely someone somewhere will figure out what to do with it! Trouble is, recycling machines notoriously get tangled up. 

Loose plastic bags for example don't want to be in with the plastics recycling, they are better off being dropped off at your local supermarket bag collection point where they can turn them into new bags. 

Meanwhile card items covered in grease (say from a pizza) may end up contaminating paper stock making a batch worthless. 

Recycling centres do have staff that help to sift through some of the stuff and machines can hep sift through others but due to the sheer volume some items can get missed and end up contaminating a whole batch.

What about Biodegradeable?

Another example is the introduction of biogradeable or compostable plastic. Recycle Now site says these should not be added to supermarket bag recycling. (A list of what can and can't be recycled can be found here.) So the consumer is mighty confused as to what goes where.

They say, 'Only non-biodegradable plastic can be recycled, regardless of whether it is fossil-based or bio-based. Compostable plastics can be composted at industrial scale composting facilities, so you can put these in with your green waste but only if it goes to one of these facilities - your council will be able to tell you where your green waste goes. 

'Compostable plastics should not go in with your dry recycling as they cannot be recycled in the same way as non-biodegradable plastic.'

Recycle Now site is a great resource to help you find what can and can't be recycled in your local area.

https://www.recyclenow.com/recycling-knowledge/how-is-it-recycled/plastics

Be a Recycling Detective

I guess we need to do our own research, for instance, I had been throwing tetrapacks regularly into our household recycling bins for collection only to find out our local sorting centre doesn't even process them. 

Tetrapacks were not shown in the picture of our laminated card sent out by the council on what can be recycled which made me wonder. I enquired and was told, no, we don't take any carton packs at all. That was news to me! So finally I got the right product in the right place after a bit of research and found a local drop off point for Tetrapak cartons. 

Other areas meanwhile may have no problem with tetrapak being picked up by household collection. My mum's laminated guide sheet in a different area, lists tetrapacks as a collected item. So the consumer has to be vigilant and try and figure it all out. What is the norm for collection in one area maybe different to another.

Should I Still Bother?

I really think it is still worth recycling, the points above are not meant to put any of you off. 

But as the saying always goes, 'It's not easy being green!' A bit of detective work maybe required. Keep on keeping on. After all, the planet is in your hands!

Check out our other posts too: 

Is Paper or Plastic Best? / What does PLA mean? / Recycling Symbols Explained

Make Your Own - Bath Bombs

My Make Your Own Section

I do love a good bath - I know it's not eco-friendly but it's the way I relax and ease those sore achy muscles, joints and bones. To conserve water I limit my baths to twice a week, the other days it's a quick wash with a good old fashioned flannel!

Below I introduce you to some bath bombs I've been making. Home made items can save on plastic, although you do get caught out when the ingredients you use to make your own comes in, well plastic. I am learning as I go and will give some tips below.

How to Make Home Made Fizzing Bath Bombs

This recipe is great fun, super easy and kids can have a go too. I make my bath bombs using silicone moulds originally bought for making cake pops, but the shape is perfect for making half disc shapes so I've re-purposed the moulds for my home making adventure.

Ingredients:

Baking Soda (bicarb) 8oz
Citric Acid 4oz
Corn Starch 4oz
Bath Salts 4oz

Mix dry ingredients together in a glass bowl. SLOWLY add about 3/4 tablespoon water, 2 tsp essential oil, 2.5 tablespoons oil plus 1 or 2 drops of food colouring. Whisk as you slowly add the liquid to prevent fizzing.

Once the mix clumps together in your hands you can then add them to your moulds. If I use half the mix above I have enough to make 15 half dome shapes. You can of course make half batches and give them different colours and smells.

Tips on where to buy ingredients:

For the bath salts I used Dead Sea Salts from a company called Wessex Trader. Their product comes in non plastic packaging and the pouch itself is noted as compostable which is an added bonus. 

The citric acid I bought in a jar from Amazon which I thought was glass with a screw top lid. On arrival I realised this was plastic not glass, however with a screw top I can re-use and re-purpose the packaging after. The sea salt seller above does do bicarb of soda and citric acid in compostable bags so I will consider those in the future. 

For the oil, I love the lemon olive oil I bought from LIDL. Comes in a glass bottle and smells devine. Was originally bought for cooking but I have been known to steal some to put in my bath, either a little dribbled in with dead sea salts (occasionally with left over lemon or lime skins) or incorporated into the bath bombs above.

Corn starch can be purchased in boxes from your local supermarket.

I also make toilet fizz bombs using 1 + 1/3 cup baking soda, 1/2 cup citric acid, 1 tsp water and some essential oils which is another thing you can try 💜.

The fizz bombs harden as they dry - you can leave for several hours before removing from the moulds and place in a storage jar. If you find the mix too crumbly just add a little more water. Enjoy!

Pop by my Home Made Section for some more ideas..

Review - Plastic Free Deodorant

This is my 15th review on plastic alternatives. I hope these help give some ideas on alternatives you can use in your daily lives.

Scoring system: 

❤ = Will keep, I love it / 👀 = Not sure, will try some more / 😐 = Oh dear, it's not for me

Review Fifteen - Earth Conscious Deodorant

I made the decision to swap out or reduce 50 items for my 50th year on this planet and very quickly built up a whole arsenal of plastic free products for personal care, bathroom and kitchen use. I found the switch for most items really easy (albeit at times expensive) - finding a suitable plastic free deodorant though has become a bit of a challenge.

I chose to buy the award winning Earth Conscious deodorant which has a base of bicarbonate of soda and coconut oil with jasmine and rose scent. It comes in a card tube so certainly hits the brief of being plastic free. Jasmine is one of my favourite scents too so I was super excited to give it a go. I bought mine from the Floral Fox shop.

However, for me the scent just wasn't there - at one point I thought I'd bought a scent free version by mistake. I wasn't so keen either on how the dry product pulls the skin as you apply. I thought at first it was due to it being cold having just arrived in the post on a cold day - but nope, even with being in a warm bathroom it didn't improve.

As I worked my way to the bottom I found the consistency changed slightly, I think I was reaching more of the coconut as it did glide a little easier but only just a slight improvement. The scent didn't get any stronger either.

I also found a strange odour being created which I couldn't quite work out! After googling I found the smell could be coming through your skin, as you start to eliminate the aluminium found in many products - I checked my normal product and found it did contain aluminium. 

So with the extra weird smell and the fact the product had little scent of its own I ended up having to use body spray on top to provide that extra bit of floral notes (the first time I've ever had to use two products to do one job!)

My normal deodorant though used to make me itch for a few days after shaving & this product didn't do that so that's one plus I can take away. 

I have read that some of their other products may have a stronger scent, maybe if I was to restart again with hindsight I would try a different one. A quick note though that some can be sensitive to sodium bicarbonate so wouldn't be suitable for all.

My verdict?

I love the fact it comes in a card tube and made in the UK, however due to the lack of scent and pulling on the skin I would have to rate this a no, it's not for me 😐.

This is not meant to discourage others by the way from trying it out. They do have a tin product you apply with your fingers but I'm a little put off by this (fingers on pits on a daily basis doesn't appeal to me!)

My mission to find a good plastic free alternative is certainly not yet complete but kudos to the company who make plastic free alternatives available to all 👏 .

What Does BPA, PLA, Phthalates Mean?

Some Plastic Terms Explained

What is BPA? 

BPA stands for Bisphenol A and used in resins since the 1950s and also used in plastics.

It can form a shiny hard plastic surface called polycarbonate and has been used in the production of plastic plates, microwaveable food trays, re-usable water bottles, sippy cups, canned foods, dental sealants & even some till receipts.

In a survey of 2,517 people 93% had detectable levels in their urine. It has been known to disrupt endocrine function affecting hormones in mice & has caused health concerns among many due to its estrogen mimicking effects. The FDA have since banned BPA in sippy cups and baby bottles. [BPA has also been banned in baby bottles in the EU.]

Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2018/09/news-BPA-free-plastic-safety-chemicals-health/

How to avoid? 

The advice mentioned in the National Geographic article above is to avoid putting plastics in the dishwasher (which may encourage BPA to leach out during the hot wash) and avoid plastics with recycling codes 3, 6 and 7 which could have BPA compounds. 

(Some BPA free alternatives are available but the article highlights that some of these can also be problematic – check out the article highlighted above for more info).

Phthalates 

Phthalates are added to Poly vinyl chloride (PVC) plastic and helps to make it become more flexible. They can be used in paints, household cleaning bottles as well as vinyl floors. Due to its flexibility it can be used in cling film, catheters, IV tubes and children’s toys. Studies suggest it could affect hormones and also the fetus, so similar to BPA it can cause health concerns.

Source: http://www.babygreenthumb.com/p-115-phthalates.aspx

How to avoid? 

The website above suggests using wax wrap or parchment paper instead of cling film, avoid microwaving plastics and use ceramic or glass containers instead for storage. Buy cosmetics that are phthalate free. Plus avoid anything containing PVC.

Phthalates are commonly found in human urine samples. An analysis of 1999-2000 data found metabolites of DEP in all 2,540 samples and metabolites of DBP in 99% of samples. (DEP is a type of phthalate used in fragranced products, DBP can be found in nail polish). These 2 chemicals are now banned in cosmetics sold in the EU.

Source: http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/phthalates/

What is PLA? 

PLA or Polylactic Acid is a plant based type of plastic usually made from cornstarch. Due to its natural backbone it is often touted as biodegradeable and sometimes compostable product. The downside it may need specific conditions to break it down effectively.

According to zerowasteman site they quote, ‘It is not recommended to put these PLA biodegradable plastics into your home compost, they might remain there for 100 – 1000 years.’

Source: https://zerowasteman.com/what-is-pla-plastic/

Industrial composters use a much higher heat setting, although it may not biodegrade at the same rate as your partially rotten food taken out for collection from the average household. Indeed, industrial composters may not accept any plastic based content whether natural or not. 

How to dispose? 

PLA bags are unsuitable for home composting and may also not be taken with your household food waste, so the natural solution is to recycle with normal plastic bags right? Sadly wrong! 

Recycle Now site states that plastic bag collections points at supermarkets cannot accept biodegradeable plastic bags. I’m guessing these bags are recycled into new bags, so they do not want biodegradeable content in it.

This can create a dilemma for the consumer – they want a non oil based plastic solution, one that breaks down as well, but at the moment it is not clear how best to dispose of them. 

Normal landfills may not have the right conditions to break them down quickly (as landfills are often hemetically sealed). Some household non recycling rubbish is sent directly to incinerators in energy recovery centres so the product may end up being incinerated at the end of its life instead.

Bioplastics 

Bioplastics is a term given to more natural, non petroleum based plastics. These may be derived from corn starch, sugar cane, vegetable matter, cellulose, wood chips or straw. I have seen mushroom based packaging also coming onto the scene using mycelium (they do say these are home compostable).

Wikipedia however states that,‘Not all bioplastics are biodegradable nor biodegrade more readily than commodity fossil-fuel derived plastics.’

They also state that the term ‘Bioplastic is misleading, because it suggests that any polymer derived from the biomass is environmentally friendly.' 

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioplastic

So similar to the PLA (polyactic acid, plant based plastic) above, some of these items may not be suitable for normal or even industrial composting.

Check out these sites for more: recycling biodegradeable coffee cups / how to dispose of your PLA based cup / how plastics are recycled (mentions compostable/biodegradeable).

Summary 

It’s great that other plastic alternatives are out there but the consumer does need to be aware that it may not be as easy to dispose of, despite the impression by some of the products listing them as eco friendly or compostable. 

I think for the moment, re-use them as many times as you can, then put them in your normal bin and at least the basis of the product was less reliant on petroleum based chemicals.

Even better, try and switch to plastic free alternatives, for example re-usable tote bags, mesh bags for weighing and carrying vegetables, and covering foods with wax wraps, brown paper or tin foil, or buying bulk items in glass jars so there’s less need for plastic wrapping or bags.

Check out my reviews and homemade section for more ideas on making that plastic swap!

Related articles – what the recycling codes mean. 

The article below looks at recycling symbols and numbers; also what HDPE, PET etc means and how these are recycled. 

https://www.lovelierplanet.com/2019/10/recycling-codes-explained.html

Eco Friendly Books for Children

Books on Plastic Waste and Reductions Suitable for Children

In a previous blog post I looked at ten books suitable for both adults and children on the problems with plastic waste. 

There are so many new books coming out onto the market, so I have decided to split this into two posts, one suited to adults (see link above) and one suited to children below.

These books are listed in size order (with the biggest at the top). Age ranges are listed also. 

10 Eco Friendly Books for Kids

1) This Book is Not Rubbish: 50 Ways to Ditch Plastic, Reduce Rubbish and Save the World! by Isabel Thomas. 208 pages by Wren & Rook.

Covering issues like plastics, pollution, global warming and endangered animals, this book is full of top tips for kids and families. Discover how to ditch the plastic, reduce your rubbish and start making everyday steps that will make all the difference.

It's time to take control of your future and help clear the world of all this rubbish!

Published September 2018 and suitable for 9 to 11 year old.

2) Guardians of the Planet: How to be an Eco-Hero (in support of Client Earth) by Clive Gifford / Jonathan Woodward. 128 pages by Buster Books.

This environmentally positive book contains everything children need to become guardians of the planet. Kids can learn how to become keepers of the coasts, friends of the forests, home heroes and much more through a mix of compelling facts, creative activities and proactive tips.

Published Sep 2019 for ages 8 to 11. Printed using waterless ink on FSC paper.

3) What A Waste: Rubbish, Recycling, and Protecting our Planet by Jess French. 72 pages by DK Children.

Everything you need to know about what we're doing to our environment, good and bad, from pollution and litter to renewable energy and plastic recycling.

As well as explaining where we're going wrong, What a Waste shows what we're doing right! Discover plans already in motion to save our seas, how countries are implementing schemes that are having a positive impact, and how your waste can be turned into something useful. Every small change helps our planet!

Published April 2019. Packed with illustrations. Suitable for ages 7-9.

4) Little Book for Big Changes: Activities and tips to make the world a better place by Kirsten Liepmann / Karen Ng. 64 pages by Studio Press.

Little Book for Big Changes helps young people understand complex global challenges such as inequality and climate change, and is designed to inform, empower and motivate tomorrow's leaders to help make the world a better place.

Packed with over 100 puzzles, games, craft activities, experiments and tips for children aged 7+, Little Book for Big Changes offers fun, educational and creative ways to bring people together to help change the world.

Published Nov 2018 for ages 7 and up.

5) Plastic Planet: How Plastic Came to Rule the World by Georgia Amson-Bradshaw. 48 Pages by Franklin Watts Publishing.

Plastic Planet offers readers a look at plastic through the ages, exploring what it is, how it's made and how we have become so dependent on it in a single-use, disposable world.

Published June 2019 and in colourful pages to appeal to the younger audience (age 9-11).

6) Saving Tally: An Adventure into the Great Pacific Plastic Patch (Save the Planet Books) by Serena Lane Ferrari. 37 pages, Self Published by Author.

Tally is a curious little turtle with a talent for getting into trouble.

Her best friend Ara is a wise and strong lobster. The most dangerous part of the ocean is about to shock Tally and Ara and make them realise that their underwater world isn’t always charming. Will they be able to escape the danger?

An engaging [picture] book that addresses the issue of plastic pollution and how it impacts our oceans and sea life.

"When we protect our Planet we’re protecting our future! Saving Tally makes children understand that they can do something - even if it’s very small - to help take care of our oceans.” Editor.

Published October 2019 and suitable for younger children.

7) Duffy's Lucky Escape: A True Story About Plastic In Our Oceans (Wild Tribe Heroes) by Ellie Jackson. 36 Pages, Self Published by Author.

Duffy's Lucky Escape is a true and gentle story about the global problem of ocean plastic. It highlights to children the relationship between humans and wildlife and the dangers animals face in their own natural habitats.

Published August 2017 with lots of beautiful illustrations. Suitable for ages 2 and up.

8) Not for Me, Please! I Choose to Act Green by Maria Godsey. 34 pages by Create Space Publishing.

Join Luke on his journey to protect what he loves with this engaging children's picture book about sustainability and acting green. After noticing the damage caused to the environment and animals due to trash and waste, Luke decides to take action. He believes he can have a big impact on the world around him and invites his readers to join him!

Interesting facts, definitions, and statistics can be found in 'info' boxes throughout the book.

Published April 2018. Ideal for children from ages 5 to 9.

9) Harry Saves The Ocean!: Teaching Children about Plastic Pollution and Recycling by NGK / Sylva Fae. 34 Pages by NGK.

From the bestselling children's picture book series, Harry The Happy Mouse, a children's picture book teaches about the problem with plastic pollution, and how to help!

This poetry book follows Harry the Happy Mouse on an amazing adventure and has a strong, positive message for children to follow. A great tool to teach children the importance of taking care of the environment. 

Published August 2019 with poetry and illustrations. Suitable for ages 1-6 years.

10) A Planet Full of Plastic: and how you can help by Neal Layton. 32 pages by Wren & Rook.

Award-winning author-illustrator Neal Layton is here to explain where plastic comes from, why it doesn't biodegrade, and why that's dangerous for animals and humans alike. But he's also FULL of ideas for how you can help!

From giving up straws in juice cartons to recycling all we can and taking part in a beach clean, A Planet Full of Plastic will get young readers excited about how they can make a difference to keep Planet Earth happy.

Published Sep 2019 for ages 6-8.