A new year often causes us to reflect and make goals to improve our lives and the lives of those around us. If one of your new year’s resolutions was to be more sustainable or earth-friendly, there are so many easy ways to stop plastic pollution. But if you’re looking for some new solutions that you might not have already incorporated into your routine, we have a few for you to try.
REDUCE DRIVING, CARPOOL, OR TAKE PUBLIC TRANSIT
Tire erosion contributes to 28% of all microplastic pollution and your daily commute is contributing. Think about how you can reduce the number of trips you take either by working from home more often, carpooling to work and social events, or utilizing public transit if it is available to you.
COOK AT HOME
Take-out containers and plastic take-out bags are major contributors to plastic and microplastic pollution. Since many take-out containers cannot be recycled, they break down and create microplastic pollution. Instead, cook at home with fresh ingredients bought without single-use plastic containers. Of course, eating in the restaurant is another great option to avoid plastic usage.
PURCHASE MORE SECONDHAND ITEMS
A really effective way to reduce not only your plastic consumption but also your general impact on the environment. Secondhand clothes, furniture, books, etc. prevent the pollution caused by the production and packaging of new items. It also stops items from going to the landfill where they break down into microplastics and seep into the ground eventually contaminating the oceans and water.
SUPPORT ORGANIZATIONS THAT ADDRESS PLASTIC POLLUTION
While there are many practical day-to-day actions you can take against plastic pollution, but that’s only part of the solution. There are so many great organizations that raise awareness, take action, and support legislation to help solve the quickly growing problem of plastic pollution. Learn about seven awesome organizations protecting the oceans from plastic pollution.
Filtrol is on a mission to get back to real water by stopping microplastics before they reach nature. One of the easiest ways to prevent microplastic pollution is by installing a Filtrol laundry filter and stopping 89% of microfibers from being released into your wastewater.