Your gonna have to buckle up people because this week the awareness campaigns for two of the things I’m most passionate about collide – the earth and fertility. April is Earth month (with Sunday of course being Earth Day) and this week is National Infertility Awareness week so I’ve got several posts commin’ at ya. I think their colliding is kind of perfect because they’re both so interconnected. Mother earth’s fertility depends on us caring for her and our fertility depends on us caring for ourselves. Fertility is at the root of it all people, whether you’d like to admit it or not! Anyway, since today is the only actual Earth Day each year (which happens to also my mom’s bday- happy birthday mom!) this post is gonna be all about the earth and how to take care of it.
The theme for this year’s Earth Day is “End Plastic Pollution”. This is also perfectly serendipitous because not only does plastic pollute the earth and poison marine life, it pollutes the food we eat and toxifies our bodies which disrupts hormones and can lead to health problems such as impaired neurological function, cancer, cardiovascular system damage and of course, fertility and reproductive impairment.
Plastics have undeniably made our lives easier in many senses. From increased convenience to lowered costs of goods and services. But that comes at a price to us and our planet. It’s estimated that 9.1 billion tons of plastic had been produced to date generting 6.9 billion tons of waste. Only 9% of that has been recycled. I repeat…ONLY 9% people! Including the amount that’s been incinerated (12%) that leaves 79% of all plastic produced still haging out there in landfills, in the ocean and elsewhere. It’s estimated that if we don’t do something to curb the use and consumption of all this plastic that by the year 2050 a total of 13.2 billion tons will be accumulated. YIKES to the max.
And scarier yet, much of the worlds plastic waste ends up in the ocean. Scientists have predicted that if we don’t do something to curb the dumping of plastic waste into the ocean that by the year 2050 there will be more plastic (by weight) in the ocean than fish. Apparently, at this time there are 5 massive plastic patches in the ocean which are huge conglomeration of plastic debris and the one that is out between California and Hawaii is the size of the state of Texas! Not ok! Fish and marine life eat or get tangled in this plastic and die. Not only that, but when fish that we consume in turn consume plastics it’s passed on to us.
According to the New York Times, one of the main reasons for the increase in plastic use is the rise plastic packaging. Think about it. Did you go out to lunch today? What did your food come in? And what did you eat that food with? What about your beverage? What did you drink that beverage through? And what did you do with it all after you were done? Toss it in the trash after less that 30 minutes of use? It’s estimated that on average that plastic bag your lunch came in is only used for 12 minutes and then takes at least 500 years to break down, if it even is able to. Americans use more than 100 million of these plastic bags per year, or around 300/person. It’s said that Target alone hands out enough bags in a year to wrap around the earth 7 times!
And one more point I’ve got to reiterate since it’s close to my heart, plastic pollution affects our health. MANY plastics contain 2 of the biggest offenders that are harmful to human health: phalates (DEHP) and the chemical bisphenol-A (BPA). Both have been shown to potentially harm the brain, cause increases in blood pressure, harm the reproductive system and affect hormone production. When normal hormone function is disrupted by foreign substances it can affect many bodily functions including one’s fertility. Plastic is especially harmful when heated as the chemicals leech from the container to whatever substance is in the container (that likely is human consumed).
All of this info isn’t meant to make anyone feel bad for their choices but rather raise awareness and reduce mindless consumption. I’d wager a bet that it’s near impossible for us all to quit using plastics entirely in this day and age anyway. So mindful consumption is the goal. Remember the 5 R’s: reduce, refuse, reuse, recycle, remove. Think about if you really need something that comes in plastic, think of how you can avoid plastic use, recycle any plastics used, donate what can be donated instead of tossing or buy secondhand. Specifics examples include:
- Bringing reusable bags when you go shopping, including bags for produce
- Refuse straws with beverages, bring your own bamboo, glass or stainless steel straws with you if you need one
- Choose items, specifically produce that aren’t wrapped in plastic
- Buy in bulk, bonus points for bringing your own jars/containers for purchasing out of bulk bins
- Purchase clothing made of natural fibers
- Bring a refillable water bottle with you everywhere
- Use glass storage containers in your home, especially for heating things in the microwave
- RECYCLE! It isn’t that hard people. This planet is our home, the future generations home, and it’s the only one we’ve got.
- Meow meow tweetDeodorant tubes are often hard to recycle as they can be made of multiple types of plastic. These deodorants have packaging that is biodegradable
- Good Soap -Exclusively sold at Whole FoodsChoosing packaging-free items saves all kinds of packaging including plastic. Some soaps are unnecessarily wrapped in plastic AND come inside a box, so these soaps save both plastic and trees.
- Urb Apothecary – Lips Cheeks Blush/Tint Stick
Makeup containers are also complicated to recycle so choosing biodegradable packaging from the start is best for the environment. The packaging on this lip tint is compostable cardboard and is even available without the label by request for ultra zero-waste. - Marleys Monsters Reusable Facial Rounds/Paper Towels/NapkinsBy choosing reusable cotton pads or paper towels you’re not only saving cotton, trees and money, but you’re also saving the plastic wrap they come in
- Swell Reusable Water Bottle“Americans used about 50 billion plastic water bottles last year. However, the U.S.’s recycling rate for plastic is only 23 percent, which means 38 billion water bottles – more than $1 billion worth of plastic – are wasted each year.” (Source) Also, 17 million barrels of oil are used each year to make those plastic water bottles. To put that in perspective, for each water bottle you buy imagine 1/4 of it being filled with oil, that’s how much was needed to make it.
- Brush with BambooToothbrushes are not biodegradable so every toothbrush you’ve ever used in your life still sits in a landfill somewhere.
- Dot cup Menstrual CupTampons and pads are estimated to produce over 100 billion pieces of waste every year. Choose a menstrual cup or cloth pads, or pads that aren’t individually wrapped in plastic or tampons without applicators. Also, be aware that if you choose conventional disposable pads that around 90% of the composition of each one is plastic so at least choose organic cotton or other natural fibers if you use this item.
- Suga Yoga MatThese mats are made from recycled wet suits and can be recycled through the company when you’ve worn it out too!
- Baggu Reusable BagsLike I mentioned above the amount of plastic bags consumers use is astonishing. Curb the waste by bringing your own when you shop.
- Blue Avocado / Bumkins / U KonserveThe average family uses at least 500 plastic sandwich bags per year that are often not recycled. Save money and plastic by switching to one of these reusable sandwich/snack options.
- Stainless Steel StrawsAmericans use 500 million straws PER DAY. They are often not recyclable as “Most plastic straws are too lightweight” to process through mechanical sorters at recycling centers so they are just disposed of. They often end up in the oceans harming marine life.
If you’re looking to get mindful about your consumption this weekend here are some shops that are giving back with every purchase:
- Pela Case – Compostable Phone Cases – 25% off + 5% of sales goes to Save The Waves Coalition
- Integrity Botanicals – 15% off orders of $100 or more + 5% of all sales goes to The Sierra Club
- Captain Blankenship – (I rave about their deodorant here) 20% off with code: earthlove + as always, they are members of 1% For the Planet
- Citrine Natural Beauty– Earn a $20 credit for every $100 you spend + 5% of order total is donated to the Arbor Day Foundation who will plant 10 trees for every $10 donated
- Herbivore Botanicals – Free shipping on all orders with code: OCEANA + 20% of proceeds will be donated to Oceana.org to help make the oceans healthy
- Apoterra Skincare – Sea Mist Texturizing Pink Sea Salt Spray with Ylang and Exotic Verbena. 10% of purchase of this item is donated to Ocean Conservancy (and this isn’t just an Earth Day thing, it’s all the time!)
- Au Naturale – 20% off purchases with code: PLANETEER + 10% of April’s profits are being donated to the Nature Conservancy
- Kosmatology – For every order placed a donation will be made to The National Forest Foundation’s Tree Plating Program
And here are some other fabulous earth day sales going on this weekend for even more mindful consumption:
- Baggu Reusable Bags – 25% off the purchase of 3 or more bags with code: MOTHEREARTH
- Marleys Monsters – 20% off side wide with code: EARTHDAY2018
- Acure – BOGO on all items with code: BOGO
- Safe & Chic– 15% off with the code: EARTH15
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Pharmaca – Save 22% with Code: EARTHLOVE + Free Shipping on Orders $35+
- Seaweed Bath Co. – 25% off + free shipping with code: EARTHDAY
- Bell Mountain Naturals – 20% off site wide – no code needed
- W3LL PEOPLE – 20% off side wide – no code needed
- Raw Elements – 20% off side wide – no code needed
- Plaine Products – 22% off with code: EARTHDAY
- Unwrapped Life – 50% off side wide – no code needed
- Luna Nectar– 25% off with code: TERRANOVA
- Purple Prairie Botanicals – 20% off with code: Earth20
- Little Seed Farm – $4 off deodorants – now $10
- Alter Eco – 15% off ALL bars & truffles with code: EARTHDAY15
