{"id":24847,"date":"2025-07-01T12:56:05","date_gmt":"2025-07-01T12:56:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecocycle.org\/?p=24847"},"modified":"2025-07-01T13:03:45","modified_gmt":"2025-07-01T13:03:45","slug":"pfj-2025-plastic-dependence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecocycle.org\/pfj-2025-plastic-dependence\/","title":{"rendered":"Reducing Our Dependence on Plastics"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Take a moment to look around your home and you\u2019ll find evidence of the global surge in plastic production everywhere\u2014from the food packaging in your fridge, to the liquid soap by the sink, to the bag your dog\u2019s treats came in\u2014it\u2019s all likely made of plastic.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n

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Lightweight, durable, and inexpensive, plastics have made innovations in medicine, transportation, and food preservation possible. But in solving some problems, plastics have created others<\/strong>, becoming embedded in nearly every ecosystem on Earth\u2014even our own bodies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Every year, over 400 million tons of plastic is produced<\/a>, with two-thirds of it being used once and then discarded<\/a>. Plastic does not decompose and disappear. It breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, eventually becoming microplastics<\/a>. These fragments are now found in oceans and rivers, in the soil that grows our food<\/a>, and even in the human body<\/a>. It\u2019s estimated that we inhale about 5 grams of microplastics each week<\/a>\u2014the size of a credit card.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Not only do plastics cause health and environmental problems, the production and disposal of plastics also disproportionately affects Black, Indigenous, and People of Color. Communities located near petrochemical facilities\u2014where plastics are made\u2014are exposed to health hazards that include an increased risk of asthma, metabolic diseases, obesity, diabetes, infertility, and cancer<\/a>. A petrochemical and plastics processing hub in Louisiana known as \u201cCancer Alley\u201d has been called by the United Nations a glaring example of environmental racism<\/a> stemming from the plastics industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start at Home: Simple Tools to Reduce Your Plastic Use<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While our consumer choices can\u2019t solve the plastics crisis alone, they do make a difference and can help pave the way toward larger systemic change. Are you looking to reduce your plastic use, but aren\u2019t sure where to start? The first step is simply paying attention to the plastics we bring into our homes, and reimagining how we can live without them. To help you reduce your own plastic use, we created:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A Plastics Audit Toolkit<\/a>. Over the course of a week, collect all your single-use plastics in one place. Take note of what you\u2019re using most\u2014and where change might be easiest.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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A Plastics \u201cSwap\u201d Chart<\/a>. Find simple ways to swap out plastic for more sustainable packaging, such as glass or aluminum\u2014or, best of all, skip the packaging entirely by bringing your own reusables! Not every swap will be practical for every household, but even with one or two consistent changes, you can keep hundreds of plastic items out of the landfill or the environment each year.<\/p>\n<\/div>

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See Reducing Waste Starts at Home<\/a> for more tips on how to cut your waste in the kitchen, bathroom, laundry room, and on the go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Systemic Change Is the Only Way Out of the Plastics Crisis<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

However, we can\u2019t \u201cswap\u201d our way out of a problem this large. Plastic waste is a structural issue. For decades, the plastics industry has produced more and more packaging<\/a>, knowing that most of it was not designed to be recyclable. It\u2019s a system designed for disposability, and requires systemic change. That\u2019s where policy becomes essential\u2014and fortunately, it\u2019s already taking shape. Here in Colorado, we are moving toward a less plastic-dependent future, starting with two landmark laws: <\/p>\n\n\n\n