Water from Hotels

1 January 2015 by Plastic Is Rubbish Posted in 3.7 Other Solutions 4 Comments

I do a lot of travelling and I love a hotel that offers me a water bottle refill or tap water with my dinner. Here are a few interesting schemes…

CELEBRATE SAFE WATER FOR TOURISM

Being a DrinkWater partner means that your organization has committed to being part of the global network focused on reducing plastic water bottles through the implementation of drinkable water technologies. It represents being green, and environmentally aware of your global impact. Through the use of our products we measure your impact and help you attract more customers who are environmentally focused.

DrinkWater is the global network promoting safe water for tourism. We monitor reductions in single use plastic water bottles and help you measure your environmental and sustainability benefits for a clear competitive advantage.

WHOLE WORLD Water

Their scheme is very practical….

Are you in the hospitality trade? Do you want to reduce your plastic footprint? Would you like to help those without access to clean drinking water while you do it?

Have a look at this project……

WHOLE WORLD Water (wholeworldwater.co)

IS A HOSPITALITY AND TOURISM CAMPAIGN THAT ADDRESSES THE FACT THAT NEARLY 1 BILLION PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO CLEAN AND SAFE DRINKING WATER.
We estimate that with scale we, as an industry, can contribute $1 billion dollars per year to alleviate this global issue. But, this is much more than a fund raising initiative. It is a revolutionary, creative way of thinking, a new way to do business and a replicable
model designed to combat environmental, health and economic issues. It will deliver huge, radical, positive change while driving a more robust bottom line. It’s simple, easy to implement, measurable and bankable.
Most importantly, it will be the first time that a single industry has united on a non-competitive platform, taken action and eradicated a major global issue.
1 Become a member of WHOLE WORLD Water
2 Replace commercially branded bottled water with filtered water – filtration systems run around $400 per month, and the reusable glass bottles cost $4-$7 each.
3 Sell the bottled water for $ (whatever price point you are comfortable with) and contribute 10% of the proceeds to the WHOLE WORLD Water Fund. 100% of the monies raised will be invested in clean & safe drinking water projects and innovations locally, and globally.

The filtration system and bottles pay for themselves usually over a period of 3 months, and our members have realized an income increase up to 25%, proving that environmental and economic progress are not mutually exclusive. You will witness a more robust bottom line, and become part of a global marketing campaign built on solutions, transparency and action with the potential to raise more than $1 billion annually in the fight for clean and safe water for everyone. This is a truly sustainable solution!
wholeworldwater.co

For more visit the website

If you are not in the hospitality business but want to do all that any way, check out the fantastic Give Me Tap scheme

2018

27 December 2014 by Plastic Is Rubbish Posted in 4 Year Tagged 5 Content Veiw 6 Comments

Welcome to our monthly round-up of news and products. We update it as we go along so do check back for our latest finds. and you can subscribe to get our monthly updates delivered to your virtual door. There’s a subscription form at the bottom of the page.

You can see our past round ups here HERE.

November

people are always selling you stuff. including stuff to get the sticky left behind form sticky lables. well if the gunk is on glass this is a great tip. Mix oil with bicarb and spread on the sticky residue. wait 30 minutes then use an abrasive scrubber to clean the glass. It works. I tried it. Lots more info here .

Busy updating my links to local shops and british businesses

My guide to buying

U.K. made stuff I have recently bought.

Building a new van and I want it to be as environmental and as plastic free as possible. Decorating is very dirty work and needs a lot of research.

You can see all our related posts here

And of course if you want to show your support by wearing a poppy you can buy a reusable poppy. You still make a donation each year but wear your own reusable poppy. If you don’t like any on display, or find the offerings to be too plastic packaged, try making your own. Loads of ideas HERE.

Nice Initiatives

Leeds Peeps…

REAP wants to support our Roundhay and Oakwood community to reduce our plastic use, particularly single use plastics.
We want to work with volunteers who are willing to get actively involved in specific local campaigns e.g. with supermarkets re packaging or with bars and cafes which offer plastic straws.ACT NOW email us at info@reap-leeds.org.uk or come and chat to us at our monthly Farmers’ Markets.
Read more about REAP here. And perhaps get involved.

October

This Month

Whhhooo oooo

Because plastic is too scary – even for Halloween
Check out the How To Halloween Plastic Free page for details. And please do add your own grisly finds and ghastly zero waste ideas.

Interesting Ideas

Fairmondo UK wants to provide an online marketplace for buyers and sellers with strong ethical commitments – connecting ethical producers and sellers with like-minded consumers.
The Fairmondo brand began life in Germany in 2012 as a co-operatively owned marketplace promoting fair goods and services. The UK launch is the next step in building a global network of co-operative platforms for trading goods and services.

Friends Who Compost
Fantastic project. Linking people with biodegradable waste to folks who compost. Cutting down on landfill, methane emissions and returning nutrients to the natural cycle. Give your waste a second chance! https://sharewaste.com

Synthetic Fibres

I wear mostly natural fibres but occasionally have problems with elasticine. I thought this referred to elastic. So when the label said 95% cotton 5% elasticine I thought the article of clothing contained elastic. I was kind of confused to find my jeans contained elastic but considered it essential in my knickers. Obviously more research was needed. Read More here

Harvest Time

October is the time for apple harvesting. If you don’t have your own tree you could try a PYO farm. There are hundreds of orchards offering this in the southern counties, rather fewer up here in the north.Check out this great farm finder website

Urban Harvest

Otherwise you coud get involved in some of the urgan harvest programs. They pick and distibute unwanted fruit. Abundance in Manchester is one such. From the website…
“A mature garden fruit tree produces more than the average family can eat. And at the same time there are lots of people in our city not able to access fresh food.

Abundance Manchester is a voluntary project which picks surplus or unwanted fruit from gardens and public trees around South Manchester and distributes it to local groups and communities who can use it. We also collect and distribute surplus vegetables from allotments.”

I have listed a couple more here.

Supermarket & Chainstores

Buying a bin ….

Robert Dyas is a UK hardware retailer founded in London in 1872. It sells a range of housewares, small electrical appliances, gardening products, kitchenwares, DIY, and consumer electronics throughout 96 shops, mainly in Greater London and South East England, as well as online.Wikipedia

Read all about supermarkets/chainstores here, what plasticfree products they sell and which ones I prefer, right here.

Noodles

Finally found them plastic free. Its back to the wonderful Leeds Market. I love it. Its a great place to buy #plasticfree almost everything. Read a review here

While we are talking about online shops, check out Objects Of Use, a truly lovely shop. “Any plastic packaging materials used will have been recycled by ourselves from incoming deliveries. Otherwise packaging used will be paper or card of recycled or high percentage recycled materials.”

Sad & Super Supermarkets

Asked the @tesco butcher to use my own, new, compostable bag for meat. They refused.
Left and went to @Morrisons who didn’t. Thank you for the #plasticfree bacon. they also let you use your own tubs.

Which Chain Should I Choose?

Read up on which supermarket is doing the most to tackle plastic and which is the best place to shop.
See all our supermarket posts here

Zerowaste Week

Zerowaste week starts on the 4th of this month.
For a number of years now I have been a zero waste ambassador. Here are some quick zero waste week facts!
Zero waste week is organized by Rae Strauss:
It has been going since 2008:
The aim is to cut the trash going to landfill.

This year is focusing on plastic. Wahey. Visit the website here.

Of course its not just me doing it- there are loads of bloggers doing all kinds of stuff. You can find them herded together in one easy to access place on the Zero Waste website and listen to them wittering – sorry twittering – on on the twitter hashtag #zerowasteweek

If you want to join in you can make a pledge here on the zero waste website. If you decide to blog about it you can decorate your blog or post with various buttons, if you don’t you can print off posters for your living walls (easy tiger!) with these links posters and pdfs

Visit the website here.

Read more about My zero waste weeks here

August

Why So Slow

For those of you eagerly waiting, I am sorry for the delay in the monthly updates. I have rather ill. i can just about manage the daily essentials of life but my spare time is spent lying on the chaise longue with the smelling salts. And as the blog is written in my spare time… well you get the idea.

It has other implications. nearly all of the plastic from plastic free July was medical related. Apart from that I have to say we did pretty well.

Yoghurt

A great find for Plastic Free July was viili yoghurt. I make my own yoghurt but production is always varaible. I can keep a live culture going for around two weeks before it all goes wrong and I have to buy a new starter. in a plastic yogurt pot. If you have no idea what I am talking about, read this.

So this find got me all giddy.
“Viili, Filmjölk, Matsoni, and Piimä yogurt starters are all mesophilic cultures. This means that they culture best at 70º-77º F. They are also heirloom cultures meaning they are re-usable. With the proper care you can re-culture them to make batch after batch of homemade yogurt.”

Which means they are easy to make and last forever.
And they are good for you too. A bit more info…

“So far over 15 strains of bacteria and yeasts have been found in Viili yoghurt; making it one of the most active yoghurts available.”

Milk

Find a rounds that delivers in glass bottles here but double check before you order

But lets crack on. Summer and it’s time for high tea with

Strawberry jam and scones
First pick your strawberries. Unless you have been super organised and grown some, you will need to visit a pick your own farm.
If you live near Leeds you could try these guys
Horseforth Farm (tend to close early in August)
Please look at our facebook feed for daily updates
If not find more PYO farms here ….
Now you can make some jam. I know you can get it in glass jars but the lids are plastic lined. Jam recipe here

And Cucumber Sandwiches
Cakes can be tricky but Asian stores and Polish delis often stock the smaller kind.

And then of course you need a nice cup of tea…
What’s in your tea bag? Paper and tea? you wish! Most teabags contain one or more
Plastic, thermoplastics, epichlorohydrin and may have been chlorine bleached.
So what to do when you want a nice cup of tea?
Loose leaves are the way forward. But how to steep them? If you are brewing up for the WI, a teapot is fine but what when you want a quick cuppa for one?For lots more info on teabags and where to buy loose tea, tea balls and milk check out the hot drinks index

Fun In The Sun

Don’t forget if you are going out berry picking to slap on some sun block.
Sun protection even on cloudy days is vital. But dont listen to me, have a look at www.skincancer.org website an invaluable source that should be read by everyone. Though you might find yourself spending the rest of Summer cowering in a cellar coming out only after dark after doing so.
But educate yourself and you can enjoy the sun sensibly.

Oily Sun Tan Lotion

For a year now, I have been mixing up sun tan lotion using zinc mixed with straight oil which so far seems to be working. However it is a bit oily so I am also using zinc mixed with home made lotion. You can see my recipes here. making your own sunblockJuly

Of course every month is plastic free for me but plastic free July is a time to make a bit of extra effort, promote projects, look at my bin and join with other people all over the world who are taking this time to rethink their relationship with plastic.

What is Plastic Free July

The aim is to cut your consumption of one use plastic, for one month – July. If that sounds a bit much bear in mind that definitions of one use plastic can vary. And how much you choose to cut is up to you. You can take this opportunity to tackle one item. Maybe get your self a milkman, buy (or make) some produce bags for loose veges or get a refillable water bottle.
You don’t have to do it all at once!

But whatever and how much you choose to do, the plastic you loose is more important than the plastic you use!

A bit of history

Plastic Free July started in 2011. It is an initiative of the Western Metropolitan Regional Council (WMRC) in Perth, Western Australia and was developed by clever Earth Carers staff. In 2012 Plastic Free July expanded across Perth and in 2013 it went global. They have a great website and are all round good eggs.

My Plastic Free July

I cut all disposable plastics and just to remind you, that includes:
tins & cans:
tetrapaks:
glass jars with plastic/ plastic-lined lids:
Plastic lined cardboard:
Teabags:
Don’t know they had plastic in them? You can read all about sneaky plastics here.

Plastic packed personal care and hygiene products. I will as ever be making my own. Sadly the ingredients came plastic wrapped but it can’t be avoided. Read more here.

Any other plastic goods that I can’t think of right now.

Plastic I find myself using but Try not to
Booze. It is almost impossible to find plastic free booze to take out and there is usually at least one social occasion that requires a gift of alcohol. Read about plastic free booze here.
If the morning after visiting said friends painkillers are required then they will be administered. As of course will any other necessary medicines.

Daily Guide

Fantastic plastic free successes are in orange. Hooray.
Big plastic boos are in blue because thats how they make me feel.

Day 1
sample plastic free breakfast
toast- bread from the baker
butter in paper
tea loose leaf
milk from the milkman

Tin of beans. Had my lunch made for me. It involved beans. Tins are of course plastic lined. boo. it was a shared lunch so I’m only counting half a tin.

Day 2

Pickled beetroot!!!

Lunch was potato salad with apple, pickled beetroot and fresh picked mint. Pickled beetroot was not from a jar. Because jars of course have plastic lined lids and I dont do plastic #plasticfreejuly. No I got my pickled beetroot loose from Barnsley market. I have my own tub, she had loose pickled beetroot I came home with two pickled beetroot sans plastic. The dressing was not mayonaise (again jars, lids – same story), but my new countertop yoghurt. This is a different yoghurt culture that is, it is claimed easier to use. I will be trialling it throughout the month. Visit www.plasticisrubbish.com, @plasticSrubbish on twitter or join our facebook plasticisrubbish group for updates.

Day 3

No need for tinned tomatoes. Use fresh in this chicken casserole. didn’t have time to cook them first so chucked them in raw. yes there was a bit of skin but this cook don’t don complaints! Read more about tomatoes here

Day 5

Bottle of wine. the cork was corky but the foil wrap was plastic lined booo.

U.K. Participants

Every year UK based bloggers have joined in.
It’s really important to link up with U.K. based plastivists who will be sharing throughout the month. While some solutions like solid shampoo from Lush can be accessed UK wide, many are local.

You can find a list of bloggers who have contributed here.

Past Years

I am proof that you can do this anywhere no matter the constraints.
2014 I did it while travelling in a van. Here is how I did.
2015 I did it with a backpack check out Plastic free Mongolia
2016 here
2017 On a desert island. read more here

More Resources & Info

Loads of plastic free products here… A to Z of plastic free products

Keeping in Touch

Join in at the Plastic Is Rubbish Support Group where people share plastic free tips. See the link below.
And Twitter @plasticSrubbish

Hashtags
I encourage UK participants to use the hashtag #pfjuk for British related posts. Mainly because it gets very dispiriting to hear of a fantastic bulk food store only to find it is based in Sydney.

June

Currently researching tonic. Hic!

Tonic comes in in tins which are plastic lined. Mixers also come in glass but the metal lids of glass bottles are also plastic lined. And who can afford Fever Tree? You can make your own with a soda stream and ready made syrups.

Read more here including British made tonic syrups.

And looking into spirits.

And more Cocoa !!!!!

Honestly you search for years to find some loose cocoa and then two come along at once!
Find them HERE

This now means that all my hot drinks are plastic free. Check out my hot drinks index HERE

Local Shops

I love me my local shops and this year I am making a real effort to buy British and buy local.
Use your local shops Reasons why here.
Buy British and cut those air miles. Some ideas HERE

Plastic Free Shops

There are a growing number of plasticfree/refill shops in the U.K. Here are our latest finds.

Loose Food
Find out if a shop near you sells bulk food loose. This is stuff that normally comes plastic packaged.Heres a list of towns with shops selling loose food.
Buy On Line
No.Sad face? Don’t worry. These shops sell plastic free products and send them out in plasticless packages. Find them HERE
Want to open your own?
For anyone working on opening a zero waste shop try this page – visit here

Milk

Clipstone Dairy near Leighton Buzzard now has a milk vending machine.

Find a rounds that delivers in glass bottles here but double check before you order

Butter

Its getting harder to find paper wrapped butter. Bother co-op and Waitrose have stoped feeling this product.

Good news from a FB plastic is rubbish grouper

Anyone west Yorkshire way, Overlaithe Creamery make delicious butter wrapped in paper. Available at a few shops I think, one is definitely Très Bon Raymond, Delicatessen and Event Catering

see our other butter and spreads posts here

See all our food posts via the food index

Holidays

Planning to go abroad? Want to know if you can drink the water? Find out using this super cool website ” can I drink the water.” pick the country you want and read the result. If no get yourself a steripen. You can find that and other plastic free travel aids here.

Why bother?

Plastic Pollution

Saw and photographed some dreadful instances of #plasticpollutionon my travels abroad. You can see all our dirty pictures here on our Planet Trash FB page.

Fun In The Sun

Sun protection even on cloudy days is vital. But dont listen to me, have a look at www.skincancer.org website an invaluable source that should be read by everyone. Though you might find yourself spending the rest of Summer cowering in a cellar coming out only after dark after doing so.
But educate yourself and you can enjoy the sun sensibly.

Oily Sun Tan Lotion

The following information is for guidance only. None of the following recipes or tips have not been tested on anyone other than me. I strongly advise you do your own research and proceed very carefully as sunburn is not only painful and aging but dangerous.
I have been mixing up sun tan lotion using zinc from home with a base oil
You can see my recipe in making your own sunblock. BUT

Lots more information about sun protection here. Do read up before you decide to make your own.

Events

DO this

Plastic-Free, Worldwide Day

June 5 the world’s first One Plastic Free Day.Organised by international campaign group A Plastic Planet, (for which I am an ambassador)

May

Back Home

We are finally back in the UK in Leeds after year backpacking. Re-entry has been rather bumpy. I have a horrible stomach complaint which has meant I’ve had to stay close to home or at least close to a toilet.

Then there have been the usual teething problems. Sorting out Internet access for one. needless to say, in my absense, all of my devices have fallen out with each other and now refuse to share photos or even mailboxes. Even Facebook has got into the act and been troublesome. But shenanigans are now sorted and backpacks have been unpacked.

Long term readers will have noticed that Google ads have arrived on site. I never wanted to but I need the cash. Until now all the work done has been done in my spare time and for free. I see it as my pro bono environmental work. I will continue to do so because I believe in it.

But as the blog, and the plasticfree movement grow, it is becoming increasingly demanding. I can’t afford to spend any more time on it so I am looking for investment that will allow me to take time away from my self-employed, paid work.

So if you have any spare change and are looking for a cause to sponsor – or have found what we do useful – consider bunging a bit of it our way and buy another #plasticfree hour for the cause.

I have also been shopping… for food. Its been a while since I had to shop and its been interesting to to see the latest plastic free products. How fantastic it is so many people are so much more plastic aware now. Though of course there is still have a very long way to go.

Waitrose

I was in Waitrose the other day. Very upset to see that they didnt do butter in paper anymore. Why Waitrose why?
But I did find some other plastic free stuff there.

Steel and wood garden tools.

And compostable plastic bags. They sell them as bin liners, I use them to buy meat. But it seems I won’t have to for much longer.
I liked the matches in boxes.
I love that they do unwrapped bread and fantastic buns.
You can see the full Waitrose review here

Morrisons

Starting in May, Morrisons will be inviting customers to use their own containers when purchasing produce from the meat and fish counters in stores, in order to cut down on single-use plastic. Read more here.

see all our supermarket info HERE.
Find out more about the individual products here via the food index

Local Shops

But me, I love me my local shops and especially the fantastic Leeds Market. Spent a happy morning stocking up. Check out the album of finds here.

OMG Cocoa !!!!!

An old favourite in Leeds Market, the Nut Shop has expanded its range of loose foods and it now includes cocoa. Cocoa! I tell you. if you only knew the trouble Ive had getting cocoa.

This now means that all my hot drinks are plastic free. Check out my hot drinks index HERE

Posted a FB picture diary of some of the other products availabe at the fantatstic Nut Shop

Loose Food Shops

What Are Refill Stores?
Bulk buy or refill stores are places you can buy food loose.You take as much as you want/need from a larger container and you can usually use your own packaging.
While these shops provide bags and they are almost always plastic ones. You will need to take your own plastic-free and/or reusable bags.

Tare
The weight of the container may make a difference at checkout. Some shops subtract the tare weight but other don’t. The tare weight is the weight of the empty container.

Don’t Live In Yorkshire?
Try the Loose Food A to Z
Find out if a shop near you sells bulk food loose. This is stuff that that normally comes plastic packaged i.e rice, pasta and salt. And yes these shops do exist in the U.K. There’s just not many of them.
Heres a list of towns with shops selling loose food.

Butter

Its getting harder to find paper wrapped butter. Both co-op and Waitrose have stoped feeling this product.see our other butter and spreads posts here

Tea Bags

Yorkshire Tea‏ @YorkshireTea

Hi again! Here’s a quick tea bag update. We started looking into plastic-free tea bags last year. We’ve now begun a second round of tests on some prototypes, and we’re about to start some larger production trials. We should have the results of those by June.
It’s embedded into the tea bag paper rather than being applied separately, which makes them much more reliable. The hope is that it can be replaced with PLA, a plant-based, biodegradable alternative made from things like cornstarch.

June

The life #plasticless needs forward planning. Get ready for….

Plastic Free June
Want to really cut your plastics? Then this is a great campaign organised by the Marine Conservation Society (MCSUK).The MSCUK is a UK charity “that cares for our seas, shores and wildlife”.
The Plastic Challenge takes place every year in the U.K. in June.It is organized by them.
The MSCUK “have a vision of a world where plastics don’t end up in our seas and on our beaches, where they persist and impact our marine life.”
So they challenge you to give up single use plastics for a month (June), and get sponsored whilst doing it. The money goes to support MSCUK projects which are many and very worthwhile.

You can read more about it here

and this is completely irrelevant but I found it useful: If you are buying glasses on line here is a very handy sizing guide from rayban

www.edel-optics.co.uk

http://www.directsight.co.uk

April

Super Supermarkets

First in is Waitrose who are cutting the use of plastic lined disposable cups in their cafes!
“We’re removing all disposable takeaway cups from our shops by the autumn.You can still enjoy a free cup of tea or coffee when you shop with us; remember to bring your own reusable cup and your myWaitrose card with you.#KeepYourCup 💚
This will save more than 52 million cups, 221 tonnes of plastic and more than 665 tonnes of paper a year.
Find out more: https://bit.ly/2Jwh0d2

Talking of hot drinks the The Co-op are introducing their own plastic free teabags .
For those of you who didn’t know, most teabags contain plastic. not just the packaging but actually in the bag.

Which Chain Should I Choose?

See all our supermarket posts here

Making Up Updates

As you might remember, this year I was going to tackle #plasticfree makeup. So I have been practising. Learning to live with makeup is hard. Is it a skill you have to be taught in childhood? And I’m only up to mascara. One word – clumps!

Makeup Remover
Given my inexperience with makeup and my ham-fisted attempts with liquid eyeliner, my first and most important find has been a #plasticfree make up remover. And once again it coconut oil. Removes all makeup easily and gently. I rub it on my eyes massage carefully, then gently wipe with a flannel. it seems to work on everything

Just add that to its many list of virtues. You can read about coconut oil and where to buy it, here

See my ongoing research into plastic free make up here.

Loose Food
Find out if a shop near you sells bulk food loose. This is stuff that normally comes plastic packaged.Heres a list of towns with shops selling loose food.

Buy On Line
No.Sad face? Don’t worry. These shops sell plastic free products and send them out in plasticless packages. Find them HERE

Want to open your own?
For anyone working on opening a zero waste shop try this page – visit here

March

A welcome to our monthly round up of news and products. We update it as we go along so do check back for our latest finds. Subscribe to get our monthly updates delivered to your virtual door. There’s a subscription form at the bottom of the page.

Whats In Your Tampon

Most Tampons are made of cotton, rayon, polyester, Find organic plasticfree all cotton tampons HERE.

Guest Post

Sometimes when you want something plastic free you need to make it yourself. Yes we are talking knitting!
Now I’m rather new to this crafting lark, so I was delighted to have some guest posts from Jan of the Snail Of Happiness. Last month she wrote an introduction to natural yarns You can read that HERE
This month we see what she can do with British yarns.
Blimey! Take a closer look HERE.

Read up about

The Problems With Packaging

What if you need to post your products out in a plastic bag?

On supported e-commerce sites the customer can select to use RePack as the online order’s delivery packaging, the user will then receive the goods in RePack’s recyclable packaging. This packaging can be returned to RePack by dropping it to a local letter box and then can be reused, on average upto 20 times.[3]

Once the packaging has been registered as returned, the user will receive a digital voucher that can be used towards future purchases from RePack-supporting online stores.
The return rate of RePack’s products has reached 95%.
RePack is supported by online stores such as Frenn, Globe Hope, Makia, Pure Waste, Varusteleka and MUD Jeans.
Wikkipedia

Website here.
@OriginalRePack

Plastic Free…This Month

Out with the old

So #plasticfreebruary is over so I’m off to join in #plasticfreelent. Lent this year runs from Wednesday, 14 February Thursday, 29 March. The Church of England has suggested that its members might like to give up plastic. It seems that many of them have taken on the challenge. You can watch how they get on on Twitter #plasticfreelent.

Good for the C of E but lets not forget Libby who has been organising a great plastic free lent for a number of years now.

Libby’s Plastic Free Lent

Here’s some blurb “Welcome to the Lent Plastic Challenge. A group for all those who are ready to challenge themselves and take on the pesky single-use plastics that pile up in our modern life.
To support your challenge, each week we will have different theme. So you can start off in the first week with one item and build up gradually”
Hooray for them. Heres an update from this year
“Apologies for the radio silence, but as it’s the first day of lent, let’s begin giving up as much single-use plastic as is feasible! This group is a place to share your questions and ideas. I will share a suggestions sheet once a week and will be doing my challenge in the main from Bali so won’t be on facebook too much. So in the spirit of collective action and community, it will be a collective effort for everyone in the group to support other members in their journey tackling the pervasiveness of single-use plastic”

Nip over there to see how she is getting on.Visit here.

If you think this is rather short notice you might be interested to read about the other plastic free initiatives. The Marine Society organise a plastic free June in the U.K.
Plasticfree July is a world wide, hugely successful campaign.
Get planning.

Plastic Free Fridays

If you dont fancy doing a whole month or want to wait that long join Friends Of The Earth every week for a #plasticfreeFriday. Think this is self-evident but I’ll explain anyway; you go plastic free, one day a week, Friday.

Ambassador

Talking of cool campaigns I am extremely proud to be an ambassador for a plastic planets campaign for the plastic freestyle in all supermarkets. This would of course make plastic three shopping so much easier. It is an extremely valuable contribution to the debate. It would be great if you could pop over to the pop over there check out the campaign and give them your support. At a Plastic Planet.

I am currently hunting down some plasticfree Ferrero Roche’s to celebrate. Tricky. These have to be the most plasticky chocs ever. For now you will have to do with these plastic free, chocolate truffles. Find them here.
Extremely yummylicious. You spoil us ambassador!

They also make a great Mother’s Day gift.

Mothers Day

In the UK, Mother’s Day falls on Sunday March 11th this year.
Here are some excellent ideas on what to get the old dear including plastic free sweets and flowers. And if you do go down the gift route, how to wrap it up – plastic free natch.

Next Month

The life #plasticless needs forward planing

Easter
Easter Sunday will fall on April 1st – start looking for foil wrapped eggs now.

If you need some help visit the wonderfulPlastic Is Rubbish FB group a treasure trove of hints, tips, personal experience and up to date information.

And see our guide to a #plasticfree Easter here. including reusable eggs and #plasticfree sweets

February

Plastic Free…This Month

Boycott

There’s a new hashtag in town #plasticfreebruary. Not sure who is organising it but head on over to Twitter to join in and share your plastic free tips. I will be posting everyday @plasticSrubbish. I would love to tell you more about this project would but I am away from reliable internet access. So anyone knows any thing please let me know.

If you think this is rather short notice you might be interested to read about the other plastic free initiatives. There’s also a U.K. plastic free lent and June and a worldwide plasticfree July. Get planning.

Guest Post

Of course every month is plastic free for me. Which often means getting crafty. Sometimes when you want something plastic free you need to make it yourself. Out of wool. I’m rather new to this crafting lark, so delighted to have a guest post on this most natural of fibres.

Here’s a quick reminder

Fibres

Fibres are short fine hairs that can be twisted or spun into longer thread or yarn. This may be woven or knitted into fabric.
Fibres (and then yarns and ultimately fabrics) can be can be natural, synthetic (plastic) or chemically produced hybrid called regenerated fibres. Read more about them here

You can read Jan’s post on natural yarns HERE

And you can see all our handicrafty posts here. Read how to make makeup, cleaning and personal hygiene products, to sew and cook all #plasticfree HERE

Write

If you are interested in writing a guest post you can find some guidelines HERE

Sign Up

Remove all plastic from tea bags to ensure they are fully bio-degradable/compostable.
Why is this important?
Unilever owns PG Tips, the UK’s most popular cup of tea. Let’s call on them to remove ALL plastics from tea bags – it is usually polypropylene. Teabags won’t completely biodegrade if they have plastic in them.

SIGN HERE

Over 2 million avoidable single-use plastic items were used by the Parliament in 2017.
It’s time for MPs to get their house in order.
Join our new campaign and challenge your MP to support a Plastic Free Parliament.

SIGN HERE

Get ready for

Valentines Day 14th

It’s the big one of course! Valentine’s Day approaches. We have got plastic free candles to set the mood, flowers without the wrap, chocolates, sweets and cards. Even a few ideas for trash free gifts.
If your plastic-free sweetie is also a minimalist, there are some nice alternative ideas!
And if all this does the trick, some plastic reduced condoms you can compost.
Too much info?
Head on over here to get loved up!

Keep well

Got the sniffles? That’s not so sexy. Try a reusable inhalers and eucalyptus oil. Breath easily and cut the trash.
Stop chapped lips with this home made lip balm. It really works! With refillable tubes or metal tins.

Pancake Day

February 28 is Shrove Tuesday and you are going to make pancakes. Check out these plastic-free cakes fried in a plastic-free non stick pan. Yum!

Garden

While it is still a bit cold to be out there, thoughts now turn to the garden and the seeds that need to be sown for the coming year.
You need to start planning ahead for plastic free seedlings.
You can buy plastic-free seeds and find instructions on how to make your own paper seedling pots here Plus other great plastic free garden related products.

Planning Next Month

The life #plasticless needs forward planing

Plastic Free Lent
Lent 2017 begins on Wednesday, March 1 and ends on Thursday, April 13
Last year some folk are took part in a plastic free Lent. I would love to tell you more about this project but I don’t know a great deal myself. It is organised by people in Bristol (I am pretty sure of that) and has run for a couple of years now. It has a great FB page.
Here’s some blurb “Welcome to the Lent Plastic Challenge. A group for all those who are ready to challenge themselves and take on the pesky single-use plastics that pile up in our modern life.
To support your challenge, each week we will have different theme. So you can start off in the first week with one item and build up gradually”
Hooray for them.

Mothers Day March

Now the madness that is Valentines Day is out of the way you can start thinking about Mothers Day and here are some excellent ideas on what to get the old dear and how to wrap it up.

The Rest Of The Year

Read more about our plasticfree year HERE

January

Happy new year dear ones. Love to all and hope this year is everything you wish it to be.

Need A Really Easy & Effective Resolution?

I suggest that anyone in need of a new years resolution should try reducing their plastic trash by just one piece. Perhaps say no to straws in drinks, maybe buy, (and remember to use), some reusable produce bags or find a milkman with refillable glass bottles.This has to be the easiest New Years resolution ever. And so effective. Immediately you are making the world a cleaner place! Just think if every one of Britain’s 64.1 million people did this!

Need inspiration. Try quick tips to cut your plastic trash for more ideas and of the Cut Plastic Index for alternatives to plastic products.

Go on give it a go! Just say no. And do share your plastic free finds here or on the Plastic Is Rubbish FB support group.

Loose food Online

Plasticfree pantry is a UK based online shop sells pantry staples including
flour
herbs and spices
Nuts
Dried fruit
Pasta rice and grains
baking ingredients
beans and pulses
Drinks

All loose and plastic free. Well not completely loose. Duh. They have to packaging it somehow so they reuse paper bags, glass jars and compostable plastic.
They will also use your own clean and produce bags. Read more about produce bags here HERE

The onward packaging consists of cardboard boxes and shredded paper is used to protect the goods.
Packaging tape is heavy duty paper. If you want to try, you can buy some HERE
N.B. They reuse boxes so some might come with existing plastic tape.

Visit the website HERE.

Buy On Line

Find more online products here.
These shops sell plastic free products and send them out in plasticless packages. Find them HERE

Makeup

As for me. I am going to be looking into makeup. Not giving it up but putting it on. The purpose of this blog is to source alternatives for plastic packed products.Time to tackle cosmetics and as I always like to lead by example I need to learn how to primp and paint. I want to know what conventional makeup is like so I can compare and contrast #plasticlessproducts. But first what is conventional makeup like? I have bought some basic bits and bobs. Blimey they do like packaging don’t they? I’ve got a pencil, some liquid eyeliner, lipstick (greasy stuff) and blush. I will branch out into foundation and eyeshadow later.

Research into makeup is ongoing and I have had some great help from the lovely and lovely looking Plastic Is Rubbish FB group who came up with helpful reccomendations. They are a great source of personal experience and up to date information.

You can see them here http://plasticisrubbish.com/2015/04/10/reusables/

Handwash

I know a lot of people like a liquid hand wash. Personally I prefer soap but whatever. So this hand wash comes in soluble pods that you drop in water and refill the (plastic) bottle provided. When done you buy more via. The website. It is posted to you in plastic free packaging, (NB according to some reviews they come with some plastic).

Now I think you are meant to buy the bottle as part of the starter kit but I see no reason why you couldn’t just buy the refills and use your own plastic free soap dispenser?

It comes from a company called

Splosh

This is an online refill service. A new way to buy your home cleaning, laundry and health & beauty essentials.
You buy the starter pack which includes a range of bottles and concentrate product. You water down the product and fill the bottles. Thereafter you buy more concentrate on line and refill your bottles as needed.

Some products come in soluble pods which you drop into water; others in plastic pouches which can be sent back to be refilled or recycled. While the refillable plastic pouches obviously are plastic (duh) the soluble pods sound useful.

They supply a wide range of products. But “currently the surface cleaners and hand washes come in water soluble sachets and the rest come in pouches.”

Splosh also claim that the postal packaging for the starter kit and refills is also plastic free. Though according to some reviews they come with some plastic.

Here’s their mission statement. “Plastic waste is an environmental disaster and we’re committed to reducing it to zero. For each product we’ve designed a refilling system that takes plastic out of the waste stream. For example our pouches can be sent back for refilling and, at the end of their life, we manage their reprocessing into other products”

You can read more about how it works and order products here HERE
If anyone out there has used this product please let me know.

Soap

Should be easy enough but buying soap can be an ethical minefield. Ideally you want animal fat free, palm oil free, sls free and locally made. Preferably unpackaged. You can read more about dirty soap HERE

One ethical soap that is sold loose in most health food shops is Suma soap which are
“made in the UK, vegan and do not contain parabens, triclosan or phthalates.
Our range is free from artificial preservatives, colours and fragrances (we use essential oils to scent our products) and we guarantee our products have not been the subject of animal testing by Suma or our suppliers.

Suma handmade soap is made using the traditional cold process method of soap making, which generates zero by-product. Suma soaps are poured, cut, stamped, and packed by hand – using as little energy as possible.

Suma bodycare products do not contain methylisothiazolinone or phosphates and are GMO free.”

To Do…This Month

Garden

While it is still a bit cold to be out there, thoughts now turn to the garden and the seeds that need to be sown for the coming year. You need to start planning ahead for plastic free seedlings.
You can buy plastic-free seeds and find instructions on how to make your own paper seedling pots here. Plus other great plastic free garden related products.

Keep On Kissing
Stop chapped lips with this home made lip balm. It really works! And you can use your own refillable tubes or metal tins.

Next Month

As ever we are planning ahead as plastic free events need some organising.
February
You need to start preparing for Valentines Day.

And planning a plastic free Pancake Day

Working Posts

Working with fabric

One of the much touted benefits of plastic is that it reduces pressure on natural resources. Nowhere is this more ...
Read More

Elastine

I wear mostly natural fibres but occasionally have problems with elasticine. I thought this referred to elastic. So when the ...
Read More

Cork

Flexible Rubber cork Nitrile rubber is synthetic rubber. it can be used to bond cork to make a flexible sheetlike ...
Read More

Sponges

You want a sponge? You could try a natural one but please do be sure it is sustainabley harvested... like ...
Read More

Bleaching Paper

Until the 1990s, chlorine was mostly used for bleaching paper because it does the job very efficiently. The downside is ...
Read More

Watch – wooden

Who wouldn't want a wooden time piece to mark the hours ? Buy one from WeWood in Australia and they will also ...
Read More

Burning plastic in the home

Some feel my worrying about plastic in the home is taking it too far? Disposables? Yes, they can see I ...
Read More

Tiffin Tin

There is some fantastic street food in China but they serve it in polystyrene (styrofoam) trays. So you will need ...
Read More

Air Miles & Buying British

One of the joys of living plastic free is mooching round the shops seeing what you can source. Better still if ...
Read More

Make up

It is a long time since I have worn make up. My excuse would be the most of it comes ...
Read More

Biodegradation of polyethylene

25 December 2014 by Plastic Is Rubbish Posted in 1.5 Technofix & Cleaner Plastics 2 Comments

Polyethylene

This is the most common plastic. The annual global production of polythene is approximately 80 million tonnes.

http://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/es504038a

Jun Yang, Yu Yang, Wei-Min Wu, Jiao Zhao, and Lei Jiang
Evidence of Polyethylene Biodegradation by Bacterial Strains from the Guts of Plastic-Eating Waxworms
Environ. Sci. Technol., 2014, 48 (23), pp 13776–13784
DOI: 10.1021/es504038a

Abstract
Polyethylene (PE) has been considered nonbiodegradable for decades. Although the biodegradation of PE by bacterial cultures has been occasionally described, valid evidence of PE biodegradation has remained limited in the literature. We found that waxworms, or Indian mealmoths (the larvae of Plodia interpunctella), were capable of chewing and eating PE films. Two bacterial strains capable of degrading PE were isolated from this worm’s gut, Enterobacter asburiae YT1 and Bacillus sp. YP1. Over a 28-day incubation period of the two strains on PE films, viable biofilms formed, and the PE films’ hydrophobicity decreased. Obvious damage, including pits and cavities (0.3–0.4 μm in depth), was observed on the surfaces of the PE films using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The formation of carbonyl groups was verified using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and microattenuated total reflectance/Fourier transform infrared (micro-ATR/FTIR) imaging microscope. Suspension cultures of YT1 and YP1 (108 cells/mL) were able to degrade approximately 6.1 ± 0.3% and 10.7 ± 0.2% of the PE films (100 mg), respectively, over a 60-day incubation period. The molecular weights of the residual PE films were lower, and the release of 12 water-soluble daughter products was also detected. The results demonstrated the presence of PE-degrading bacteria in the guts of waxworms and provided promising evidence for the biodegradation of PE in the environment.

Thanks to Fabiano of www.globalgarbage.org for keeping us well informed.

Thinking About My Carbon Footprint

25 December 2014 by Plastic Is Rubbish Posted in 4.0 Us, the boycott & the blog

How much carbon can you create in a year?

The Guardian.

The UK government has pledged to cut emissions by 20% before 2012, to around eight tonnes per capita. It further aims to reduce national emissions by 60% before 2050, to around four tonnes each. These are good targets to adopt as personal goals, although ultimately we should all be aiming for the global allocation of two tonnes each.

Kick the Habit says that, for individuals, “less than 50 percent are direct emissions (such as driving a car or using a heater).” About 20 percent are caused by the creation, use and disposal of products we use; 25 percent comes from powering workplaces; and 10 percent from maintaining public infrastructure. You can drive your car less and turn down the heat, but consider ways you can affect business and government policies that could tap into that other 50-plus percent.

CONTACT: Kick the Habit, www.unep.org/publications/ebooks/kick-the-habit.

From Manicore

Let’s get back to figures: in 1990, our CO2 emissions amounted to 6 to 7 billion tons of carbon (often noted 6 to 7 GtC, G standing for the prefix “giga” that means a billion in the scientific notation). So independently of what was decided in Kyoto, a goal that has a “physical” meaning for the world is to get down to 3 Gt per year at most. 3 GtC for 6,5 billion human beings (about to become 7 to 9 in 2050) means, if we equitably allocate the “emission right”, 460 kg of carbon (that is 1,7 tonne of CO2) per person and per year

Best Carbon calculators

15 chosen by Earth Matters

And these from the Guardian

and this one has some good stats

Air con

In the typical home, air conditioning uses more electricity than anything else—16% of total electricity used. In warmer regions AC can be 60-70% of your summer electric bill, according to Austin Energy. This is where the savings are folks, not in worrying that you left your cell phone charger plugged in too long.

Central AC is simply an energy hog. A window unit AC uses 500 to 1440 watts, while a 2.5-ton central system uses about 3500 watts. That’s a lot of power. A floor fan uses only 100 watts on the highest speed, and ceiling fans use only 15 to 90 watts depending on speed and size.

Carbon saved by recycling your waste: to see the original and all its links go to do the green thing.

According to a household waste study by the Open University for DEFRA, 2 the average household produces 18.6 kg of waste per week made up of the following:

Cardboard & paper 3.8 kg
Dense plastic packaging 0.7 kg
Ferrous packaging (steel & tin cans) 0.4 kg
Aluminium packaging 0.2 kg
Miscellaneous metal (ferrous and non-ferrous) 0.6 kg
Glass packaging 1.7 kg
Textiles 0.3 kg
Putrescible kitchen waste 3.1 kg
Garden waste 2.9 kg
Misc. combustible waste (DIY combustibles) 3.3 kg

Miscellaneous plastic (e.g. plastic coat-hangers, plastic film) 0.6 kg
Sanitary wastes 0.3 kg
Misc. non-combustible waste (brick, rubble) 0.6 kg
Dust & ash 0.1 kg

Most of this waste can be recycled. The following shows how much CO2 can be saved if each is recycled rather than landfilled.

Carbon emissions for each waste type (in tonnes of CO2e per tonne of material): 3

Cardboard & paper (1.5 tonnes CO2e) = 5.7 kg CO2 for 3.8 kg
Dense plastic packaging (2 tonnes CO2e) = 1.4 kg CO2 for 0.7 kg
Ferrous packaging (1.5 tonnes CO2e) = 1.05 kg CO2 for 0.7 kg 4
Aluminium packaging (10 tonnes CO2e) = 5 kg CO2 for 0.5 kg 5
Glass packaging (0.5 tonnes CO2e) = 0.85 kg CO2 for 1.7 kg
Textiles (8 tonnes CO2e) = 2.4 kg CO2 for 0.3 kg
Putrescible kitchen waste (4.5 tonnes CO2e) = 13.95 kg CO2 for 3.1 kg
Garden waste (1 tonne CO2e) = 2.9 kg CO2 for 2.9 kg
Misc. combustible waste (take as wood – 1.5 tonne CO2e) = 4.95 kg CO2 for 3.3 kg

This comes to a total of 38.2 kg CO2 per household per week, or 16.6 kg CO2 per person per week. 6

A vegetarian Diet

But controversial as the findings may sound, comparing the respective impact of different foods based on their calorie content isn’t new or radical.

“If you stop eating beef, you can’t replace a kilogram of it, which has 2,280 calories, with a kilogram of broccoli, at 340 calories. You have to replace it with 6.7 kilograms of broccoli,” Tamar Haspel wrote last year for the Washington Post. “Calories are the great equaliser, and it makes sense to use them as the basis of the calculation.”

It is very difficult to truly measure the carbon cost of eating or not eating meat.

becoming a parent could lead to a legacy of 262 times more carbon emissions than failing to convert to energy-saving light bulbs, are you still keen to start a family?

The transportation sector is the second largest source of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. Transporting goods and people around the world produced 22% of fossil fuel related carbon dioxide emissions in 2010.

Carbon Producers

Energy
– Electricity & heat (24.9%)
– Industry (14.7%)
– Transportation (14.3%)
– Other fuel combustion (8.6%)
– Fugitive emissions (4%)
Agriculture (13.8%)
Land use change (12.2%)
Industrial processes (4.3%)
Waste (3.2%)

These sectors are then assigned to various end uses, giving the following results

Road transport (10.5%)
Air transport (excluding additional warming impacts) (1.7% )
Other transport (2.5%)
Fuel and power for residential buildings (10.2%)
Fuel and power for commercial buildings (6.3%)
Unallocated fuel combustion (3.8%)
Iron and steel production (4%)
Aluminium and non-ferrous metals production (1.2%)
Machinery production (1%)
Pulp, paper and printing (1.1%)
Food and tobacco industries (1.0%)
Chemicals production (4.1%)
Cement production (5.0%)
Other industry (7.0%)
Transmission and distribution losses (2.2%)
Coal mining (1.3%)
Oil and gas production (6.4%)
Deforestation (11.3%)
Reforestation (-0.4%)
Harvest and land management (1.3%)
Agricultural energy use (1.4%)
Agricultural soils (5.2%)
Livestock and manure (5.4%)
Rice cultivation (1.5%)
Other cultivation (1.7%)
Landfill of waste (1.7%)
Wastewater and other waste (1.5%)

It should be stressed that there is a fair degree of uncertainty about the precise contribution of some activities, especially those which include biological processes such as land use change and agriculture. Indeed, the total contribution from deforestation is much lower in the data above than it was in the equivalent figures from 2000, due to a change in the underlying methodology – as described in the WRI’s accompanying paper (pdf).

Polyurethane

24 December 2014 by Plastic Is Rubbish Posted in 1.3 Plastic Types - Fact Sheets Tagged 1.6 Definitions, 4 plastivan

Polyurethane is a general term used for a class of polymers derived from the condensation of polyisocyanates and polyalcohols.

Polyeurothenes are are petrochemical-based derived polymer and (man) made like all the other synthetic polymers featured in this blog.

Polyurethane is made by reacting polyols and diisocyanates,

Polyols and diisocyanates are derived from crude oil and removed during the refining process just like gasoline.

Polyurethane foam can be flexible or rigid. Each form of polyurethane has many uses.

Most polyurethanes do not melt when heated but there are some (thermoplastic polyurethanes) that do.

Polyurethane formulations cover an extremely wide range of stiffness, hardness, and densities. These materials include:

Low-density flexible foam used in upholstery, bedding, and automotive and truck seating
Low-density rigid foam used for thermal insulation and RTM cores
Soft solid elastomers used for gel pads and print rollers
Low density elastomers used in footwear
Hard solid plastics used as electronic instrument bezels and structural parts
Flexible plastics used as straps and bands
lining the cups of brassieres.

Wikkipedia

Carbon dioxide is used as a blowing agent to create the soft, comfortable feel of a mattress or sofa. The more blowing agent is used, the softer the resulting foam.
In rigid foams, a gas such as pentane is “trapped” in the closed cells of the foam, optimising its insulation capacity.
Rollerblade wheels, on the other hand, do not require a blowing agent and instead have a dense and hardwearing consistency.

Is polyeurothene a plastic?
this answer from Quora is a useful read

There is thermoset and thermoplastic polyurethane polymers. Both can be considered as “plastics”.

Actually “Plastics” is more a shortcut / a general public word. It refer to the fact that most of these materials have a high plasticity (ability to be permanently deform without breaking) under certain conditions. Not to a chemical composition. Specialists prefer to speak of polymers and composites.

In general language, most of common polymers compounds that can be injected/extruded are generally referred as plastics.

When it comes to Carbone/glass fiber reinforced Polyamide or to the Aramids family (including Kevlar and Grivory brands), you will rarely see the word “plastic” used because it would be devaluating for these high performance composites. Yet actually these materials can be extruded or injected quite the same way as generic plastics like PE or PP. So that these are fitting perfectly in the “plastics” category.
So that it is correct to say that thermoplastic and thermoset polymers are plastics. Including PU.

Polyurethanes are polymers. Polymers are best thought of as chains of three-dimensional structures made up of long, repeating smaller units called monomers. These monomers contain carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen. To form the chains, the smaller links are “polymerised” or hooked together.

There are thousands of naturally occurring and man-made polymers. The first man-made polymer to be produced was Bakelite in 1909. Rayon, the first man-made fibre polymer, was developed in 1911. Other well known polymers include nylon, silicon, polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene.

Buckets – metal

17 December 2014 by Plastic Is Rubbish Posted in 3.1 Cleaning Up, 3.1 House, Office & Garden Tagged 5 Content Veiw 2 Comments

Unlike cheaper plastic models, metal, industrial strength, hardworking galvanised products will give you years of service. We work in the building & landscaping trade and use these in preference to anything else. Had them for years and they are still going strong.

Not just hard workers but the rugged materials and genuine old school design make them a thing of beauty. Wether sitting in the corner of the kitchen or out in the garden they look as good as they work.

I have found them in 3 sizes

27cm Galvanised Bucket
29cm Galvanised Bucket
31cm Galvanised Bucket

Buckets in the garden?
Not just for swabbing down the decking but they make attractive planters for herbs. Practical too as they are much lighter then pottery plant pots and,of course, much nicer than plastic.

How to make a bucket planter – drill some holes in the bottom and fill with soil.

Buy

You can find them in hardware stores and online.

Amazon Link – you can read our online policy here

13 Litre Galvanised Bucket
£7.06

Cleaning Liquid Refills

14 December 2014 by Plastic Is Rubbish Posted in 3.1 Cleaning Up, 3.1 Disposables & Reusables, 3.1 House, Office & Garden Tagged 3.1.2 refill, 3.2.3 Buy On Line, 3.2.6 Plasticfree Packaging, 5 Content Veiw 7 Comments

ECOVER do all of these products and you can get your plastic bottle refilled. To find where Ecover have a refill station check the postcode search on their site

TOILET CLEANER
LAUNDRY LIQUID,
FABRIC SOFTENER,
MULTISURFACE CLEANER,
Washing up liquid (other options here)

You can find more about liquid cleaners here including how to make your own

If you cant get to a refill station try getting a refill by post….

What better to kick off your spring clean than these water soluable cleaning products in biodegradable packaging?

Regular price£10.99

Easy to use; water-soluble sachets
Made using plant-derived, sustainably sourced ingredients
RSPO Certified Sustainable Palm Oil
100% Plastic-free
Plastic-free packaging & FSC Certified paper
Made in the UK – so extremely low carbon footprint
Made by Iron & Velvet

And here’s a review…. Not by me

“We have tested them all ourselves and were taken back by how much you get out of each sachet when mixed with water. They do a great job of tackling grease and grime PLUS, they are made right here in the UK, in the West Midlands, so they have a super low carbon footprint to boot!

This pack contains surface cleaners for both the bathroom and the kitchen, which break down fats, oils, greases, watermarks and limescale. These surface cleaners do not contain antibacterial ingredients; however, we do also sell the anti-bacterial versions of these cleaners here if you would prefer them.”

You can buy them here

More On Cleaning

You can buy refills from Ecover for most cleaning liquid products in shops. You can also get refills by post from splosh. Or make your own #plasticfree cleaning products. can be found here.

All plasticfree Cleaning up aids from mechanical (brushes to you) to chemical (squeezy) cleaners, both ready bought and homemade, can be found here.

Splosh

They supply a wide range of products. But “currently the surface cleaners and hand washes come in water soluble sachets and the rest come in pouches.”

Splosh also claim that the postal packaging for the starter kit and refills is also plastic free. Though according to some reviews they come with some plastic.

You can read more about how it works and order products here HERE
If anyone out there has used this product please let me know.

Why This Post Is ….

A little bit rubbish. You are reading a work in progress. Here’s how the blog is written and why we post half cocked.

How to wrap gifts plastic-free

14 December 2014 by Plastic Is Rubbish Posted in 3.1 Special days & Parties, 3.2 How To...plastic-free Tagged 3.1.5 Christmas, 3.1.5. Valentines, 5 Content Veiw

Which wrap should you choose? Well we prefer reusables over all else so here are some wraps you can use over and over again…

Reusable Wraps

Wrap your presents in cloth and tie with string
Or just use cloth and the ancient Japanese method of knotting. Called furoshiki. YOu can find more info here .
Try this reusable crackle paper made from recycled tents.
Make or buy a fabric gift bag
Try this stretch wrap from Wragwrap
fabric bottle bag from Wragwrap

Disposable Paper

As much as we love reusable gift wrap and bags, you have to know someone pretty well before you can snatch back the wrapping once the gift is opened. Gifting for the first time? Maybe consider a disposable paper wrapping.

Shop local – You can still buy gift wrap in single, unpackaged sheets from card and book shops. Or check out brown paper packages, other cheap wraps and plantable paper.Read more and find purchase details here

Fixings

Sticky tape

And to be properly compostable you will need to stick your paper with biodegradable sticky tape

Ties

Of course one way to get the most out of your wrapping paper is to reuse it. In which case you done want it torn off. Walk away from the sticky tape and tie your brown paper packages up with string.

A bit more effort than sticky tape but there are advantages

less chances are the paper will be less damaged when the gift is unwrapped.
looks very retro chic
tie it with a bow and the ties themselves be reused.

Lets start with string. From traditional brown hairy string to U.K. woollen twine, there are some great options.

Then there are ribbons and fancy ties.

Other gift and celebration related posts can be found here.

Add A Card

Greetings cards Cards have been the bane of Pam’s life , (I mean greeting cards not gambling – that’s all in the past) as many come wrapped in icky plastic. So what are the alternatives?

Shea Butter Leeds

14 December 2014 by Plastic Is Rubbish Posted in 3.1 General & Homemade Tagged 3.2.2 West Yorkshire, 3.2.4 make, 3.2.6. buy local buy British, 4 raw materials

This is a quick introduction to Shea Butter

Semi soft buttery oil. Read more about butter oils and waxes here.
Imported usually from Africa.
Has a soft velvety texture.
Can be used neat as a very rich moisturiser.
Mix with coconut oil to make a lighter body butter. Recipe here.
I love it added to home made creams and lotions.

Which Shea Butter?

Unrefined shea butter is going beige or ivory or ‘off white’
Bright white refined shea butter
Pale yellow may be shea from Nilotica (Viterallia Nilotica) and it’s natural
Deep yellow Shea Butter has been dyed originally with a natural dye from the Borututu tree or more likely now a synthetic dye.

Raw Shea Butter
In it’s natural form.
Unrefined Shea Butter
Some filtering allowed so remove larger particles.
Refined Shea Butter
Some form of processing which also removes its smell.

Read more about shea butter in Wikipedia

Buy

It can of course be bought online but here in Yorkshire we have a local supplier. Maya’s stall in Leeds Market. They specialise in black hair and beauty so if you don’t live near Leeds check to see if there is a similar store or even hairdressers near you.It does come in a plastic tub though.

PLASTIC SPOILER
Wether bought on line or locally there will be some plastic packaging either a bag or a tub. As I get huge amounts of product from one tub or bag I consider it a worthwhile compromise as it still represents a huge decrease in plastic consumption.

We Made

Body butter

See a full range of homemade #plasticfree personal care products here

Plastic in the Sea – Studies

14 December 2014 by Plastic Is Rubbish Posted in 2.1 reports, stats and studies Tagged 2.2 Marine Plastic 2 Comments

Latest reports and news stories about plastic in the sea can be found here, (reports and statistics about other plastic related issues can be found here)

Thanks to Fabiano of www.globalgarbage.org for keeping us well informed.

Try schnews for the nasty nurdles

billions of tiny plastic pellets, called nurdles – the raw materials for the plastic industry – are lost or spilled every year, many ending up in the sea. These act like chemical sponges, soaking up other toxic man-made chemicals, all artificial pollutants (for toxicity think DDT pesticide etc), concentrating them up to a million times more than in normal sea water.

Chris Wilcox, Nicholas J. Mallos, George H. Leonard, Alba Rodriguez, Britta Denise Hardesty, Using expert elicitation to estimate the impacts of plastic pollution on marine wildlife, Marine Policy, Volume 65, March 2016, Pages 107-114, ISSN 0308-597X,http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2015.10.014.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X15002985)
Abstract: Marine litter is a growing environmental concern. With the rapid increase in global plastics production and the resulting large volume of litter that enters the marine environment, determining the consequences of this debris on marine fauna and ocean health has now become a critical environmental priority, particularly for threatened and endangered species. However, there are limited data about the impacts of debris on marine species from which to draw conclusions about the population consequences of anthropogenic debris. To address this knowledge gap, information was elicited from experts on the ecological threat (both severity and specificity) of entanglement, ingestion and chemical contamination for three major marine taxa: seabirds, sea turtles and marine mammals. The threat assessment focused on the most common types of litter that are found along the world’s coastlines, based on data gathered during three decades of international coastal clean-up efforts. Fishing related gear, balloons and plastic bags were estimated to pose the greatest entanglement risk to marine fauna. In contrast, experts identified a broader suite of items of concern for ingestion, with plastic bags and plastic utensils ranked as the greatest threats. Entanglement and ingestion affected a similar range of taxa, although entanglement was rated as slightly worse because it is more likely to be lethal. Contamination was scored the lowest in terms of impact, affecting a smaller portion of the taxa and being rated as having solely non-lethal impacts. This work points towards a number of opportunities both for policy-based and consumer-driven changes in plastics use that could have demonstrable affects for a range of ecologically important taxa that serve as indicators of marine ecosystem health.
Keywords: Chemical contamination; Elicitation survey; Entanglement; Ingestion; Marine debris; Marine mammal; Plastic pollution; Seabird; Turtle

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308597X15002985/pdfft?md5=7c0e5ccdd43e09e0d0d1303741c421c1&pid=1-s2.0-S0308597X15002985-main.pdf

Jan Zalasiewicz, Colin N. Waters, Juliana Ivar do Sul, Patricia L. Corcoran, Anthony D. Barnosky, Alejandro Cearreta, Matt Edgeworth, Agnieszka Gałuszka, Catherine Jeandel, Reinhold Leinfelder, J.R. McNeill, Will Steffen, Colin Summerhayes, Michael Wagreich, Mark Williams, Alexander P. Wolfe, Yasmin Yonan, The geological cycle of plastics and their use as a stratigraphic indicator of the Anthropocene, Anthropocene, Available online 18 January 2016, ISSN 2213-3054, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ancene.2016.01.002.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213305416300029)
Abstract: The rise of plastics since the mid-20th century, both as a material element of modern life and as a growing environmental pollutant, has been widely described. Their distribution in both the terrestrial and marine realms suggests that they are a key geological indicator of the Anthropocene, as a distinctive stratal component. Most immediately evident in terrestrial deposits, they are clearly becoming widespread in marine sedimentary deposits in both shallow- and deep-water settings. They are abundant and widespread as macroscopic fragments and virtually ubiquitous as microplastic particles; these are dispersed by both physical and biological processes, not least via the food chain and the ‘faecal express’ route from surface to sea floor. Plastics are already widely dispersed in sedimentary deposits, and their amount seems likely to grow several-fold over the next few decades. They will continue to be input into the sedimentary cycle over coming millennia as temporary stores – landfill sites – are eroded. Plastics already enable fine time resolution within Anthropocene deposits via the development of their different types and via the artefacts (‘technofossils’) they are moulded into, and many of these may have long-term preservation potential when buried in strata.
Keywords: Anthropocene; Plastics; Stratigraphy

http://www.globalgarbage.org.br/mailinglist/S2213305416300029_In_Press_Accepted_Manuscript.pdf

Note to users:
Accepted manuscripts are Articles in Press that have been peer reviewed and accepted for publication by the Editorial Board of this publication. They have not yet been copy edited and/or formatted in the publication house style, and may not yet have the full ScienceDirect functionality, e.g., supplementary files may still need to be added, links to references may not resolve yet etc. The text could still change before final publication.

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When the final article is assigned to volumes/issues of the Publication, the Article in Press version will be removed and the final version will appear in the associated published volumes/issues of the Publication. The date the article was first made available online will be carried over.

Jongmyoung Lee, Sunwook Hong, Young Kyung Song, Sang Hee Hong, Yong

Chang Jang, Mi Jang, Nak Won Heo, Gi Myung Han, Mi Jeong Lee, Daeseok
Kang, Won Joon Shim, Relationships among the abundances of plastic
debris in different size classes on beaches in South Korea, Marine
Pollution Bulletin, Volume 77, Issues 1–2, 15 December 2013, Pages
349-354, ISSN 0025-326X, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.08.013.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X13004657)
Abstract: Plastic debris on six beaches near the Nakdong River Estuary, South Korea, was sampled in May and September 2012 and classified into three size classes, large microplastics (1–5 mm), mesoplastics (5–25mm), and macroplastics (>25 mm). The relationships among the abundances of the size classes were then examined. The abundances of each size category in May (before rainy season) and in September (after rainy season) were 8205 and 27,606 particles/m2 for large microplastics, 238 and 237 particles/m2 for mesoplastics, and 0.97 and 1.03 particles/m2 for macroplastics, respectively. Styrofoam was the most abundant item both in microplastic and mesoplastic debris, while intact plastics were most common in macroplastic debris. The abundances of meso- and micro-plastics were the most strongly correlated. There was a higher correlation between the abundances of macro- and meso-plastics than between macro- and micro-plastics.

Rui P. Vieira, Isabel P. Raposo, Paula Sobral, Jorge M.S. Gonçalves, Katherine L.C. Bell, Marina R. Cunha, Lost fishing gear and litter at Gorringe Bank (NE Atlantic), Journal of Sea Research, Available online 13 October 2014, ISSN 1385-1101, http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.seares.2014.10.005.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1385110114001774)
Abstract: Studies concerning marine litter have received great attention over the last several years by the scientific community mainly due to their ecological and economic impacts in marine ecosystems, from coastal waters to the deep ocean seafloor. The distribution, type and abundance of marine litter in Ormonde and Gettysburg, the two seamounts of Gorringe Bank, were analyzed from photo and video imagery obtained during ROV-based surveys carried out at 60–3015 m depths during the E/V Nautilus cruise NA017. Located approximately 125 nm southwest of Portugal, Gorringe Bank lays at the crossroad between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean and is therefore characterized by an intense maritime traffic and fishing activities. The high frequency of lost or discarded fishing gear, such as cables, longlines and nets, observed on Gorringe Bank suggests an origin mostly from fishing activities, with a clear turnover in the type of litter (mostly metal, glass and to a much lesser extent, plastic) with increasing depth. Litter was more abundant at the summit of Gorringe Bank (ca. 4 items·km− 1), decreasing to less than 1 item·km− 1 at the flanks and to ca. 2 items·km− 1 at greater depths. Nevertheless, litter abundance appeared to be lower than in continental margin areas. The results presented herein are a contribution to support further actions for the conservation of vulnerable habitats on Gorringe Bank so that they can continue contributing to fishery productivity in the surrounding region.
Keywords: Marine Litter; Fisheries; Impacts; Gorringe Bank; NE Atlantic; Seamounts

Note to users: Corrected proofs are Articles in Press that contain the authors’ corrections. Final citation details, e.g., volume and/or issue number, publication year and page numbers, still need to be added and the text might change before final publication.

Although corrected proofs do not have all bibliographic details available yet, they can already be cited using the year of online publication and the DOI , as follows: author(s), article title, Publication (year), DOI. Please consult the journal’s reference style for the exact appearance of these elements, abbreviation of journal names and use of punctuation.

When the final article is assigned to an volumes/issues of the Publication, the Article in Press version will be removed and the final version will appear in the associated published volumes/issues of the Publication. The date the article was first made available online will be carried over.

http://www.ivm.vu.nl/en/Images/Plastic%20ingredients%20in%20Cosmetics%2007-2014%20FINAL_tcm53-409859.pdf

Review of Microplastics in Cosmetics
Scientific background on a potential source of plastic particulate marine litter to support decision-making
H.A. Leslie, PhD

http://www.americanchemistry.com/Media/PressReleasesTranscripts/ACC-news-releases/Global-Plastics-Meeting.html

World’s Plastics Associations Promote Sustainability and Resource Recovery, and Renew Commitments to Marine Litter Solutions

ACC Contact: Jennifer Killinger (202) 249-6619
E-mail: jennifer_killinger@americanchemistry.com

PlasticsEurope Contact: Hanane Taidi, 32 2 676 17 40
E-mail: hanane.taidi@plasticseurope.org

PPIA Contact: Peter T. Quintana
E-Mail: secretariat.ppia@gmail.com

“World’s Plastics Associations Renew Commitments to Improve Sustainability”

Manila (December 12, 2014) – At the 25th annual Global Meeting on Plastics and Sustainability, held in Manila, Philippines (Dec. 8 – 10), executives from the world’s leading plastics associations met to discuss and advance sustainability, and to promote solutions to plastic waste management and marine debris. At the meeting, delegates noted strong progress and growth in activities undertaken as part of the Declaration of the Global Plastics Associations for Solutions on Marine Litter. Under that program, 60 associations from more than 30 countries have launched 185 separate projects to combat plastic marine debris.

At the meeting, participants also discussed strategies to address sustainability by improving the collection, recycling and recovery of energy from used plastics. Delegates heard from Doug Woodring of the NGO Ocean Recovery Alliance, who challenged the industry to work with other stakeholders and to deploy new technologies to better understand where litter is entering our rivers and waterways.

In addition to leading Philippine companies, meeting participants included plastics associations from the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, Brazil, the Gulf, Europe, South Africa, and the United States, who analyzed current projects to prevent litter and increase recycling of plastic.

http://www.earthcarers.org.au/blog/article/plasticfree-summer-festival-1617-jan-2015/127/

Plastic-Free Summer Festival (16&17 Jan 2015)

Friday 12th of December 2014

Did you know over five trillion pieces of plastic are floating in our oceans according to the most comprehensive study to date on plastic pollution around the world? It’s not just a problem overseas but also around Australia’s coastlines, and the sources are alarming.

Marine biologist Dr Jennifer Lavers has studied seabirds around the world, in particular looking at the impact of ingesting this plastic. As seen on the ABC Catalyst program Dr Lavers is a lead scientist looking at the impacts plastic pollution is having on wildlife in our oceans. Find out more about the problem, discuss solutions and be part of the change needed.

Organised by the WMRC Earth Carers, the City of Fremantle, Fremantle BID and the Town of Cottesloe this free 2 day community festival offers events for all ages.

http://www.marlisco.eu/news-detail.en/items/marlisco-e-course-about-marine-litter-second-edition.html

MARLISCO e-course about Marine Litter – second edition

2014-12-11 20:21
The second edition of the MARLISCO electronic course about marine litter, “Know, feel, act! to stop Marine Litter”, has been launched. It will run from the 09/01/2015 to the 20/01/2015.
The course is based on the educational material “Know, feel, act! to stop Marine Litter”, a MARLISCO product to be translated and applied in 15 countries by 2015. It contains 17 educational activities examining the characteristics, sources, effects and possible ways to tackle the problem, addressing it from an environmental, societal, cultural and economic point of view. It has been designed to primarily serve middle school level, but can be used also by educators outside the formal schooling system. The e-course serves as a substitute for a 1.5 day face-to-face seminar aiming to train participants on effective ways of teaching about marine litter issues.

http://www.abc.net.au/pm/content/2014/s4147069.htm

Scientists warn nearly 270,000 tonnes of plastic may be floating in world’s oceans

Stephanie Smail reported this story on Thursday, December 11, 2014 18:36:00

MARK COLVIN: It’s floating on the surface, bobbing just under the waves, strangling seabirds and killing fish. It’s plastic in the ocean, and a new study says there’s nearly 270,000 tonnes of it.

International scientists have counted and weighed tiny pieces of plastic, and bigger pieces like plastic bottles and six-pack holders, for the past six years.

Their research has found plastic pollution isn’t just a problem in the well-known garbage patches in remote areas. It’s also lurking close to coastlines, as Stephanie Smail reports.

http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/news/audio/pm/201412/20141211-pm07-plasticsea.mp3

http://www.abc.net.au/environment/articles/2014/12/11/4146817.htm

No part of the ocean untouched by plastic rubbish

BY CHRISTOPHER DOYLE

ABC Environment 11 DEC 2014

A new study has found that plastic rubbish reaches into almost every corner of the ocean.

VIRTUALLY NO PART of the ocean surface remains untouched by plastic debris, a team of international scientists has found.

Nearly 269,000 tonnes of plastic debris is floating on the surface of the world’s oceans, with some of it occurring in some of the most remote regions of the planet, the scientists report today in the open-access journal PLoS One.

“There are areas of the ocean that have very little plastic, but I don’t think you will find plastic-free seas anywhere in the world today,” said Dr Marcus Eriksen, lead author of the study and Director of Research for the 5 Gyres Institute.

http://www.americanchemistry.com/Media/PressReleasesTranscripts/ACC-news-releases/Americas-Plastics-Makers-Support-Calls-to-Address-Litter-in-Worlds-Oceans.html

America’s Plastics Makers Support Calls to Address Litter in World’s Oceans

Contact: Jennifer Killinger (202) 249-6619
Email: jennifer_killinger@americanchemistry.com

WASHINGTON (December 10, 2014) – The Five Gyres Institute today released a study that estimates the quantities of plastics in the world’s oceans (“Plastic Pollution in the World’s Oceans: More than 5 Trillion Plastic Pieces Weighing over 250,000 Tons Afloat at Sea”).

The American Chemistry Council (ACC) issued the following statement:

“America’s plastics makers wholeheartedly agree that littered plastics of any kind do not belong in the marine environment. Every day, plastics contribute to sustainability by enabling us to reduce, reuse, recycle, and recover more of the resources that we rely on—and by helping to lower energy use and greenhouse gas emissions. Even after plastics have fulfilled their initial purpose, these materials should be treated as valuable resources and recycled whenever possible or recovered for their energy value when they cannot.

“Recent multi-stakeholder efforts to develop solutions for marine litter—including a brochure (2014) produced by the Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP, an advisory group to the United Nations) and the Honolulu Strategy (2011)—have highlighted the importance of using modern, integrated waste management infrastructure and practices to combat marine litter throughout the globe. This includes recycling and energy recovery, and the American Chemistry Council’s Plastics Division and its member companies support these recommendations.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/10/good-job-humans-the-ocean-now-contains-5-trillion-pieces-of-floating-plastic/

Good job, humans: The oceans now contain 5 trillion pieces of floating plastic

By Chris Mooney December 10

A major new study of the world’s oceans has reached a shocking conclusion: Thanks to humans, there are now over 5 trillion pieces of plastic, weighing more than 250,000 tons, floating in water around the world.

With a global population of about 7.2 billion, that’s nearly 700 pieces per person.

The study, published in the journal PLOS One by Marcus Eriksen of the Five Gyres Institute in Los Angeles and a large group of colleagues, is based on data from 24 separate ocean expeditions, conducted between 2007 and 2013, to sample plastic pollution. Plastic was either observed from boats, or hauled up from the ocean by nets, in 1,571 locations. The data were then used to run an ocean model to simulate the amount and distribution of plastic debris.

The result not only yielded the estimate of over 5 trillion pieces of plastic in the global ocean — it also cast light on how plastic changes within the ocean (breaking down into smaller pieces) and circulates around the globe. Pieces between 1 millimeter and 4.75 millimeters in size were by far the most prevalent class of plastic in the ocean. However, by weight, really large pieces of plastic, greater than 200 millimeters in size, were the most significant.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/11/science/new-research-quantifies-the-oceans-plastic-problem.html

Study Gauges Plastic Levels in Oceans

By JOHN SCHWARTZ DEC. 10, 2014

It is no secret that the world’s oceans are swimming with plastic debris — the first floating masses of trash were discovered in the 1990s. But researchers are starting to get a better sense of the size and scope of the problem.

A study published Wednesday in the journal PLOS One estimated that 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic, large and small, weighing 269,000 tons, could be found throughout the world’s oceans, even in the most remote reaches.

The ships conducting the research traveled the seas collecting small bits of plastic with nets and estimated worldwide figures from their samples using computer models. The largest source of plastic by weight comes from discarded fishing nets and buoys, said Marcus Eriksen, the leader of the effort and co-founder of the 5 Gyres Institute, a nonprofit group that combines scientific research with antipollution activism.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/dec/10/full-scale-plastic-worlds-oceans-revealed-first-time-pollution

Full scale of plastic in the world’s oceans revealed for first time

Over five trillion pieces of plastic are floating in our oceans says most comprehensive study to date on plastic pollution around the world

Oliver Milman
Wednesday 10 December 2014 19.00 GMT

More than five trillion pieces of plastic, collectively weighing nearly 269,000 tonnes, are floating in the world’s oceans, causing damage throughout the food chain, new research has found.

Data collected by scientists from the US, France, Chile, Australia and New Zealand suggests a minimum of 5.25tn plastic particles in the oceans, most of them “micro plastics” measuring less than 5mm.

The volume of plastic pieces, largely deriving from products such as food and drink packaging and clothing, was calculated from data taken from 24 expeditions over a six-year period to 2013. The research, published in the journal PLOS One, is the first study to look at plastics of all sizes in the world’s oceans.

Large pieces of plastic can strangle animals such as seals, while smaller pieces are ingested by fish and then fed up the food chain, all the way to humans.

http://time.com/3628392/microbead-ban-states/

Environmentalists Go to Battle Over Face Wash

Katy Steinmetz @katysteinmetz
Dec. 10, 2014

Environmentalists are hoping a landmark report about how much plastic is in the world’s oceans will help get bans on small plastics passed

Face washes claiming to be “blackhead erasers” or “superfruit scrubs” may seem appealing for scrubbing your way to a fresh new face, but some of them also contain an ingredient that environmental advocates and lawmakers are trying to ban. Tiny, round bits of plastic known as microbeads, no bigger than a grain of couscous, may pose hazards in the natural world.

These little orbs, introduced to replace harsher exfoliants like pumice, are so small that after they’re washed down the sink or tub, they sneak through sifters at water treatment plants and end up in the ocean and other bodies of water. Once in the ocean, researchers have found, these plastics act like sponges for toxins, and can be accidentally ingested by fish, thus ending up in the food chain.

Several states considered bills to ban microbeads last session, but only Illinois passed a law, becoming the first state to do so. Now lawmakers in at least three states are gearing up for another go in 2015.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-28/autopsy-finds-plastic-bag-in-dolphin-stomach/5926650

Autopsy finds plastic bag in dolphin’s stomach after failed rescue

By Nonee Walsh
Posted 28 Nov 2014, 7:34am

A dolphin rescued off Sydney’s northern beaches earlier this week has been euthanased after becoming stranded for a second time.

It took six men to refloat the three-metre Risso’s dolphin after they found it in trouble on Curl Curl Beach on Monday.

The mature female dolphin went back out to sea but became stranded again at Kurnell, in Sydney’s south, on Tuesday evening.

An autopsy performed at Taronga Zoo revealed a plastic bag was blocking its stomach, Organisation for the Rescue and Research of Cetaceans in Australia (ORRCA) president Ronnie Ling said.

Microfibres

10 December 2014 by Plastic Is Rubbish Posted in 2.1 reports, stats and studies Tagged 2.2 Micro plastics 4 Comments

We met him earlier in November picking up plastic micro fibers on the beach. Now he reveals more about himself and his projects here….

Benign By Design’s unique data-driven process propels the textile industry toward cost effective fabrics that emit fewer and less toxic fibers.

THE PROBLEM

Clothing fibers are the most abundant form of waste material that we find in habitats worldwide, and the problem is worsening. Ingested and inhaled fibers carry toxic materials and a third of the food we eat is contaminated with this material. In the textile industry, fabrics are generally selected based upon aesthetics, durability, cost, green chemistry and carbon footprints. Still, critical information on their environmental and health impacts is not considered because until now much of the scientific research is unavailable. This has led to the use of unsustainable and hazardous fibers in apparel.

THE INNOVATION

Benign by Design disrupts the current unsustainable pattern by showing companies exactly how textile wear leads to fiber pollution and ways to control their emissions. They developed a trade-off analysis system that rigorously and scientifically selects the most cost effective material with the smallest impact; fabrics that emit fewer fibers and less toxic fibers. The interdisciplinary team of leaders in ecology, Life Cycle Assessment, toxicology, engineering, chemistry, forensics, and ecosystem management provides cutting-edge research to reduce environmental and health impacts of fabrics, including a novel method of fiber quantification (³ 1 µm) in wastewater and animal tissues.

“Our program will lead to cost-effective fabrics that emit fewer and less toxic fibers via novel research on how fabrics compare throughout their life cycle.” – Dr. Mark Anthony Browne, National Center for Ecological Analysis & Synthesis (NCEAS), University of California Santa Barbara

Stage of Innovation: Concept

THE VISION

Tracing emissions and impacts of fibers over their life cycle will guide sustainable design that builds upon established indices and tools (e.g. Nike’s Apparel Environmental Design tool) currently lacking such data. NCEAS pioneered open-data ecosystems (e.g. DataOne) to enable sharing, collaboration, contribution and unlimited accessibility to environmental data. Using this platform, and connections within the Sustainable Apparel Coalition and the American Association of Textile Chemists & Colorists, they will find early adopters, and then leverage a case study to achieve certification through the EPA’s Design for Environment Program.

“Our product empowers consumers to make informed choices, enabling them, for the first time, to purchase less hazardous fabrics that shed fewer potentially toxic fibers and chemicals throughout their life cycle.” – Dr. Mark Anthony Browne, National Center for Ecological Analysis & Synthesis (NCEAS), University of California Santa Barbara

Download the Benign by Design forum presentation

go to the website

Methane

8 December 2014 by Plastic Is Rubbish Posted in 3.6 Good to know, 4.9 Useful to know, More Information Tagged 1.6 Definitions 2 Comments

Methane is a short-lived climate pollutant with significant climate warming potential.

Methane gas, or biogas, is released when organic material breaks down. But only when organic materials are so compacted there is no oxygen they break down anaerobically and produce methane.

This is why landfill sites produce methane and compost heaps do not

“Rotting stuff in a landfill undergoes anaerobic decomposition and produces methane. A compost pile undergoes aerobic decomposition and requires oxygen (O2) for the process to work. Because it is exposed to oxygen it produces CO2 (carbon dioxide) instead of methane.”

Cow farts are also made of methane.

Global methane emissions from landfill are estimated to be between 30 and 70 million tonnes each year. Most of this landfill methane currently comes from developed countries, where the levels of waste tend to be highest.

Over a 20 year period, one ton of methane causes 72 times more warming than one ton of carbon dioxide (CO2).

Methane can be captured and used as fuel. This company is using methane gas from waste fish and chocolate to power their factory.

There are instructions here on how to harvest methane at home (not from cow farts!)

Cut your methane production

Give up baked beans ….hahahahahahaa …..

Take up composting, the easiest way to cut your carbon footprint

WHOLE WORLD Water

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