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      News — Plastic Free July

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      Plastic Free July in the Age of Corona, 5 Tips to Get you Started

      Plastic Free July in the Age of Corona, 5 Tips to Get you Started

      Going zero waste and becoming plastic free is always a dance of two steps forward, one back and some spinning around but since the start of the Corona pandemic this journey has gotten a lot harder.   Plastic Free July is a global movement focused on everyday solutions to plastic pollution.  

      Plastic Free July Tips

      Our first ever blog post about reducing your waste was Plastic Free Friday- BYOB.  Published in July of 2016, it was about bringing reusable shopping bags.  Now reusable bags are banned in my state.  I do wonder why you can shop without a face mask but not use a reusable bag?  But that's a subject for another blog.

      Here are some tips to help you navigate the new realities while continuing to reduce your plastic consumption.

      Tip 1- Be registered and have a plan to VOTE.  If you've followed us for awhile I start just about every blog with this statement.  We need elected leaders at all levels who care for the planet and recognize we are ALL CONNECTED.  A cleaner planet means a shift from business as usual in all areas including social justice, education, manufacturing practices, tax breaks and incentives,  a diverse economy, etc, etc, etc.........

      Plastic Free July tips

      Tip 2- Practice self care.  It's harder to take care of others when you are tired or angry.  Take time for a breather from the chaos and uncertainty of the news. Being outside and connecting to nature is one of the best ways to help ourselves and have the energy to help our planet.  Be mindful of your social media use.  I have a personal pledge to not check emails at night.  It doesn't matter if the news is good or bad, I don't need a rush of energy before bed.  Realize that social media is a double edged sword, and "doomscrolling" is real.  Protecting your physical and mental health is vital for this marathon we find ourselves in.

      Plastic Free July tips

      Tip 3- Practice good hygiene.  The sooner we can contain the virus, the sooner we can begin to return to the "new normal".  Wash your hands frequently and use good soap.   "Soap works better than alcohol and disinfectants at destroying the structure of viruses."    We need to be sure we don't grow complacent but remain vigilant to protect ourselves, others and ultimately the world.

       

      Plastic Free July Tips

      Tip 4- Wear a reusable face masks.  "Namaske"- the mask I wear to protect you recognizes the mask you wear to protect me.  I've seen posts on social media about the litter created from disposable masks and gloves.  It's maddening!   A washable reusable mask helps protect others and the planet. 

      Tip 5- Pick a place to start and recognize you're on a journey, made more difficult by the realities of Covid-19.  Start small, be forgiving and realize you'll have to make adjustments and compromises.  Our pre-Covid blog 20 Zero Waste Tips for 2020 is a great place to start.

      Remember it's a dance, forward, backwards and some spinning but in the end you'll be in a new and better place.

       

        

      Dogs Go Green

      Dogs Go Green

      Every month or so, once I've mastered my current zero waste/plastic free goal I start on a new one.  Usually it's a goal that's been on my mind for awhile but takes a bit to actually get into action.  Compostable dog poop bags have been on my list for awhile.  Tuffy, my girl poops at least twice a day and since we visit our local dog park almost daily that's a lot of plastic poop bags.

      Compostable Dog Poo Bag Review

       

      READ THE LABELS

      I first decided to try and buy compostable dog bags locally and visited our local pet store.  I asked the clerk for compostable bags and she looked at me blankly.  She did walk me over to the dog waste section and recommended a product that had "eco-friendly" on the label.  Well, the container the bags came in was packed in cardboard made from recycled paper but the bags were your ordinary plastic bags.  The product was more expensive than others because it was geared to a dog owner who was environmentally conscious and who most likely had forgotten their reading glasses.  You have to read the labels when shopping for eco-friendly products.  There is a tern called "green washing", it's labeling cleverly designed to make products look as environmentally responsible as possible.  If I hadn't carefully read the label I would have assumed that the bags- the item I wanted to purchase were eco-friendly.

      Compostable Dog Waste Bag Review

      IT'S COMPLICATED

      My next stop was the internet. There are quite a few choices on the market I wanted a smaller company, a plant based bag and one that could be composted at home.  bioDOGradable Dog Poop Bags fit the bill.  As I learned more I realized how complicated biodegradable bags are (not a big surprise).  On their FAQ page the question "Are these bags degradable/biodegradable?" was answered yes and no.  The bags are made from a material called "bioplastic" which is plant based- corn not fossil fuel based-plastic and when it breaks down it produces non-toxic byproducts such as humus.  The FTC has guidelines as well as California which has laws about the claims and marketing of what exactly is biodegradable.  The take away from this is consumers should be wary of products that claim to be 100% biodegradable.

      THE FINE ART OF COMPOSTING 

      There are two ways to dispose of your poop bags.  The best is home composting.  I'm lucky to have a large backyard so I'm adding my poop bags to my large pile of slow composting.  I'm not filling my food/garden waste compost bin with bags of poop.  The next choice to to find a facility with a biosolid composter, compost made from sewage sludge.  I would guess biosolids composter are few and far between.  Finally, simply putting you poo bags in the dog waste receptacles is an option- because at least the corn based bags will decompose.

      Compostable dog poo bags review

      WHAT ABOUT EXPENSE?

      So, with all the complications is it still worth using compostable poo bags?  In my opinion, yes.  Even when added to traditional landfills the bags will compost at the same rate as food waste, paper or lawn clippings.  It's not perfect but it is better than traditional plastic bags because in the end they will turn back into a natural material unlike plastic which simply hangs around forever.  Another benefit is the manufacturing process and lack of chemicals.  These particular bags are manufactured in India and I don't have any info about the actual factory.  Finally they are free from chemical dyes and additives.  

      The bags are more expensive.  One consumer change I've made is to buy better and buy less.  I'm definitely spending more on poo bags but the feeling of satisfaction I get from not adding plastic pollution to our planet is worth it.

      AND FINALLY

      My only complaint was the mailer my package arrived in.  I would have preferred a mailer without any plastic.  There was some extra packaging inside the package, everything was in one of their dog bags, it was wrapped in brown paper and I got a info card (which I turned into a sign) as well as a few free samples.

      Dulse & Rugosa has a bundle package right now, with every purchase of our Dog Shampoo Bar will include a sample biodogradable dog poo bag.

      And for the foreseeable future purchase of our Mama Earth Shower Shots will go directly to support Houston and possibly FLA SPCA.  

      Zero Waste Back to School Tips

      Zero Waste Back to School Tips

      Shop Zero Waste for Back to School

      Back to School Season means shopping.  It's a tradition to start the school year with brand new clothing, backpack and school supplies.  The truth is many purchases are unnecessary, expensive and create loads of trash.  Save money and save the planet with some simple tips to help you go Zero Waste.

      Let's start with clothing.  The first day of school is exciting and everyone wants to look their best for the photos but... " fashion is the second dirtiest industry in the world, second only to oil."  This was a statement made by clothing designer Eileen Fisher in an EcoWatch blog post. There are a lot of issues involved- raw materials, production, distribution and finally disposal of used clothing. One strong philosophy of zero waste is to buy quality that will last.  When purchasing new clothing buy garments that are fashionable and well constructed.  When your child outgrows their clothing pass it along to a friend, neighbor, resell or charity shop.  Shopping at consignment boutiques and charity shops is both budget and eco friendly.  The problem with buying trendy and cheap clothing is they rarely last through multiple washing and the abundance of cheap, worn out clothing is literally clogging up our earth.  For more info on this serious topic check out 1 Million Women's Fast Fashion blog.

      Zero Waste Back to School

      Next the backpack.  Buy the sturdiest backpack you can find, either at a resell shop or from a good quality outfitter- think L L Bean, Land's End, Jansport.  Look for a company that has a genuine guarantee.   While the initial purchase will be pricier than a discount backpack, you want a backpack that will last for years.  But you can't buy a large backpack for your child to grow into because to be comfortable it needs to fit properly.  The perfect fit is below the shoulder blades and ending right around the waist.  This means a backpack or bag for the preschool years, one for primary and perhaps another larger one for the elementary years.  Any big growth spurt means time to buy another back pack.  That's why it's so important to buy quality- your outgrown backpack will be perfect for another student.  Another tip is to launder the backpack regularly.  It's best to turn the backpack inside out before putting into the washing machine.  Of course, as time goes on it will show signs of wear but keeping it clean will extend the life and appeal to the next owner.  You can add a bit of excitement each school year by applying patches, cool pins or zipper pulls.

      I also recommend purchasing a good quality water bottle.  In fact depending on the age of your child you might have to buy more than one.  Hydrating keeps us at  our physical and mental best.  You might need a water bottle for the lunch box, one to stay at school and one to keep in the backpack.  Again, it's quality over price.  Avoid cheap plastic water bottles that contain nasty toxins.  You want a water bottle that is leak proof, insulated, non-toxic and dishwasher safe.     

      clean around the house first for school supplies.

      For school supplies start with a hunt around your house.  I know I have drawers, tins and cups full of all kind of writing supplies.  I think it's fair to say to our kids that before we buy new we're going to use up what we have.  It's a good life style policy to instill as early as possible.  You might even donate a box of found supplies to your child's classroom.  When walking down the back to school aisles look for paper products that contain some percentage of recycled paper. Purchase from companies that are working for a better future.  Crayola has an easy four simple steps marker recycling program called colorcycle.

      There are many other ways to be more green when going back to school including lunches which is the subject of another blog.

       

      The Plastic Free Produce Movement

      The Plastic Free Produce Movement

      Are you ready to join the Plastic Free Produce Movement?  It's an easy step on your Zero Waste Journey because Mother Nature has been so generous in her packaging of most fruits and vegetables. Bananas, winter squash, avocados.....the list goes on.  

      Fill your cart with produce not plastic

      Of course, if you have a garden you understand the joy of plastic free produce. It's also possible to buy produce plastic free with just a bit of effort.  The first thing to do is either bring your own produce bags or have a basket to put all you produce in for easy weighing.  I was so proud of my first set of produce bags made from an old sheet but found they weren't perfect for produce as the checker didn't know what was inside each bag.  It could hold up the checkout line if the store was crowded.  My plan is to make some bags out of tulle but honestly I've gotten so use to simply placing most produce right in my basket or cart.  You do need a bag for peas, beans, etc. 

      Cloth bags instead of plastic for your produce

      One important reason to switch to plastic free produce is plastic is not biodegradable while our produce is.  It just keeps breaking down into smaller and smaller pieces.  Those teeny tiny pieces often end up in the ocean where they are eaten by sea creatures.  If you think about it, these minute pieces of plastic resemble tiny and delicious critters in the ocean food chain.

      Also plastic is made from oil, a non-renewable resource.  One day we will run out of oil.  We need to conserve and use our natural resources rather than squander it covering fruits and vegetables that Mother Nature has already packaged perfectly.

      Once you make the switch you do have to be mindful with your produce in the fridge- especially if your bags are not clear.   I've had a few very yucky bags of forgotten produce to clean out- but remember it's a process.  One change I made was to shop more often but I totally understand if your busy life doesn't allow this. I keep my salad greens right in my salad spinner.  I use cloths to keep carrots and beets fresh and try to pay attention to what I have and eat it while it is fresh and tasty.   

      Anita Horan- a plastic free produce activist from Australia has some great tips on her FaceBook page https://www.facebook.com/anita.the.writer/ and she has started a Plastic Free Produce campaign.  She has a template for cards to scatter around the produce department to help raise awareness if you want to become a give up plastic activist- No plastic needed cards.

      Going #plasticfreeproduce is a small but important step on the Zero Waste Journey.