Scientists from Hawaii in 2014, discovered a rock formation consisting of beach sediment, basaltic lava fragments, organic debris and melted plastic. This finding is very illustrative of the world in which we now live. Scientists have suggested that this culture and behaviour of not caring about plastic will define our legacy on earth. Therefore, Thirsty Work is doing every it can to reduce its plastic waste and help individuals, teams, clubs and companies reduce there’s too.

The Complexity of Recycling

Given that only 9% of all plastics have ever been recycled and 12% incinerated, this leaves a significant volume of plastics potentially polluting the environment. But why is more not recycled?

Well the obstacle to recycling lies in the lack of transparency about which plastics are recyclable. Plastics are numbered to help consumers understand which plastic they are using, but the problem is that this number system is not well advertised or made aware to people. See most consumers wouldn’t understand that a bottle displaying a 1 is recyclable but if it’s a 3 or 5 then it probably isn’t, even with the recyclable PET. But the main issue is most of these plastics or only suited to single use, which is why there is such a sheer volume of plastic that can’t or hasn’t been recycled. Therefore, Thirsty Work suggests people adopting these five steps to help reduce their plastic use.

Five Steps Towards Plastic Free Living

Do you think it’s possible to live life without plastic? Well these are our top tips to help you limit your exposure of single use plastics and start your journey towards plastic free living.

Say no to straws

Plastic Straws has been a topic that Theresa May has recently talked about in her attempt to ban the use of them by 2020. But why are plastic straws so bad? Well traditionally plastic straws are made of polypropylene (plastic 5). While the material itself poses no distinct health hazards, they are incredibly hard to recycle, which is why straws are deadly to marine life.

Only buy the clothes you need

Polyester now dominates the fashion industry, with usage easily outstripping both cotton and wool. Polyester is a polymer, most commonly referred to as a PET or plastic 1. Overproduction and overconsumption of clothing have led to high volumes of clothing disposal, resulting in a large volume of pollution. Therefore, consumers must be mindful of what is in their wardrobe, making the most of their selection and donating to a local charity or consignment store.

Try cooking at home

Reducing your reliance on takeaways, unnecessary packaging, disposable cutlery and containers, would be a major step in reducing your usage of plastic. Single use items are the biggest issue to marine life and our oceans.

Avoid single use carrier bags

Keep cloth bags in your car, store them in a visible position in your house and always remember to take them with you when you head out.

Purchase a reusable water bottle

Most plastic bottles are unsuitable for multi-use: they leach toxic by-products and harbour bacteria. Choose BPA-free bottles, reuse old glass jars and stay hydrated with a main fed water cooler at your work or home.