Did you know that 2,000 plastic water bottles are used every second, or that a dump truck’s worth of plastic goes into our oceans every minute?* Incredibly, current projections show that there will be more plastic than fish in our oceans by the year 2050.† Fortunately there’s something we can do to help, by committing to reduce, reuse and recycle. And we can support companies and products committed to reducing plastic waste. Here are a few ways to chip in.
REDUCE: Cutting plastic waste.
The world’s current recycling efforts are not nearly effective enough to offset the global demand for plastic products. One of notable culprit is the proliferation of disposable plastic water bottles. Of course, there are more environmentally friendly alternatives to consider when hydrating.
Brita® Water Filters can help cut down on plastic waste. With a diverse collection of filter pitchers and reusable water bottles, you can get great-tasting water without having to buy disposable water bottles. You can reduce up to 900 plastic bottles with just one Brita® Longlast™ filter.‡ Brita also offers faucet filtration systems that filter impurities right at your tap. Click here to learn more about what Brita filters!
REUSE: Repurposing plastic products.
There are many ways to reuse and repurpose plastic products that would otherwise be thrown away. For starters, it’s easy to reuse plastic shopping bags as trashcan liners, and repurpose old coffee creamer containers to store snacks, nuts or sugar. You can also tap into your crafty side and transform milk jugs into mini herb gardens, piggy banks, even DIY bird filters. By repurposing these products into reusable items, we can reduce the amount of plastic waste that goes into the environment.
Even old Brita® pitchers and filters can be transformed once they’ve been retired. Our partner TerraCycle can turn your old Brita products into 100% recycled goods like outdoor chairs, bike racks, even park benches! Visit the Brita Recycling page to see how.
RECYCLE: The importance of recycling.
Compared to compostable food materials, plastic products can take hundreds of years to break down. In fact, plastic water bottles take 450 years to decompose.§ So although recycling is a great habit to make, it is best to reduce or reuse rather than rely on recycling alone, since plastic isn’t infinitely recyclable — there is a limited number of times that plastic can be reused to make new products. Pacific Institute estimates that between 32 and 54 million barrels of oil are needed to meet the annual demand for bottled water products alone, and that’s just in the United States. The resulting greenhouse gas emissions are equivalent to over a million cars on the road. On top of that, plastic that accumulates in sea water, for example, can transfer contaminants to seabirds, fish, plants and other animals. Before you toss your empty plastic bottles and containers, be sure to place in a recycling bin to do your part to reduce waste.
Recycling Symbols on Plastics – What Do the Numbers Mean?
Many of the plastic products we use on a daily basis contain small markings that give information as to whether or not they can be recycled. The most commonly used symbol is a triangle formed by three arrows, with a number in the center. It’s important to know that some products with a triangle symbol aren’t recyclable in most curbside recycling programs and that the numbers are simply there to help you differentiate between materials.
Here’s a breakdown of the numbers you’re likely to encounter, and their significance:
#1. Recyclable. Includes most soda and water bottles, which are considered to be relatively safe as single-use consumer products, but according to National Institutes of Health can potentially leach harmful chemicals when exposed to high temperatures for long periods.
#2. Recyclable. Many yogurt tubs, shampoo bottles, juice bottles and other opaque plastic containers. This type of plastic is considered to be one of the safest, less prone to breaking down or leaching.
#3. Rarely Recyclable. These products are typically flexible in nature and include plastic food wrapping, pet toys, even plumbing materials.
#4 & #5. Recycling practices differ by collection service. Products marked as plastic #4 include squeezable bottles, bread bags and shopping tote bags. Items containing plastic #5 include bottle tops, cereal bags and medicine bottles. These items are not commonly recycled, but that’s changing in some communities.
#6 & #7. Not Recyclable. Plastic #6 items include Styrofoam drinking cups, take-out food containers and egg cartons. Items marked #7 include a grouping of all “other” items that don’t fit into categories #1–6, which also include biodegradable and compostable plastics that are not recyclable but can be collected in curbside composting.
Start making a difference.
Choose planet over plastic by signing this pledge with National Geographic, and spread the word by challenging friends and family to join the movement.
Here are just a few ways you can start making an impact today:
Cut down on the single-use plastic products you use
Travel with a reusable water bottle when you’re on the go
Carry reusable shopping totes to avoid disposable plastic bags
Avoid using Styrofoam and other non-recyclable materials
If you do use plastic products, recycle appropriately
