Hello readers. Welcome to #SolutionMonday on CleanbuildVoices!
Our dependency on plastic is causing great damage to the environment. This is because plastic waste is one of many types of wastes that do not decompose easily – taking anywhere between 20 to 500 years to degrade in landfills.
To make matters worse, about 91% of all the plastics produced in the world aren’t recycled. What this means is that tons of plastic products that ended up in the dumpsites are still very much around. Yikes!
With so much plastic waste on the planet, human health, the climate, as well as marine life, are at huge risks due to interaction with the synthetic substances in plastics.
To reduce the need for plastic in order to ensure a healthy ecosystem, individuals, companies, and governments are developing sustainable products and other degradable materials to phase out single-use plastic products.
Below is a list of 3 sustainable inventions that we’ve compiled for you to purchase for that sustainable and wholesome lifestyle that you deserve. Enjoy.
Bamboo toothbrushes
The average person is advised to change their toothbrush every three to four months for good oral hygiene.
It is however alarming that most of the toothbrushes in the market are plastic which means they contribute to harmful waste in landfills if we were to go by the recommendation to swap toothbrushes.
We, therefore, recommend bamboo toothbrushes because their components, right from the box and packaging, are made from bamboo or compostable castor bean nylon.
You can check out Simply Bamboo for toothbrushes that do not only effectively clean your teeth but are comfortable and are made of 100% biodegradable materials.
Silicone food bags
Imagine all that plastic waste you generate from storing food!
The good news is that there are food bags that are produced using 100% pure platinum silicone. They work perfectly well, are reusable, leak-proof, can be sealed to preserve what’s in them, and the great part is that they are non-plastic.
You can try out Stasher Bag which, apart from being silicone, is designed to withstand heat, the cold, and anything else your kitchen dishes out.
Its patented airtight seal ensures that all the flavors, nutrients, and juices in your food are locked in.
Edible water bottles
Goodbye pollution, welcome edible packaging!
So, you’re trying to process how it’s possible to finish drinking water and then eat the bottle. Unbelievable? well, we think not.
Ooho is inspired by egg yolks, and it is water that is sealed in natural seaweed membrane-like packaging (layers made up of brown algae and calcium chloride).
Ooho’s packaging (membrane) is totally compostable and biodegradable, and its content can be drunk when the packaging is punctured. And the good part is that you can decide to eat the membrane or throw it away.
If you decide to throw the packaging away instead of eating it, it can degrade in a natural environment within an average of six weeks compared to plastics that take years to decompose.