USPS Publication Number 16300
T h is C o m mu n i t y N ewsp a p er is a pu bl ica t ion of E sca m bia-S a n t a Rosa B a r Assoc ia t ion
Se r v i ng t he Fi r st Jud icial Ci rcu it
Section A, Page 1
Vol. 19, No. 22
Visit The Summation Weekly Online: www.summationweekly.com
May 29, 2019
1 Section, 12 Pages
Reducing Single Use Items By Emily Echevarria
From the appearance of biodegradable paper straws where plastic ones were once stocked to the suddenly commonplace instance of coffee fiends handing over their own tumbler to the barista, there’s a growing consciousness among consumers regarding plastic, single-use items. Reusable grocery totes have been ubiquitous for years but items like to-go coffee and drink cups, plastic bags and baggies, plastic straws, plastic wrap and plenty of other items are under scrutiny from those looking to reduce waste in their homes and lives. Luckily, there are a bevy of strategies and products that can help on the journey to reducing plastic waste. Mary Gutierrez, executive director at Earth Action, Inc. has been working on the issue of plastic waste for years, and said she is happy to see it gaining steam among so many people. Earth Action, Inc. is a 501 (c)(4) that works to promote effective change for environmental, social, and animal advocacy issues. Earth Ethics, Inc. is the associated 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to helping the environment. “Earth Ethics has a plastic campaign that we’ve been working on for several years now,” Gutierrez said. “We also just recently become an official partner for the international/national organization Plastic Pollution Coalition.” The Plastic Pollution Coalition (PPC) is a growing global alliance of more than 700 organizations, businesses and thought leaders in 60 countries working together on initiatives and legal actions that aim to reduce plastic pollution. These big-picture initiatives are a necessary part of reducing plastic waste, but individuals can make adjustments and change small habits to reduce plastic waste that can go unnoticed because of its prevalence. Being more mindful of plastic use and wasteful products, packaging, and general waste is a good place to start when looking toward more sustainable living. The Last Straw While something like a plastic drink straw seems like a small and humble convenience of daily life, it’s only in the last few decades that consumers have come to expect them in every drink they’re served in restaurants or drivethroughs, and those hundreds of millions of straws used on a daily basis add up in both landfills and littering waterways. Data from the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup list indi-
cates that straws place consistently in the top ten list of items found in cleanup efforts. Straws sit at number six, just below plastic bottles (the broad category of plastic pieces is number one). Luckily, it’s also an easy thing to give up or replace with a more sustainable counterpart. Ever’man Cooperative Grocery stocks two options for reusable straws, a silicone straw by KoffieStraw, and a stainless steel version by U-Konserve. Both are perfect for your morning smoothie and easy to carry along for that iced latte you grab on your way into work. You can also support local business and buy bamboo straws from Bob’s Bamboo, a company that hand-makes eco-friendly products with locally harvested bamboo right here in Pensacola. Robert Smyres was a landscaper and farmer by trade when he decided to upcycle some bamboo trimmings from a job. “I took some bamboo in my workshop and made my own set of a few bamboo straws and used them at home for another four or five years,” he said. Only about a year ago he started the Bob’s Bamboo business and says the response has been great. They’re available locally at East Hill Market, Shirley’s Cafe, Four Winds International Market and Geronimo’s Outpost on the beach, and he also ships them to clients in other parts of the country. The straws come in a variety of sizes – big and tall for smoothies or boba drinks, or thinner and shorter for cocktails or coffee. He also sells straw sets, and takes custom orders through the etsy shop SaveEarthProducts. The unique straws are sturdy, dishwasher safe and last for years. He’s currently working on a reusable bamboo spoon to use with the icy treats served at the Rajun Cajun Sno-balls truck. Smyres says he hopes the business continues to grow and in doing so, inspires others to replace the plastic items in their lives. “A plastic straw may just be one thing to replace but it does remind people that if you try you can find something else instead of the plastic,” he said. Modify Your Lifestyle It may seem like an insurmountable challenge to eliminate plastic waste from your life completely, but there are plenty of great places to start when it comes to at least reducing your impact. Gutierrez recommends taking stock of the single-use plastic items you use
in your daily life and start with the lowhanging fruit. Maybe you dutifully bring your grocery totes to every trip to the store, but still use plastic produce bags that can easily be swapped for small mesh or canvas bags. Ever’man sells tote size ChicoBag products as well as a string market bag perfect for your avocado haul by Down To Earth. Also in the produce section, look for produce items that aren’t pre-packaged. Based on your comfort level, Gutierrez says you might also talk to business owners about utilizing these types of unnecessary plastic packaging and advocate for a more sustainable approach. Considering your kitchen and eating on the go, Gutierrez suggests bringing your own silverware to use if you’re heading to a restaurant or cafe that uses plastic ware. For packing for lunches or eating on the go, plastic baggies are a staple, but there are plenty of other options. Most things you would carry in a baggie could also be placed in a reusable container, or in a product like LunchSkins reusable bags, also available at Ever’man. In the bathroom, consider the bottles that encase things like shampoo, lotions, soaps, body wash and the like. Some of
these items can simply be swapped for ones that don’t use plastic, like bar soap or shampoo bars that come wrapped in paper instead of wash that is packaged in plastic. You could also try a DIY approach to a few of these items and store them in reusable containers, like Freund Reusable Bottles from Ever’man. For your dental care needs, Ever’man also carries Eco Dent Premium Dental Floss, a vegan, recyclable product that does not come in the typical plastic box. Get Involved • June: World Ocean Month: This year, Keep Pensacola Beautiful is expanding World Ocean Day (June 8) to be World Ocean Month. During the Month of June, the group will host beach cleanups, hold ocean-based activities, and work with our partner organizations to clean every inch of Escambia County coastlines. Keeppensacolabeautiful.org • Earth Ethics Meetings: The group and community members meet at the Ever’man Community Center every second Monday of the month from 6 to 7:30 pm. Next meetings are June 10 and July 8. earthethics.us • Join Plastic Free July: Join the challenge and ‘Choose To Refuse’ single-use plastic during July. plasticfreejuly.org
Make Your Own Personal Care Products Courtesy of Earth Action Did you know that personal items come in single use plastic containers? Most containers can’t be or aren’t recycled. Buy a glass jar or tin for storing your homemade goods. Not only are homemade goods not using plastic, there are also no fillers, metals or other harmful chemicals. DEODORANT Ingredients: 1⁄2 cup baking soda 1⁄2 cup corn flour A few drops of tea tree oil 2 whole bay leaves Instructions: Combine. Moisten underarms or apply before drying after a shower. Pat on with a cotton ball or sprinkle on a wet washcloth. TOOTHPASTE Ingredients: 4 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon table salt Instructions: Mix the ingredients together. You can make some of this up in advance, just multiply and use four-parts baking soda to one-part salt. Take some of the mixture and add just enough water to make a paste.
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