It’s a bit daunting and discouraging to learn as we did in our coffee cup blog that we in the United States dispose of 50 billion coffee cups a year – wow! The good news is that we also keep learning about more organizations and people committed to reducing the use of single-use plastic. 

U.S. PIRG (Public Interest Research Group) Education Fund published a newsletter just last week that highlighted businesses that minimize the use of single-use plastic packaging including providing refill options, container returns, and plastic free products, like shampoo, detergent, deodorant, sunscreen, and more.  To learn more, see their report here:  https://pirg.org/edfund/resources/refill-return-reimagine-innovative-solutions-to-reduce-wasteful-packaging/?tag=email_blast:133456&utm_source=salsa&utm_medium=email

The United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) has issued a report offering a roadmap to governments and businesses, with strategies to cuts levels of plastic pollution by 80% in less than two decades.  Among the strategies:  discontinuing fossil fuel subsidies that help make new plastic products cheaper, refillable bottles with effective deposit programs, and plastic take-back programs, increasing recycling, and shifting to alternative packaging materials that are compostable.  Read more here:  https://www.unep.org/resources/turning-off-tap-end-plastic-pollution-create-circular-economy

And there are so many businesses making everyday household products without plastic: 

One favorite is Meliora Cleaning Products – soap sticks, laundry powder, all-purpose cleaning spray, and more – made with safer ingredients.  https://meliorameansbetter.com/collections/cleaning-products

I’m excited to try another bar shampoo brand:  /kit-sch/.  They sell bar shampoo, conditioner, body soap, and more.  And they sell a cool looking dish to hold the bars with labels to help you tell the bars apart!  https://www.mykitsch.com/products/soap-dish-bundle?view=sl-DF5B3514

There is so much bad news about the impact of plastics on our world, but we can make a difference one reusable cup, shampoo bar, or powder soap at a time!

What can you do:

• Try a new plastic free product. If you need ideas, please contact McSisters.

• Keep using those reusable containers