Reducing our reliance on single-use plastic
We live in The Age of Plastic, and all know the problem is adversely affecting our planet in a number of ways. Marine life is ingesting microplastics, which are then entering the human food chain. In addition, the production of plastic emits greenhouse gases, contributing to climate change. Each year, millions of people around the world take part in Plastic Free July, a global initiative to reduce plastic pollution, raise awareness of the problem and encourage us to make small changes in our daily lives to help reduce reliance on single-use plastics. According to the Plastic Free July website, it is estimated that approximately 8 million metric tons of plastic enters our oceans each year, harming marine life and polluting our waterways.
Making Simple Daily Changes So, what can we do to be a part of the solution? By reducing our reliance on plastics and making other small changes individually, we can make a big impact collectively—not just in July but year-round. For example, we can use reusable shopping bags instead of disposable plastic bags, take our own coffee cups to the local cafe, use eco-conscious & plastic-negative cleaning products, and even grow our own herbs and vegetables, removing the need to buy plastic-wrapped vegetables in the Supermarket. Buying products that are packaged in glass or paper also reduces our reliance on plastic.
Education Educating our children (or our workmates) about the problem and the solutions they can take on a daily basis will also help. One way to do this is to lead by example. Refuse single-use plastics whenever possible, and recycle or reuse plastic items instead of throwing them away. You can also stress the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling to your children. Help them to understand how their choices can make a difference in the health of our planet. By working together, we can create a cleaner, healthier environment for all.
Make Conscious Purchases—Quality Over Quantity When you do need to update existing items within your home—whether they are big or small, look to pieces that preserve resources. At noho, we are committed to using sustainable and up-cycled materials in our products. The noho move chair is made from Econyl®—from reclaimed ocean plastic from ghost fishing nets and end-of-life carpets. It is then reprocessed and can be used to make new products—including clothing (used by the likes of Gucci and Prada), new carpets and, in our case, furniture. We have also eliminated plastic from our packaging by using plain cardboard, tissue paper, compostable corn-starch bags, and environmentally friendly inks. We've also eliminated shrink-wrap from our freight and logistics chain. Aside from comfortable chairs, seek out other products for your home that are made from eco-wool and organic cotton, locally sourced or reclaimed wood, and recycled fabrics.
The small daily steps we take to reduce our plastic use can have a big impact on the environment. Every time we use a reusable water bottle instead of a disposable one, we prevent plastic from ending up in landfills or oceans. When we choose products packaged in glass or paper instead of plastic, we reduce the demand for new plastic production. And when we recycle the plastic we do use, we give it a new life instead of letting it sit in a landfill for generations. All of these actions make a difference in the fight against climate change and help to preserve our planet for future generations. So let’s remember—it's that one small step that can make a big difference.
