The more you look into a problem the more complicated it becomes. ‘One size fits all’ solutions are hard to come by these days especially when it comes to global problems like the plastic crisis. So here we are, we haven’t got just one solution, instead we have a four-pronged attack. Let’s reduce, reuse, redesign AND recycle our way out of the plastic crisis.

The Source allows you to purchase your day-to-day groceries in bulk using your own jars. Pasta, tea, nuts, flour, soap everything you need sans the packaging.

Reduce

Sometimes plastic is the most useful material for a given task, sometimes it just isn’t. One of the most effective ways to remedy the plastic crisis is to remove unnecessary plastic where possible. Here are our top four tips for doing exactly that:

1. Clingfilm is a no-no - There are now many (more effective) alternatives to cling film that can keep food fresher for longer: reusable glass containers, kitchen foil, beeswax wraps, silicone bowl toppers; just take your pick.
2. Let it loose - Wherever possible try to limit the amount of products that require plastic packaging. This could mean going for loose fruit and veg in the supermarket, swapping out bottled shower gel for bar soap and bulk buying products rather than going for lots of little packets. Protip: Some places may even have zero-waste shops where you bring reusable containers yourself to fill with bulk products like flour, pasta, cereal, nuts etc.
3. Reduce Plastic Consumption - yup you read that right, we actually eat plastic all the time. The amount of one credit card every week in fact. How is this possible? Well, it’s contained in many tea bags, chewing gum products and it’s even in the animal products we eat. In short - plastic is literally everywhere. To save the planet (and your body), aim to reduce products that are notorious microplastic carriers. For tea, this may mean going loose-leaf tea. For chewing gum, look out for ‘Plastic-free’ labels.
4. Party Mindfully - don’t worry we aren’t advocating for boring celebrations, we simply mean switching out single-use party products like balloons for things like tissue pompoms, flowers, lanterns and other items you can reuse.

Ah, a perfect segway to our next segment…

Reuse

It’s estimated that 50% of plastic is used just once before getting thrown away; by these estimates single-use plastic makes up 175 million metric tons of global waste every year! Help change this narrative by following our top three tips for plastic reusability:

1. But don’t forget them! - Metal water bottles, reusable coffee cups, reusable shopping bags, metal straws. By now we are well aware of the reusable alternatives to their single use counterparts. But two things we need to get better at, not forgetting them at home and buying pretty / trendy new ones every year. Enjoy the dints, the scuffs, the wear and tare and give them a long life like they were meant to have.
2. Reusable razors - Funny enough we seem to have trouble saying goodbye to our plastic single use razors? Why? Get a great-looking metal one and after that all you need to do is replace the steel blades and your reusable razors can last many many years. It may seem like an expensive option at first glance, but in the long term reusable razors work out cheaper.
3. Plastic Free Periods - Unfortunately period products like tampons and pads use a lot of plastic packaging and worst of all, many of them are single use. Switch out single use products for things like period pants, reusable pads and menstrual cups, which can be washed and reused. Although menstrual cups are often made of plastic, they can last up to two years, overall making them a more eco-friendly option.

Redesign

This leg requires more of an industrial effort. If we wish to make genuine change, corporations and brands need to start designing differently. This can come in many forms: designing products for long-term use, introducing industry-wide guidelines including a ‘minimum recycled content’ policy, making products easier to recycle (this is already being seen with non-detachable plastic bottle lids), and last but not least; excluding toxic compounds from plastic materials to improve the final quality of recycled products. In June 2019, the Environmental Coalition of Standards released their recommendations for greenifying the lifecycle of plastic, these will directly influence the policies being laid out by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee regarding plastic production, design and disposal, set to be released in 2024.

Recycle

Now we’ve come to the last leg at the table. Plastic has become an integral part of our society and it isn't going anywhere soon. If all else fails we need to do something with the plastic waste us humans create. This is where we come in.

Traditional recycling is broken, but with our infinite recycling technology we can make this last leg a powerful one. While this has previously been impossible due to inefficient traditional technologies, Samsara Eco’s plastic eating enzymes allow us to infinitely recycle plastic. Our enzymes break plastic back down into its original chemical building blocks: monomers, which can be used again and again and again – infinitely. It’s the purest, most eco-friendly form of recycling yet!

Our technology can be used on a wide range of plastics. From packaging to apparel and so much more. Our partnership with Lululemon brought a world-first to life. An infinitely recycled Nylon 6,6 garment, and then we launched a Polyester Anorak jacket with Lululemon. And this is just the beginning, who knows what infinite recycling will bring us next.

So there you have it, the four legs on the table of change: reduce, reuse, redesign and recycle. To sum it all up, we need to stop viewing plastic as a single-use commodity and start treating it responsibly. Plastic isn’t waste, it’s a resource. Plastic doesn't biodegrade, it’s going to be here forever. Let’s take responsibility for the mess we made, stop producing more plastic from fossil fuels and start putting all the plastic we’ve already created to good use. For more information, visit the Sam For Change webpage.