Not so much hidden, but it’s hard to avoid plastic as a chronically ill disabled person who is mostly housebound (med and supplement bottles, prepackaged food because horrible fatigue, bulk food in plastic because I can’t afford the bulk bins, plastic from grocery pickup orders). I recycle as much as possible and try to limit food packaging, but one of the best ways to limit food packaging is to cook your own, which I have limited energy to do. I don’t buy much beyond food, and I don’t over-consume. I love this channel because eco-ableism is addressed here, and plastic use is not demonized!
yes!! the medical industry is one of the (if not THE) hardest places to avoid plastic. it's completely understandable for health and safety but i always wonder if there are any other accessible options
yup same!! chronically ill girlie here who survives thanks to two meds in plastic. Gotta do what you can! That's why I find other ways to live an eco life :)
@@deedee_audie7461 it makes total sense to have plastic here for sure! I like pill bottles vs blister packs where possible: less packaging, easier to reuse, easier to recycle
@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist and if you are able to get several month's worth of pills instead of one month at a time, not only does that typically mean fewer plastic bottles, but you also won't have to worry about getting refills as often and you may even save some money! This won't work for every kind of medication, but it's worth asking about your options!
So I decided to learn to sew because I couldn’t find clothes I liked that were not at least part polyester (which I can’t stand) and boy was I in for a shitty surprise when I found out that 99% of sewing thread is 100% polyester. I found one single spool of cotton thread but was advised at the store to sew with polyester thread even on cotton fabric because cotton thread snaps and sheds easily, which could damage your machine. Cotton and linen thread are apparently better suited for hand-sewing. So even if you buy clothes that say “100% cotton” the thread is most likely polyester.
Earlier in my ZW journey, I was surprised to see an employee refilling a bulk candy bin in my grocery store... by dumping in a plastic bag filled with candy! I don't know what i thought the candy came to the store in, but almost everything has some plastic waste upstream.
i'm so glad i stopped smoking. i smoked for 10 years in total (ages 13-17, 18-24) and used to threw the butts on the ground up until i was 22 or something. then i started using those "portable ash trays". now i'm just glad i've stopped completely (since almost 2 years now! yay me!)
This is one of the only plastic-reduction initiatives that has worked! At least in the US, microbeads in “wash-off” cosmetics have been banned since 2015!
Hi, I'm 74. My clothes are mostly second-hand or free. My craft supplies are mostly free or second-hand (glue and paints get used up). In the same way that PETA changed women's fashion, I've noticed more of us seniors are eco- conscious: less nail crap, hair dye, dry cleaning. Tina, Al's wife
Caboo bamboo wipes are a good alternative for people who like using wet wipes in the bathroom. Also, if you don't have carton recycling search for a mail-in program. I reuse a box from some other package, and we mail ours to a facility in our state a few times a year. It's very cheap because empty cartons barely weigh anything. I LOVE silk dental floss, but I can't always afford it. I buy other low waste options, though, made from recycled nylon in paper packaging. I also love Girlfriend Collective, paper tape, and Patch bandages!
I love the speech speed disclaimer, my sis talked about twice as fast as you as a kid and I had to translate for her until she was in 1st or 2nd grade. When we moved back to Michigan her Georgia/Texas southern accent and speech speed made people think she had a speech impediment. Lol. Sometimes people just need to work on their listening skills or learn to quit griping about every little thing.
Right I want to be accessible but I can only do so much, this is my natural speed. Plus when platforms like TH-cam make it SO easy to slow the video down, please just do that. I cannot cater to everyone
Not necessarily "plastic" but I wanted to buy a sturdy pair of leather boots (to avoid polyester shoes that fall apart easily) and learned how pollutive the chrome tanning process is. Vegetable tanned leather is much better for the environment. Of course, secondhand leather is always the best choice.
I have only knitted one sweater in my life, and it was acrylic yarn, and I never wore it because it never got cold enough for me to not sweat while wearing it. And then I outgrew it (thanks, pregnancy and post-pregnancy), so I finally got rid of it by donating it! I wouldn't be surprised if no one ever bought it.
@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist it also creak/squeaked when I put it on or off and was the most static-attracting thing in existence. For some reason, I didn't notice either of these things when knitting it. If I ever knit a sweater again, it'll be wool or wool blend.
It’s upsetting for receipt 🧾 paper to be covered in BPA 😩and acrylic paint ( I love to paint so I’ll have to find alternatives like the brands you mentioned.) Thanks Emma👍 Plastic ingredients for sure: Contact lenses and toothbrush 🪥bristles( not vegan-friendly-animal testing, so I’m sticking to my glasses or laser eye surgery 🧐 and I’m using the Humble brand toothbrush head bristles- less plastic 🤷🏻♀️refills
Commenting to say I would actually like a fullvvideo of toxic plastics like teflon. I recently learned about it too when I watched a movie called "Dark Waters".
Hello Emma listening and just to add some cardboard or paper is lined or covered with some sort of plastic(shines and stretches and repels water) . I actually try to reuse that part and still recycle the cardboard paper parts. I’ve tried that eco brick thing now too.
I know in Pittsburgh big tire took down the trolley system by pushing for buses and then the buses got mismanaged and the city took them over. And by then the trolleys basically weren’t a thing anymore
OMG, so much plastic everywhere 😮 At least the Canadian dollar bills are now reusable 🤣 when the government introduced the plastic bills here in the North, I thought "wow, now our money can be laundered" bad joke, but it is true. Huh...
Good thing the US "paper" currency is made of cloth. Can't tell you how many times I've had them go through the washer and the dryer and come out fine (of course, I didn't know they were in there). Coins "do well" too, lol!
Plastic is insidious, even my wheelchair has quite a bit of plastic. I avoid what I can and just have to accept that plastic is a part of my life. I don't use wrapping paper, any kind of fabric makes a nice wrap and there are lots of videos showing how.
@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist it sucks but it has too. When my store shipped orders to peoples homes I tried to use plastic bags from the shipments. We did save bubble wrap and some boxes. The company provided giant rolls of bubble wrap and certain sizes of boxes but we would have to get creative with Franken-boxes unless we kept boxes from the shipment.
glasses!! i used to wear metal frames until i developed a nickel allergy :') i cant find any nickel free glasses i like so now im forced to wear plastics on my face (how fun!). also contacts are always packaged in plastics too. this isnt the biggest deal and i understand its use (especially for contacts) its just kinda annoying and something i didnt really think about before
Yeah…plastic is simply too useful especially in medical fields, to ever be phased out completely. My hope is truly biodegradable plastics will become the norm, and if not biodegradable then I hope there will be better industrial processes for breaking plastics down completely.
@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist unfortunately plastic degrades the more it gets recycled, which is why figuring out how to efficiently break it down completely into its molecular parts is the holy grail, because then it can be remade into plastic that’s just like new without using any extra fossil fuels
Is LASIK eye surgery not an option? I had it done 14 years ago and I am so glad that I did. I used to wear contact lenses daily, it was such an amazing surgery that I wish everyone could have it.
Really, if you really are concerned for the environment, you should avoid unnecessary plastics. And I would say most cosmetics fall into that category. It’s not just the polish you have the lid, wand and brush made of plastic. Same for hair dyes. These are the glitter of adults.
No one in Australia can avoid plastic, no matter what lengths you go to. Why? In July 1992 the Australian currency (dollars not metal coins) was charged to plastic to have a longer shelf life. Our dollar notes can now safely go through the washing machine without being destroyed. If you don't want to use cash the only other option is debit or credit cards. Obviously made of plastic. But what about cheques? Almost no citizen uses them (1 or 2 may though), and it's extreme hard to obtain them for private use. Even businesses are reducing their use of them.
I was really surprised about the chewing gum and the receipts! I don't actually use either, I don't like the texture of chewing gum and for years now I have had to rely on online shopping so no paper receipts and before when I was able to go into shops, most places gave you the option for no receipt which I would take. But it is still surprising do discover that those items contain plastic. We really do live in a plastic civilisation don't we! It's everywhere - and in situations like the medical world - essential. I think if everyone would cut out unnecessary plastic that would make a massive difference whilst we wait for science to develop better eco-friendly materials that can replace plastic in those areas where it is still essential.
Not so much hidden, but it’s hard to avoid plastic as a chronically ill disabled person who is mostly housebound (med and supplement bottles, prepackaged food because horrible fatigue, bulk food in plastic because I can’t afford the bulk bins, plastic from grocery pickup orders). I recycle as much as possible and try to limit food packaging, but one of the best ways to limit food packaging is to cook your own, which I have limited energy to do. I don’t buy much beyond food, and I don’t over-consume. I love this channel because eco-ableism is addressed here, and plastic use is not demonized!
yes!! the medical industry is one of the (if not THE) hardest places to avoid plastic. it's completely understandable for health and safety but i always wonder if there are any other accessible options
yup same!! chronically ill girlie here who survives thanks to two meds in plastic. Gotta do what you can! That's why I find other ways to live an eco life :)
yayyyy thanks for being here!
@@deedee_audie7461 it makes total sense to have plastic here for sure! I like pill bottles vs blister packs where possible: less packaging, easier to reuse, easier to recycle
@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist and if you are able to get several month's worth of pills instead of one month at a time, not only does that typically mean fewer plastic bottles, but you also won't have to worry about getting refills as often and you may even save some money! This won't work for every kind of medication, but it's worth asking about your options!
So I decided to learn to sew because I couldn’t find clothes I liked that were not at least part polyester (which I can’t stand) and boy was I in for a shitty surprise when I found out that 99% of sewing thread is 100% polyester. I found one single spool of cotton thread but was advised at the store to sew with polyester thread even on cotton fabric because cotton thread snaps and sheds easily, which could damage your machine.
Cotton and linen thread are apparently better suited for hand-sewing.
So even if you buy clothes that say “100% cotton” the thread is most likely polyester.
ugh right?! my friend Reworked by Sav uses secondhand thread to avoid the environmental impact as much as possible :)
Earlier in my ZW journey, I was surprised to see an employee refilling a bulk candy bin in my grocery store... by dumping in a plastic bag filled with candy! I don't know what i thought the candy came to the store in, but almost everything has some plastic waste upstream.
omg true that is accurate and hidden for sure! this proves it's never about ZERO waste but LESS waste
i'm so glad i stopped smoking. i smoked for 10 years in total (ages 13-17, 18-24) and used to threw the butts on the ground up until i was 22 or something. then i started using those "portable ash trays". now i'm just glad i've stopped completely (since almost 2 years now! yay me!)
woohoo nice work!
Exfoliators spring to mind to add to your list! Sometimes the little balls within exfoliating products are plastic
oh true!!
True. I don't really use exfoliating products but I knew about this, you can make your own using sugar or salt 😉
This is one of the only plastic-reduction initiatives that has worked! At least in the US, microbeads in “wash-off” cosmetics have been banned since 2015!
@@hwiper amazing!
Not to mention that apples get sprayed with a plastic/wax film. I’ve lived in an orchard and I hated it.
oh my!
Hi, I'm 74. My clothes are mostly second-hand or free. My craft supplies are mostly free or second-hand (glue and paints get used up). In the same way that PETA changed women's fashion, I've noticed more of us seniors are eco- conscious: less nail crap, hair dye, dry cleaning. Tina, Al's wife
yay! I love to see people of all generations living an eco life :)
Thank you, not enough people talk about this…. Lots of talk about EXESS clothing made ect. Plastic is my biggest fear for our survival
thank you so much!
Caboo bamboo wipes are a good alternative for people who like using wet wipes in the bathroom. Also, if you don't have carton recycling search for a mail-in program. I reuse a box from some other package, and we mail ours to a facility in our state a few times a year. It's very cheap because empty cartons barely weigh anything.
I LOVE silk dental floss, but I can't always afford it. I buy other low waste options, though, made from recycled nylon in paper packaging. I also love Girlfriend Collective, paper tape, and Patch bandages!
thanks for those!
I love you recent change of hair :) looks nice
thank you!!! this is my fav color I've done :)
Glee gum is my favorite! Plastic free formulas, and their sugar-free flavors are so good! They reduce plastic as much as possible in packaging too.
good to hear!
I grow my own mint, pick the leaves dry then in a very very low oven then put them into a jar. 100% no plastics
You can do the same for parsley, thyme, sage, rosemary, cilantro, tarragon, lavender, etc.
Oh wow, that's a good tip!
@@lisaphares2286 Good to know. I have some rosemary I want to harvest.
nice!!
I love the speech speed disclaimer, my sis talked about twice as fast as you as a kid and I had to translate for her until she was in 1st or 2nd grade. When we moved back to Michigan her Georgia/Texas southern accent and speech speed made people think she had a speech impediment. Lol. Sometimes people just need to work on their listening skills or learn to quit griping about every little thing.
Right I want to be accessible but I can only do so much, this is my natural speed. Plus when platforms like TH-cam make it SO easy to slow the video down, please just do that. I cannot cater to everyone
A good 😊 video 🎥 but also scary 😰
Please do seasonal series on this especially with Halloween 🎃, Black Friday 🛍️, Christmas 🎁🎄 and New Years coming.
already have them all up from previous years! search those terms on my channel to watch them all :)
How about medical supplies like pill bottles, syringes, catheters.... any ideas about that stuff?
they definitely contain plastic but it's not hidden so i didn't mention it
Not necessarily "plastic" but I wanted to buy a sturdy pair of leather boots (to avoid polyester shoes that fall apart easily) and learned how pollutive the chrome tanning process is. Vegetable tanned leather is much better for the environment. Of course, secondhand leather is always the best choice.
omg right! it's very bad!
Wow so thorough, I was looking for this information and here it is compiled
thanks so much!
Your hair looks great 😊 Thanks for another great video ❤
thanks so much as always :)
Thank you.😊
thank YOU
I have only knitted one sweater in my life, and it was acrylic yarn, and I never wore it because it never got cold enough for me to not sweat while wearing it.
And then I outgrew it (thanks, pregnancy and post-pregnancy), so I finally got rid of it by donating it!
I wouldn't be surprised if no one ever bought it.
oh no!
@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist it also creak/squeaked when I put it on or off and was the most static-attracting thing in existence. For some reason, I didn't notice either of these things when knitting it.
If I ever knit a sweater again, it'll be wool or wool blend.
Loved this video!
thanks so much!
It’s upsetting for receipt 🧾 paper to be covered in BPA 😩and acrylic paint ( I love to paint so I’ll have to find alternatives like the brands you mentioned.) Thanks Emma👍 Plastic ingredients for sure: Contact lenses and toothbrush 🪥bristles( not vegan-friendly-animal testing, so I’m sticking to my glasses or laser eye surgery 🧐 and I’m using the Humble brand toothbrush head bristles- less plastic 🤷🏻♀️refills
so so so sad! thanks for the additions tho!
Commenting to say I would actually like a fullvvideo of toxic plastics like teflon. I recently learned about it too when I watched a movie called "Dark Waters".
i'm on it! i am also curious !
This is also metal glitter but it can be very abrasive and a bit expensive
@@dinosaur3126 and I'm sure it would be difficult if not impossible to repurpose/recycle
that sounds scary!
OK BUT WEARING CROCS TO PROM IS SUCH A GOOD IDEA
right?! better for dancing, chilling, walking!!
Hello Emma listening and just to add some cardboard or paper is lined or covered with some sort of plastic(shines and stretches and repels water) . I actually try to reuse that part and still recycle the cardboard paper parts. I’ve tried that eco brick thing now too.
so true!
I know in Pittsburgh big tire took down the trolley system by pushing for buses and then the buses got mismanaged and the city took them over. And by then the trolleys basically weren’t a thing anymore
yup! full video on that here, It makes me so sad! th-cam.com/video/HQfJUBJJhRY/w-d-xo.html
I like these videos 🎥☺️ and please 😊do more lik this 🎉
more coming soon!
OMG, so much plastic everywhere 😮 At least the Canadian dollar bills are now reusable 🤣 when the government introduced the plastic bills here in the North, I thought "wow, now our money can be laundered" bad joke, but it is true. Huh...
hahahahahah good one!
Good thing the US "paper" currency is made of cloth. Can't tell you how many times I've had them go through the washer and the dryer and come out fine (of course, I didn't know they were in there). Coins "do well" too, lol!
Plastic is insidious, even my wheelchair has quite a bit of plastic. I avoid what I can and just have to accept that plastic is a part of my life. I don't use wrapping paper, any kind of fabric makes a nice wrap and there are lots of videos showing how.
it's truly every where!!!
I work at a fabric and craft store so almost everything is wrapped in plastic and sometimes bubblewrap
omg true!!
@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist it sucks but it has too. When my store shipped orders to peoples homes I tried to use plastic bags from the shipments. We did save bubble wrap and some boxes. The company provided giant rolls of bubble wrap and certain sizes of boxes but we would have to get creative with Franken-boxes unless we kept boxes from the shipment.
It's sad. I inherited old sewing supplies, a lot still have their original box. All carton, paper and aluminium. No plastic.
@@audreysavard3248 wow!!
glasses!! i used to wear metal frames until i developed a nickel allergy :') i cant find any nickel free glasses i like so now im forced to wear plastics on my face (how fun!). also contacts are always packaged in plastics too. this isnt the biggest deal and i understand its use (especially for contacts) its just kinda annoying and something i didnt really think about before
Yeah…plastic is simply too useful especially in medical fields, to ever be phased out completely. My hope is truly biodegradable plastics will become the norm, and if not biodegradable then I hope there will be better industrial processes for breaking plastics down completely.
omg true to both of those!
@@CampingforCool41 or recycled plastic is a great option!
@@TheSimpleEnvironmentalist unfortunately plastic degrades the more it gets recycled, which is why figuring out how to efficiently break it down completely into its molecular parts is the holy grail, because then it can be remade into plastic that’s just like new without using any extra fossil fuels
Is LASIK eye surgery not an option? I had it done 14 years ago and I am so glad that I did. I used to wear contact lenses daily, it was such an amazing surgery that I wish everyone could have it.
Really, if you really are concerned for the environment, you should avoid unnecessary plastics. And I would say most cosmetics fall into that category. It’s not just the polish you have the lid, wand and brush made of plastic. Same for hair dyes. These are the glitter of adults.
there's a balance for sure but avoidance as far as you can is a good idea
the bad thing about recycled polyester is it shedds more microplastic.
yup!
No one in Australia can avoid plastic, no matter what lengths you go to. Why? In July 1992 the Australian currency (dollars not metal coins) was charged to plastic to have a longer shelf life. Our dollar notes can now safely go through the washing machine without being destroyed. If you don't want to use cash the only other option is debit or credit cards. Obviously made of plastic. But what about cheques? Almost no citizen uses them (1 or 2 may though), and it's extreme hard to obtain them for private use. Even businesses are reducing their use of them.
yup! it's wild!
I was really surprised about the chewing gum and the receipts! I don't actually use either, I don't like the texture of chewing gum and for years now I have had to rely on online shopping so no paper receipts and before when I was able to go into shops, most places gave you the option for no receipt which I would take. But it is still surprising do discover that those items contain plastic. We really do live in a plastic civilisation don't we! It's everywhere - and in situations like the medical world - essential. I think if everyone would cut out unnecessary plastic that would make a massive difference whilst we wait for science to develop better eco-friendly materials that can replace plastic in those areas where it is still essential.
it's wild, right?!
How do I find out if my floss has teflon?
I would google the company otherwise I'm not sure!
Glitter is the herpes of the craft world.
I use baby wipes for the pet.
Wait. So when we buy “compostable” bags; they aren’t actually compostable? Just great…
it depends. As i said in the video, only SOME bioplastics are made with plastic in them. Check the ingredients to find one fully plant based!
Anyone else shocked?
ME!!