I have heard the increased trend of people throwing out their current tools (plastic reusable food containers, plastic dish brushes etc) to replace with something compostable or biodegradable. I want to encourage people to use their items to their regular shelf life - rather than purging to replace with new products. You already own something that works, that was made perhaps with plastic, but use it fully. Then when the time is appropriate to replace, buy a better alternative then.
agree to this. this argument is already a common idea in other environmentally focused movements, specifically electric vehicles, but I never heard the same argument raised in discussion about foodstuff/tools.
Yeah it's basically "throwing plastics away is bad, so i'm going to get a biodegradable thing and throw the plastic one away". It's going completely against the point. Don't all rush to get non-plastic alternatives for things you already own. Just get non-plastic alternatives next time you need to buy new ones.
I'd argue that it'd be more effective to have a handful of people doing it at all, so long as those people were the owners of large companies. Most pollution doesn't come from private citizens, it comes from corporations. If you care enough to buy alternative products like this, make sure you're also voting for stricter regulations on what companies can do. Your vote will have a lot more impact.
So, here's the thing. You could say now that they are all doing it imperfectly. One line quotes kill philosophers. Waste is something we should all see as counter-intuitive and yet clearly we don't. So...why is that? Why do people seemingly go out of their way to create waste? Forgive me, but as environmentally friendly as you may be picking up groceries in cloth knit bags...what do you put garbage in? It's a single use plastic, right? Perhaps one created for the singular purpose of carrying garbage? We can decry this if we want but it happens for a reason. We have the system we have because, before we had this system, people died. There were plagues. I mean...for a time we experimented. We took rotting fruits and dared ourselves to drink the juice. Yay alcohol! But then we realized these rotting foods couldn't be taken away in a porous bag. Make no mistake: waste will decompose more rapidly if exposed to light and oxygen. Yadda, yadda, a couple hundred years later we have single use plastic bags and it's against the law to just chuck your waste out the door or window. Is there a better way? Sure, but I doubt many are thinking about it. The masses are thinking about band-aid solutions before they have even come up with an adhesive. Not in itself a cardinal sin, but it ain't no solution either.
@@MatthewSmith-wv5fi There have been safe and successful 0 waste solutions for hundreds of years. Chlorinating and filtering water and washing our hands have had the biggest impact to public health, not plastic bin liners. Advanced medicine and washing our hands have had the biggest impact on mortality rates, not sandwich bags and straws. People used to get along just fine using clay, earthenware, glass, linen, wood, salt, oil, vinegar, wax, fermentation and dehydration for hundreds of thousands of years. All the building materials were recyclable or perfectly safe to allow to return to the earth. Many preservation methods we still do to this day. Food waste used to get fed to pigs or get composted. Nothing was wasted or thrown away that wasn't perfectly okay to throw away.
Or, if you're gonna buy a plastic bowl (because let's face it, they last almost forever) - get one with a lid. No need for clingfilm, no need for wax paper.
As it should be. If people just throw out their current items and buy "eco-friendly ones" they're just contributing to waste. People should use what they have and replace them at they need to. This will also be more welcoming to more and more people because if you were to replace everything t once people's wallets would take a hit and then the method of using eco-friendly items wouldn't catch on.
@@Sunnylyndis one thing to note that I just found out, is that a lot of items marked as "Compostable" or "Bio-Degradable" are not able to be taken by your local city garbage collection. depending on where you live, there are some laws that state that composting from garbage collectors have to be composted and removed within a certain amount of days. Food scraps etc will easily be composted by then but a lot of these compostable plastics take too long. So during the sorting period, a lot of it has to be trucked back over to the landfill costing the garbage collectors a lot of money. it's best to check with your local garbage collectors to see what types of composting they accept, there's like certain levels/grades/certifications that they will take. same actually goes for recycling nowadays since China has stopped importing many recyclables, garbage collectors have nothing to do with recycled plastics and papers. there was a recent scandal where the recyclers were dumping them in the ocean since they couldn't take them to the landfill..
Here's the thing though....let's say we go back to wood and metals instead of plastics. Producing metals and recycling them is far more carbon intensive than a plastic bag. Furthermore, wood and metal weigh more than plastics on average. So, what you're gaining in use is going to production and shipment. My country has the hate on for plastic grocery bags. They call them single use. They are not single use though unless you are a sloth. Because I can take my groceries home in a plastic bag and then use that plastic bag to discard the business waste. The alternative is I buy a bag of clean, fresh, never before used plastic bags to store and dispose of waste. Its idiocy.
Mike's passion about this - especially at the end- is so brilliant to see, and as a youtuber it is so important to spread this information and awareness
casual ninja part of the reason (as someone wanting to go vegan for environmental not moral reasons) I refuse to not use products from bees. The harm of not supporting the industry is vastly outweighed by the benefit of supporting it.
"bioplastic" "compostable" "biodegradable" should be taken with a grain of salt (or a metric ton of salt)... it makes you think you can throw it in your compost heap in your backyard. you can't. it takes an industrial facility to degrade PLA properly because the criteria required to process them doesn't occur naturally. sure they're made of renewable materials but if you don't send them to the proper facility to degrade then they'll still end up in a landfill or worse, clogging up some animal's digestive tract. people have to be smarter than the marketing ploys yes, it's made of plants. yes, it's compostable. but in a facility that requires fossil fuel to run. yes, it's biodegradable. after 500 years if not done under proper conditions.
This biodegradable hype things will only justify lazy people to throw away their thrash everywhere because it's suppose to be biodegradable. While normal plastic can be recycle over and over only if people CARE enough
This post needs more upvotes! It's super frustrating to see something labeled as "compostable", only until you read the fine print, "in a municipal facility". As someone who lives in an area that does not have municipal composting and only a green bin in my backyard, it sucks that those kinds of products will still end up in a landfill.
Living in an area that doesn't really have an industrial composting, we have that issue here. People don't realize they can't just compost them like they do other things, and around here, we can't compost them correctly either. 'Compostable' is a good word to trick good-minded people to spend more for a product that will often just end up in the same place anyway
I looked in the comment, hoping that a comment like this would be at the top! This is so true! It's like some of the paper straws businesses use... Having been shipped around the world! Such Greenwashing
He actually was really encouraging !! And he's right, it is going to take the entire world adjusting our lives to effect real change. I just hope that the cynics and the climate change deniers will come around on some points at least so we can all work together
PLEASE KEEP DOING THESE VIDEOS. Everything from products to cleaning supplies, to understanding what is in boxes and jars in supermarkets, We need to be more educated consumers. Stopping our usage of single use anything just takes one swap at a time. An easy one. Cloth napkins that you wash instead of paper napkins.
It was really eye-opening to me to learn about microfibers and especially how polyester micros are ending up in water supplies when they're being washed. It's something I hadn't even thought of before.
Dragon_fan I just had a week where I couldn’t cook, and I was horrified by how much plastic I had to put in the recycling bin. I’m relieved to get back to cooking. But it really crystallized that we need to figure out a way to make delivery/takeout eco-friendly.
But keep in mind, it takes a very very small amount of energy to make styrofoam, therefore less fossil fuels used for the material, and less pollution.
@@phoenixgate007 Correct. Well, kinda. While it will not degrade naturally and is a huge problem, there ARE actually ways to recycle it. It's a bit difficult. The issue is that very few local governments in the U.S. accept it at normal curbside recycling plants. It instead gets rejected and thrown out. Very bad. But there are some places that DO accept it in curbside recycling and there are many more places that have specific drop-off locations for the material to be recycled.
I'd love to see another video of this. The scrubber sounds awesome, especially as someone who is rough on scrubbers. Also compostable gloves!? amazing!
@@TH-camAdministrator ... it's not about the washing brush really it's about the plastic used. When you throw it out when it's used up it doesn't really break down. And plastic itself isn't a renewable resource because it is in large part a petroleum based product. Which is not renewable.
A lot of disabled people need a bendy straw. Something like 80% of ocean plastics are from fishing gear. Environmental efforts need to focus on industrial polluters, but don't because they have lobbyists.
@@mandyfish2468 The pre-bent ones are slightly bent which is very limiting and often not enough of a bend. If you can only drink while laying down nothing but plastic will work. And again, plastic straws are not killing the planet.
It’s actually about 10% of plastic pollution in the oceans comes from fishing litter. Another 7% or so comes from shipping litter and dumping. The rest comes from mismanaged coastal landfills, dumping plastics into rivers, litter left on beaches or blown from overflowing trash cans within 50 miles of the beach, mismanaged industrial waste, dust from tires being worn down, paint on buildings and roads washing off, microplastics in cosmetics and other products, raw pellet spills, and washing polyester clothing and plastic products.
@@mandyfish2468 metal and glass arent good for people with motor issues: and the cold can cause people pain since they conduct heat well. not to mention people with metal allergies, and glass is fragile bendy plastic straws are the only option for many disabled people
Genuinely happy to see the effort and time they took to actually talk and search for different products and review them with such realness They are using the platform they have to start a conversation which is just awesome.
I love the beeswax wraps! I use them around lunch things (sandwiches, chopped apples etc), I think it actually keeps some things fresher. They are expensive, but you can DIY them if you’re that way inclined.
Benuendo: “Maybe we should all just stop sucking, and start sipping” Mike: 👀 *Looks to camera* *Looks heavenward for strength* *Closes eyes as he realizes there’s nothing to say to make it less awkward*
I think Mike made a really important point at the end of that. It really is up to us as consumers to rally behind each other to do better for the environment. Yes, one person doesn't make a difference, but if others continue to make changes, we really can really make a difference. Love you guys!
WOO!!! yes! I do care! I am a marine biologist so this has been on my radar for years and I am so glad that influencers are starting to talk about it and get their followers to think about it themselves. im especially glad you also talked about prices, there are some products that are great, but the prices havnt been attainable for the masses, and the more we talk about this, the sooner someone will make a product with a realistic price-point. consumers lead the way for the next step that producers go towards. if its important to us, it will be important to the producers. thanks guys!
I appreciate the brief comment regarding the need of straws for those with medical and other needs. However wish people would get more on board with the fact that for a lot of people (like me) plastic straws are the ONLY option. The other alternatives are amazing I loved the brush and gloves.
Ingrid Dubbel they are for a lot of people. Please understand that all people have different needs. As is said earlier, Jessica is amazing at explaining this topic especially in relation to accessibility for people with various disabilities. Please don’t dismiss an individual expressing their own needs, as you are not that person and don’t know every aspect of their life
I've been nearly plastic free for about a year now (as in don't buy new plastic or items wrapped in plastic, but still use containers that we already had and haven't found a way around electronics or sunscreen weirdly) and it seemed really daunting and even impossible the first month, but once you have an idea of how it works it is super easy and doesn't impact my quality of life at all - we can all do this!
I've replaced cling film for covering bowls with silicone stretch lids, or I transfer into tupperware or pyrex, for stuff that will be reheated which have lids already. For everything else I use aluminium foil, which gets recycled.
The wax-sandwich wrapper is apparently something you can easily make yourself and is a great replacement for plastic lunch bags! A friend of mine made her own with beeswax!
I've made a ton of those beeswax things for maybe around $30 total. Buy some cloth, buy some beeswax pellets, melt it over the cloth in the oven on low temp. Done!
@@SortedFood I'm just purchasing the few things I need to get started making my own. Loads of videos on that subject you should maybe all give it ago and let us know what you think?
I’ve been using beeswax wraps for a few months now and I never felt like they were less practical than cling film. I got a pack of 3 for 9€, which is a fair price i think!
i’ve been thinking about getting beeswax wraps but i think i’m actually allergic to beeswax (got a reaction once from using burt’s bees lipbalm), any idea if they’ll cause any reaction for people who are allergic to beeswax? :-(
Vegware is only compostable with an industrial composter such as used by councils to compost food waste. They contain the bioplastic PLA which will not break down in a home compost heap. The fact that Mike said you could put them on the compost heap shows that the manufacturer does not emphasise that enough. On a compost heap the material will break down into microplastic flakes.
"commercially compostable" - and certified we believe. By that's not the same as biodegradable so doesn't mean it can just be thrown on the ground etc.
@@pattheplanter At least in Germany the problem so far is that most cities don't let the stuff rest long enough for bioplastics to break down (because they only have limited space and didn't want to expand their facilities yet). So they ask to not throw "compostable" plastics away with garden waste, but instead just trash them (to be burned, in most cases).
I've noticed they still say, "mates, chefs & normals" for more UK-based videos, but substitute with "friends" & "foodies" for videos shot in, or focused on US or other countries. Makes sense for marketing...
I heard them use the word foodie a couple of videos ago and I actually cringed. Not hypothetically either. My body went all tense, I shuddered and the hair on my neck stood up
İ love jars, of many sizes the most. Much better than otherboptions. Both for fridge and on the go like a lunchbox. For starters, their lids are the most sturdy, they are easy to find, are heat resistant, though not easy to hold when hot granted, and are cheaper than most other options. And are glass! Many styles of jars are bailable now and I love them. Not saying they are easier to use than other options, main thing is you can't easily eat out of a jar say, cheese for example. But small wide Jr's are doable for serving, and why not get out of the jar what you will eat and eat using a plate mate!? Or use a breakfast set for example. And all will be dishwashable and would provide veeery long use. To the point of being able to get bored of them.
I really loved this video! Sometimes the biggest factor I have with jumping in with these is I am not sure how well they work. Getting reviews of the items or just bringing awareness to great items is so important.
yes mike!! please can you do a video about how the sorted kitchen will limit and change the single use plastics, maybe about food waste etc and composting? would love to see that, been watching since the beginning and for you to grow and change along with the rest of the world be amazing ❤️
I am so proud of you for the team you are ! I ve been a subscriber for about 4 years and are so happy in the direction you are going. Bringing awareness in this subject is important and more important bring it with joy. Being green and finding sustainable options should be fun and you are bringing that to the table! Thankyou! :D
I really liked this video. I especially liked that it didn't just pander to the environmental argument. I've always said exactly what Jamie did, if an alternative product doesn't function properly it's not actually an alternative. I do think we can replace most single use plastic but things like paper straws are not the answer. Everyone I know now uses three or four of them for a single drink from McDonald. There are alternatives that are biodegradable and actually work but they shouldn’t cost the earth (pun intended).
Thank you for this and for your continued attention to a growing conversation. I think it's so important for all of us to be more aware and to be doing what we can, and for people with a platform and an audience to bring attention to this issue is huge. Also can I give Mike some fangirl brownie points for that soap box bit near then end? You're officially my favorite now Mike. (Sorry Ben).
You also watching japanese streams? It's understandable why food is seperated in different plastic wraps/bags/containers, but there's also alot of stuff that don't even need to be wrapped in plastic.
@@AndreasElf im Japanese now back in japan after speading years abroad. And its made me realize that though japan has areas that they are very efficient, theres areas that they are so wasteful
Japanese society does recycle very heavily though, almost religiously. You’ll never find a general waste bin in public, unlike in the UK, because you’re supposed to take all your trash home with you and recycle it properly, ie wash everything clean, including thorougly soaking paper labels off plastic and glass containers. And they sort their recyclables quite finely, certainly more than just paper plastic glass. There’s also a lot of social pressure to recycle properly. Your friendly apartment building manager will come give you “advice” if you don’t do it right... (also side note that I am not Japanese, though I lived there for a short while :p )
@@Nagato12 Individual Japanese separate their garbage, but it's up to the waste management to actually recycle, and they do a terrible job at it. Recycling rates are abysmal in Japan, compared to other industrial nations.
as it should. it should be expensive to get products from the other end of the world. what would be local to europe are wood and bristle brushes. they're less than a pound here. but they're not in fashion.
J actually makes a valid point with the avocado stones and Ben's counter to it is wrong. Apple seeds are not replanted when reproducing the same type of apple, the take cuttings of living trees of that apple type because it will not grow the same apple otherwise. To put that into perspective every Pink Lady apple tree is a clone of the original and the same is true for the other types, they are a clone of the first tree to grow that fruit.
I really appreciate the way mike summoned this conversation up! It is so easy to get overwhelmed and feel like things are hopeless. I think more of us need mike’s mindset.
but then on average, all those modern variants are just shit. not that straws are THE actual plastic problem in any case, but if just the ones that needed them used them, they would even be less so.
@@mandyfish2468 I recommend that you watch this video th-cam.com/video/4IBH0pcKzlY/w-d-xo.html you should watch the entire thing but if you do not have the time, or patience to do so, she starts explaining the cons of the most common alternatives with a graph at 3:20.
@@carissadrew8808 I just finished watching the vid. Thank you for pointing me to it. To be honest I had not thought that deeply into the issue, mainly because I had not personally encountered anyone who needs to have a straw bent that far. All the issues with alternative straws are valid & important. The easiest to overcome is the cleaning/sanitizing. When done properly there should be no issues. I find it ironic that in the vid Jessica states all the alternatives are hard to sanitize for re-use, she then later states she washes, and re-uses, the bendy plastic ones in the dishwasher, possibly the least effective method. I have tried cleaning straws in the dishwasher and it is not good as they do not get effectively cleaned inside. The small brush that comes with the re-usable straws is very good at cleaning the inside, when used properly.
@@mandyfish2468 I do not remember if Jessica mentioned this in the video but she also has memory problems that make it hard for her to remember to clean straws and she has dexterity issues that means she has trouble using the cleaners that are provided. if you are interested she has another video on straws that gets a little bit more personal (it also has quite a lot of sass.). th-cam.com/video/3XGIxUXDWqw/w-d-xo.html
A friend’s grandma uses the avocado stones as ink for linens. You see, grandma is old school and likes to put initials on fabric napkins, and bed sheets and stuff. She puts the fabric over the stone and patiently pricks the stone until her desired initials are made.
True, but you'd still end up with waste, as you can't plant every stone you get from your harvest. Keep enough back to plant when you know you'll need to, but also use them to do other things.
Wow, this might be my favorite video from you guys yet. Not only was it hilarious (literally too many good bits to go back and transcribe for a comment) but I learned a ton and it got me thinking, which is incredible. I love how Mike said at the end that you guys should be talking about these things, because he's so right, but you do it in such an entertaining way and one that gives people options. I like what Ben said about the items we use on a much more daily basis not even being considered. I just go out and buy a new pack of sponges every time I run out, and I've never though to research a better option to help due my part. Thank you guys for this video; it was super inspiring to me and really got me thinking about what I can change in my personal life.
@@VixeyTeh and that is exactly what I meant by 'and?'. Every culture or community has things that sometimes get discovered, used and changed by other cultures. Could be the same between two friends. It is not 'non-asians' and 'asians' who this applies to only. Transcultural processes are to be expected and natural. There are exploitive political and economical structures withing globalization and it would be cool if all people would benefit more equally instead of just yuppy companies. But saying "we already did that" is so often used for othering and saying "see, we are better". No one is better or lesser than someone else. You got born by happenstance into a group that used this cool pan cleaner. Others have other cool traditions. And?
Hey! Amazing video this is, love that you are addressing the sustainability problem! And as Mike says, we ARE the ones that can make the change!!! One little remark though, the "compostable" products actually take much longer than your average spring onion greens, so they are becoming a problem in the compostsble waste industry. So, until that logistic issue is solved, I'd say use other alternatives or do not throw them away together with the compostsble waste!
This has got to be my favorite video so far. Here in New Zealand its now against the law for shops to provide single use plastic bags. It's really not hard to be without them. It's been easy to adjust to bringing your own bag with you. I love all the alternative products you have shown and totally agree with the message you have sent out that it's down to us consumers to make the change needed. Please please do more videos on this theme! Loved it! :)
I just recently ran across some of the older SORTEDfood posts so forgive me if this has already been discussed. Interestingly enough, reusable shopping bags in the US are being targeted now as a means of cross contamination and other serious health risks. Some stores are now refusing that customers use them and have gone back to paper and/or plastic bags.
@@AveryFa not picking apart your comment. But I feel like the cross contamination argument is only really valid in america as pretty much everywhere else in the world people are capable of packing their own bags in shops.
Love that you guys covered this topic. Something important to note is that a lot of biodegradable plastics can’t be composted in your backyard compost pile, they need specific heat and moisture conditions that are provided in industrial composting facilities. So if you use them, you have to then make sure that they go to the right place, otherwise they still take a very long time to break down
I really appreciate you guys for pointing out in this and your kitchen gadget videos that sometimes these things are necessary for disabled folks. It's really easy for abled people to say "Well what idiot can't just drink out of a glass?" without realizing the harm those comments do to stroke victims, people with Cerebral Palsy, etc.
Before jumping on to the bioplastic bandwagon, be sure to look into just how long, and under what conditions the various products will biodegrade most efficiently. If they photodegrade, mixing them into a compost heap won't help all that much. Additionally, be sure that you check about the permeability, if it needs to act as proper PPE.
I really can not tell you how much I personally appreciate videos like these. Please please keep up this amazing work! You really are making the world better!
I really appreciate that you guys don't shy away from environmental issues. A lot of popular content creators try to be as apolitical as possible, and I can understand why, but nothing good can get accomplished that way. I really respect your willingness to go for it.
"We know that plastic straws are the enemy" *NOOOOOOOOO!* Plastic straws are FAR from being in the top 50 of the "problems for the environment" category. This whole straw thing was a viral media story that is *entirely* based on a 9-year-old kid's school project. Seriously, that's the source. Trying to help is good! It's awesome even! But fighting a non-problem while there are real problems is not helping.
Exactly! The whole non-renewable energy industry is destroying the Earth faster than plastic straws ever could. But, no ... let’s take some bad science from a 9 yo and pass laws on that. Stop dumping waste into local water supplies. Stop fracking. Stop spreading lies about windmills. And above all, stop making a 16 yo girl the enemy when all she wants to do is save the planet.
Can I make a bad pun and say that is such a straw man argument? No one is saying that straws are the biggest problem here. The overuse of single use plastics is a large problem which is damaging the wildlife, the environment, and probably ourselves as well. There are many big issues all contributing to this mess. As long as we are trying to take steps to fix what we can, I fail to see what good it will do to to fuss about and argue that the step wasn’t large enough. And I honestly don’t mind that the story was sourced from a 9 year olds school project. The kid saw what happened to the turtle (I think it was if I remember correctly), and was concerned. Frankly, it would probably not have gone viral if a scientist reported on the same thing. And public attention is sometimes hard to catch. Don’t discount good things, just because a person is very young , or very old. We all have things to offer.
@@seban678 Just a little bit more than I was doing yesterday. Today I don't use plastic straws, tomorrow I will learn to throw away less. Doing what? Doing what we can.It's a start.
We also don't hear the countries that are responsible for most of the pollution, because they are considered "developing nations" and are excluded from most environmental policies.
Didnt coke just get hit for being the largest plastic wast producer like across the board (and by hit I mean it was pointed out and literally nothing was done about it)
Yup. 0.025% is straws, at most, and disabled people need them to live. If we make them medical equipment (a lot of people suggest having pharmacies only sell them) the price will skyrocket.
Wow, Mike's speech at the end was so good. I thought this video might have just been made because the algorithm would approve, but hearing him talk so passionately about the importance of using their platform to raise these issues completely changed my mind.
More of these please! I've been searching for "tupperware" alternatives. I have glass containers with plastic lids but the lids dont last very long. That would be a great subject research!
I've found glass containers with lids that are more hinge-like and "snap" on last longer than lids that are more flexible throughout and have to fold around onto the container.
Honestly if 'tupperware' style containers are your concern then you are not really part of the problem. Those kinds of containers are long lasting, multi-use and tend to have less effect on the environment than the 'green' alternatives. Paper and cardboard for instance is the biggest green trap around, sure it degrades over time but the impact you make by producing that paper is much higher than plastic that is reused. Looked into it when our supermarkets went all reusable bags and pay for single use ones if you want, turns out that paper bags and a lot of so called green alternatives are worse for the environment.
@_in my eye I dont use the lids in the microwave. I have both Pyrex and anchor brand glass containers and experiences cracked lids with both. I have to look for lid replacements as I really like the containers.
@@isabellelord-fortin9857 For reference, I use the brand "glasslock." I think I've had them for at least 6 years, and haven't had a lid crack yet. You just need to take out the seal to wash so mildew doesn't grow!
Love the video fellas, really good to see people with the platform having an open discussion about the good and the bad (cost, functionality, convenience etc)
Love, love, love this episode! These items may be a bit pricey now, but the more people buy these alternatives as opposed to non-biodegradable materials, the greater demand will force competition and drive costs down. I'm buying those coconut straws and bio-gloves!
As someone who doesn't really focus on the environment as much as I probably should. I enjoy videos like these. If I was in a store and I saw something for 4 dollars that was plastic and then saw something just as usable that was say 5 or 6 dollars and sustainable it would make me think twice about picking up the plastic one and just switching to the sustainable unit. I am glad people are coming up with ideas like this.
I have heard the increased trend of people throwing out their current tools (plastic reusable food containers, plastic dish brushes etc) to replace with something compostable or biodegradable. I want to encourage people to use their items to their regular shelf life - rather than purging to replace with new products. You already own something that works, that was made perhaps with plastic, but use it fully. Then when the time is appropriate to replace, buy a better alternative then.
We couldn't agree more!
THIS! So important!
I so agree!
agree to this. this argument is already a common idea in other environmentally focused movements, specifically electric vehicles, but I never heard the same argument raised in discussion about foodstuff/tools.
Yeah it's basically "throwing plastics away is bad, so i'm going to get a biodegradable thing and throw the plastic one away". It's going completely against the point. Don't all rush to get non-plastic alternatives for things you already own. Just get non-plastic alternatives next time you need to buy new ones.
"We don't need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly." - Anne-Marie Bonneau
I'd argue that it'd be more effective to have a handful of people doing it at all, so long as those people were the owners of large companies. Most pollution doesn't come from private citizens, it comes from corporations. If you care enough to buy alternative products like this, make sure you're also voting for stricter regulations on what companies can do. Your vote will have a lot more impact.
So, here's the thing. You could say now that they are all doing it imperfectly. One line quotes kill philosophers.
Waste is something we should all see as counter-intuitive and yet clearly we don't. So...why is that?
Why do people seemingly go out of their way to create waste? Forgive me, but as environmentally friendly as you may be picking up groceries in cloth knit bags...what do you put garbage in? It's a single use plastic, right? Perhaps one created for the singular purpose of carrying garbage?
We can decry this if we want but it happens for a reason. We have the system we have because, before we had this system, people died. There were plagues.
I mean...for a time we experimented. We took rotting fruits and dared ourselves to drink the juice. Yay alcohol! But then we realized these rotting foods couldn't be taken away in a porous bag. Make no mistake: waste will decompose more rapidly if exposed to light and oxygen.
Yadda, yadda, a couple hundred years later we have single use plastic bags and it's against the law to just chuck your waste out the door or window.
Is there a better way? Sure, but I doubt many are thinking about it. The masses are thinking about band-aid solutions before they have even come up with an adhesive. Not in itself a cardinal sin, but it ain't no solution either.
@@MatthewSmith-wv5fi There have been safe and successful 0 waste solutions for hundreds of years.
Chlorinating and filtering water and washing our hands have had the biggest impact to public health, not plastic bin liners.
Advanced medicine and washing our hands have had the biggest impact on mortality rates, not sandwich bags and straws.
People used to get along just fine using clay, earthenware, glass, linen, wood, salt, oil, vinegar, wax, fermentation and dehydration for hundreds of thousands of years.
All the building materials were recyclable or perfectly safe to allow to return to the earth.
Many preservation methods we still do to this day.
Food waste used to get fed to pigs or get composted. Nothing was wasted or thrown away that wasn't perfectly okay to throw away.
Just an idea: If you want to cover salad bowl and put in the refrigerator --> Just put a plate on it. No need for either products.
Or, if you're gonna buy a plastic bowl (because let's face it, they last almost forever) - get one with a lid. No need for clingfilm, no need for wax paper.
I always buy glass bowls with airtight plastic lids best for keeping leftovers and serving food as well👌🏻
Ramsha Farooq I’ve got a set of stainless steel mixing bowls that all have airtight plastic lids, they’re real convenient.
A very good point. It is just very easy to use the plastic to cover it. I did it today. It takes time to do changes in habits sometimes.
I can count the number of times I've used cling film in the last 5 years on one hand. I only have one use for it and it's not food related.
Mikes face after “maybe we should all stop sucking and start sipping” solid gold! 🤔🤭🤣😜🙌🏻
Yisss... Benuendos! ♡
Ok the straws are actually genius. They don't require you to grow anything, they just simply reuse stuff. That's awesome.
"Maybe we should stop sucking and start sipping"
-Benjamin Ebbers (2019)
Fa Wad Ebbers’ last name is Ebbrell :)
I'm going to embroider this on a pillow.
I wonder, how many times did they have to retake that scene?
Even the crickets were stunned into silence. 😂
the silence started 'sipping' in
As thing are being used until they die in our house, I’m slowly replacing those things with eco friendly and sustainable alternatives.
Ashleigh Kennedy well done! That’s the best way to move towards sustainability 👍
As it should be. If people just throw out their current items and buy "eco-friendly ones" they're just contributing to waste. People should use what they have and replace them at they need to. This will also be more welcoming to more and more people because if you were to replace everything t once people's wallets would take a hit and then the method of using eco-friendly items wouldn't catch on.
That's what I've been doing, too.
@@Sunnylyndis one thing to note that I just found out, is that a lot of items marked as "Compostable" or "Bio-Degradable" are not able to be taken by your local city garbage collection. depending on where you live, there are some laws that state that composting from garbage collectors have to be composted and removed within a certain amount of days. Food scraps etc will easily be composted by then but a lot of these compostable plastics take too long. So during the sorting period, a lot of it has to be trucked back over to the landfill costing the garbage collectors a lot of money. it's best to check with your local garbage collectors to see what types of composting they accept, there's like certain levels/grades/certifications that they will take. same actually goes for recycling nowadays since China has stopped importing many recyclables, garbage collectors have nothing to do with recycled plastics and papers. there was a recent scandal where the recyclers were dumping them in the ocean since they couldn't take them to the landfill..
Here's the thing though....let's say we go back to wood and metals instead of plastics. Producing metals and recycling them is far more carbon intensive than a plastic bag. Furthermore, wood and metal weigh more than plastics on average. So, what you're gaining in use is going to production and shipment.
My country has the hate on for plastic grocery bags. They call them single use. They are not single use though unless you are a sloth. Because I can take my groceries home in a plastic bag and then use that plastic bag to discard the business waste. The alternative is I buy a bag of clean, fresh, never before used plastic bags to store and dispose of waste.
Its idiocy.
Mikes lil speech at the end reminded me that he’s a proper legend, thanks for spreading the awareness lads
Good thing the people of India and China won't see this.
Mike usually it's the optmistic one and I loved him for this, but now with that speech he has our hearts forever.
People in India & China consume much less energy than you b
@@PriyankitaPant there's also 3 billion of them so...
bigcubslover97 how many siblings do you have?
Mike's passion about this - especially at the end- is so brilliant to see, and as a youtuber it is so important to spread this information and awareness
The replacement for cling film was used before cling film existed.
That's what I was thinking! And the team not mentioning that the non-vegan varieties are cheaper and do use beeswax!
It's what they used in medieval times, just with beeswax
@@andyt2k and how well did those folks fair in life? Dead before 40 for the most part, yeah?
@@MatthewSmith-wv5fi That's more healthcare and war related than how they kept their food fresh though. Pretty stupid comment.
casual ninja part of the reason (as someone wanting to go vegan for environmental not moral reasons) I refuse to not use products from bees. The harm of not supporting the industry is vastly outweighed by the benefit of supporting it.
Mike's faces after the Bennuendos made me spit out the water I was drinking
#Bennuendo
tough episode for Mike :D his facial expression after the sipping one ... “rethinking life choices”
Life is not complete without a Bennuendo
@@SortedFood And just like that, a new term is born!
@@SheepdogSmokey It's been kicking about for ages!
"bioplastic" "compostable" "biodegradable" should be taken with a grain of salt (or a metric ton of salt)... it makes you think you can throw it in your compost heap in your backyard. you can't. it takes an industrial facility to degrade PLA properly because the criteria required to process them doesn't occur naturally. sure they're made of renewable materials but if you don't send them to the proper facility to degrade then they'll still end up in a landfill or worse, clogging up some animal's digestive tract.
people have to be smarter than the marketing ploys
yes, it's made of plants.
yes, it's compostable. but in a facility that requires fossil fuel to run.
yes, it's biodegradable. after 500 years if not done under proper conditions.
should not use that is environmentally dangerous to make them and that secret
This biodegradable hype things will only justify lazy people to throw away their thrash everywhere because it's suppose to be biodegradable. While normal plastic can be recycle over and over only if people CARE enough
This post needs more upvotes! It's super frustrating to see something labeled as "compostable", only until you read the fine print, "in a municipal facility". As someone who lives in an area that does not have municipal composting and only a green bin in my backyard, it sucks that those kinds of products will still end up in a landfill.
Living in an area that doesn't really have an industrial composting, we have that issue here. People don't realize they can't just compost them like they do other things, and around here, we can't compost them correctly either. 'Compostable' is a good word to trick good-minded people to spend more for a product that will often just end up in the same place anyway
I looked in the comment, hoping that a comment like this would be at the top! This is so true! It's like some of the paper straws businesses use... Having been shipped around the world! Such Greenwashing
I love how passionate Mike is about this topic.
Yeah I didn't buy it.
It was kind of sexy, tbh... 😂
He actually was really encouraging !! And he's right, it is going to take the entire world adjusting our lives to effect real change. I just hope that the cynics and the climate change deniers will come around on some points at least so we can all work together
@@robspunk That's because you're a cynical boob.
Love Mike’s little speech at the end. Exactly what we should all be talking about! Well said Mike!!!
Love what Mike said at the end! It's so true though, its the small every day items we need to change x
PLEASE KEEP DOING THESE VIDEOS. Everything from products to cleaning supplies, to understanding what is in boxes and jars in supermarkets, We need to be more educated consumers.
Stopping our usage of single use anything just takes one swap at a time.
An easy one. Cloth napkins that you wash instead of paper napkins.
It was really eye-opening to me to learn about microfibers and especially how polyester micros are ending up in water supplies when they're being washed. It's something I hadn't even thought of before.
Food is single use. Should we stop eating?
"I didn't realise I had such a big middle finger"
"it's cause it's the one you exercise most"
😂
😂
his comment tied with the gloves made me think he enjoyed a regular prostate check
My biggest concern is actually styrofoam cups and takeout boxes you can recycle most plastic but you can't recycle styrofoam
Dragon_fan I just had a week where I couldn’t cook, and I was horrified by how much plastic I had to put in the recycling bin. I’m relieved to get back to cooking. But it really crystallized that we need to figure out a way to make delivery/takeout eco-friendly.
But keep in mind, it takes a very very small amount of energy to make styrofoam, therefore less fossil fuels used for the material, and less pollution.
NeverTrustNanners but again it is NOT biodegradable. It will be around for centuries, perhaps longer.
@@phoenixgate007 Correct. Well, kinda. While it will not degrade naturally and is a huge problem, there ARE actually ways to recycle it. It's a bit difficult. The issue is that very few local governments in the U.S. accept it at normal curbside recycling plants. It instead gets rejected and thrown out. Very bad. But there are some places that DO accept it in curbside recycling and there are many more places that have specific drop-off locations for the material to be recycled.
@@cooper5602 where I live we don't even have the opportunity to recycle we only have grass bins and trash bins
I'd love to see another video of this. The scrubber sounds awesome, especially as someone who is rough on scrubbers. Also compostable gloves!? amazing!
At the start of each video I still hear "We assaulted a group of mates from London..."
SouthPillarBaron that’s like one you tuber I follow that does ‘in depth unity tutorials’ and I keep hearing ‘Inept unity tutorials’ (code monkey)
Well, they do regularly go out of their way to make life difficult for each other.
wow mike talking a lot of sense at the end there, get him in front of more people plz
Seconded!
He is/was a teacher. He showed that today with what he was saying.
Pity a 5th of the world and the biggest manufacturer of plastic goods isn't democratic.
Show me the studies done on washing brushes being an issue.
@@TH-camAdministrator ... it's not about the washing brush really it's about the plastic used. When you throw it out when it's used up it doesn't really break down. And plastic itself isn't a renewable resource because it is in large part a petroleum based product. Which is not renewable.
A lot of disabled people need a bendy straw. Something like 80% of ocean plastics are from fishing gear. Environmental efforts need to focus on industrial polluters, but don't because they have lobbyists.
There are now silicon straws that can bend. Also, metal and glass ones that are bent.
@@mandyfish2468 The pre-bent ones are slightly bent which is very limiting and often not enough of a bend. If you can only drink while laying down nothing but plastic will work. And again, plastic straws are not killing the planet.
It’s actually about 10% of plastic pollution in the oceans comes from fishing litter. Another 7% or so comes from shipping litter and dumping. The rest comes from mismanaged coastal landfills, dumping plastics into rivers, litter left on beaches or blown from overflowing trash cans within 50 miles of the beach, mismanaged industrial waste, dust from tires being worn down, paint on buildings and roads washing off, microplastics in cosmetics and other products, raw pellet spills, and washing polyester clothing and plastic products.
@@mandyfish2468 metal and glass arent good for people with motor issues: and the cold can cause people pain since they conduct heat well. not to mention people with metal allergies, and glass is fragile
bendy plastic straws are the only option for many disabled people
Carer for a disabled person here, don’t use them as an excuse, we’ve got plenty other options than plastic straws.
Genuinely happy to see the effort and time they took to actually talk and search for different products and review them with such realness
They are using the platform they have to start a conversation which is just awesome.
I love the beeswax wraps! I use them around lunch things (sandwiches, chopped apples etc), I think it actually keeps some things fresher. They are expensive, but you can DIY them if you’re that way inclined.
So cheap to make yourself if the beeswax and pine sap version.
So happy to hear Ben mention the need for straws with certain disabilities. ❤️
The amount of times Mike had to give the camera 'the look' after Ben's comments. Sorry Ben you appear innocent but I do think you are a dirty boy.
Who thinks Ben is innocent?
@@daasbuffy LOL no he likes to appear innocent but he knows exactly what he is doing
omg i love this comment
Ben is a bit of lad.
@@demoneon9527 Like he has admitted 'I am a bit of a lad myself'
Benuendo: “Maybe we should all just stop sucking, and start sipping”
Mike: 👀
*Looks to camera*
*Looks heavenward for strength*
*Closes eyes as he realizes there’s nothing to say to make it less awkward*
canaryinacoalmine starts at 6:38 *
Monochrome thank you for the time stamp 😉
@@phoenixgate007 Gotta get that time stamp so you can re-watch that beautiful moment in time.
I think this would make a great t-shirt!
Jenna I love it! Great idea 💡
should point out vegware needs an industrial compost machine otherwise it does not break down, you can't put it into your garden compost.
I think Mike made a really important point at the end of that. It really is up to us as consumers to rally behind each other to do better for the environment. Yes, one person doesn't make a difference, but if others continue to make changes, we really can really make a difference. Love you guys!
WOO!!! yes! I do care! I am a marine biologist so this has been on my radar for years and I am so glad that influencers are starting to talk about it and get their followers to think about it themselves. im especially glad you also talked about prices, there are some products that are great, but the prices havnt been attainable for the masses, and the more we talk about this, the sooner someone will make a product with a realistic price-point. consumers lead the way for the next step that producers go towards. if its important to us, it will be important to the producers. thanks guys!
I appreciate the brief comment regarding the need of straws for those with medical and other needs. However wish people would get more on board with the fact that for a lot of people (like me) plastic straws are the ONLY option.
The other alternatives are amazing I loved the brush and gloves.
jessica kellgren-fozard has a brilliant video explaining this topic!
Anna Pettit i was gonna day the same thing!
Also pointing out that fishing nets are the ocean's largest plastic pollution, not drinking straws. We need better alternatives.
No, plastic straws are not the only solution.
Ingrid Dubbel they are for a lot of people. Please understand that all people have different needs. As is said earlier, Jessica is amazing at explaining this topic especially in relation to accessibility for people with various disabilities. Please don’t dismiss an individual expressing their own needs, as you are not that person and don’t know every aspect of their life
"up the [unnecessary whistle]"
That's another mark in the Benuendo tally lol
That whistle killed me 😂😂
You could see Ben blushing pink at that time stamp. Lol
You could start playing Benuendo Bingo!
I'd love a Fad Diet episode of pass it on - the boys either have to make something Keto, or Paleo, or something along those lines.
Blowtorched peppers are keto....
Why encourage the fads.
@@ingriddubbel8468 if they could critique them, it might help show which are good and which are ridiculous
I miss pass it on. These new videos are incredibly boring and cringy.
I will ask again for a fodmap diet episode
I've been nearly plastic free for about a year now (as in don't buy new plastic or items wrapped in plastic, but still use containers that we already had and haven't found a way around electronics or sunscreen weirdly) and it seemed really daunting and even impossible the first month, but once you have an idea of how it works it is super easy and doesn't impact my quality of life at all - we can all do this!
I've replaced cling film for covering bowls with silicone stretch lids, or I transfer into tupperware or pyrex, for stuff that will be reheated which have lids already.
For everything else I use aluminium foil, which gets recycled.
The wax-sandwich wrapper is apparently something you can easily make yourself and is a great replacement for plastic lunch bags! A friend of mine made her own with beeswax!
Well... Yeah we used waxed paper or cloth for hundreds (If not thousands) of years to keep our lunches good to eat and bug free.
I've made a ton of those beeswax things for maybe around $30 total. Buy some cloth, buy some beeswax pellets, melt it over the cloth in the oven on low temp. Done!
Interesting! Hadn't considered they were easy to make... Despite the concept being around for hundreds of years (or probably more!)
@@sarahstankavich7052 Do you have to use beeswax or can pariff be used instead?
@@SortedFood I'm just purchasing the few things I need to get started making my own. Loads of videos on that subject you should maybe all give it ago and let us know what you think?
I've been in love with Mike since the early Sorted days, and he just gets more and more beautiful???
Missed out Patrick - he got married
Annette Erdtsieck 😧😭 to whom? When? What? Why? 😭😭
@@johnspencer1887 Dec 31st 2019. Check his insta
Annette Erdtsieck I genuinely thought he was not straight! Why bad things happen only to me 😭😭😭
@@johnspencer1887 We all cried.
I’ve been using beeswax wraps for a few months now and I never felt like they were less practical than cling film. I got a pack of 3 for 9€, which is a fair price i think!
Love my beeswax wraps. I've been using them for a couple of years now for oh so many things
Probably part of the issue is the mix of vegan stuff can be super expensive compared to everyday common beeswax
I made my own 2 years ago and am constantly asked to make some for friends and family. 😅 I love them and are far better than single use plastic!
i’ve been thinking about getting beeswax wraps but i think i’m actually allergic to beeswax (got a reaction once from using burt’s bees lipbalm), any idea if they’ll cause any reaction for people who are allergic to beeswax? :-(
@@brendapxh Your skin might get irritated. There are plant based alternatives though. (I know BeeFoodWraps offer those)
That “oh Ben” eye roll at 6:43 LOL
Mike knows!
Mike's passion for this has made him even more attractive and I didn't think that was possible
I like Mike's statement 10/10. It's something that we can work on and test things, and if some don't work - we will find another that will
Our school has been using Vegware for about a year now for cups, cutlery and sandwich boxes. They’re awesome and that have so many products
Can you say anything about how realistic their claim is that all the stuff is compostable? Or how is your school disposing of it?
Vegware is only compostable with an industrial composter such as used by councils to compost food waste. They contain the bioplastic PLA which will not break down in a home compost heap. The fact that Mike said you could put them on the compost heap shows that the manufacturer does not emphasise that enough. On a compost heap the material will break down into microplastic flakes.
"commercially compostable" - and certified we believe. By that's not the same as biodegradable so doesn't mean it can just be thrown on the ground etc.
@@pattheplanter At least in Germany the problem so far is that most cities don't let the stuff rest long enough for bioplastics to break down (because they only have limited space and didn't want to expand their facilities yet). So they ask to not throw "compostable" plastics away with garden waste, but instead just trash them (to be burned, in most cases).
Rolf S we use our food waste bins, so all the cups and cutlery go in with the food waste to be composted
You said group of mates now instead of group of foodies.
*fan is happy now*
hasn't it always been group of mates?
@@wabbo they were saying group of foodies in the last couple of videos.
I've noticed they still say, "mates, chefs & normals" for more UK-based videos, but substitute with "friends" & "foodies" for videos shot in, or focused on US or other countries. Makes sense for marketing...
I’m glad they did! I can’t stand the word “foodie”.
I heard them use the word foodie a couple of videos ago and I actually cringed. Not hypothetically either. My body went all tense, I shuddered and the hair on my neck stood up
I chose gloves because there’s already a solution to cling film in the form of reusable containers
İ love jars, of many sizes the most. Much better than otherboptions. Both for fridge and on the go like a lunchbox.
For starters, their lids are the most sturdy, they are easy to find, are heat resistant, though not easy to hold when hot granted, and are cheaper than most other options. And are glass!
Many styles of jars are bailable now and I love them. Not saying they are easier to use than other options, main thing is you can't easily eat out of a jar say, cheese for example. But small wide Jr's are doable for serving, and why not get out of the jar what you will eat and eat using a plate mate!? Or use a breakfast set for example. And all will be dishwashable and would provide veeery long use. To the point of being able to get bored of them.
I really loved this video! Sometimes the biggest factor I have with jumping in with these is I am not sure how well they work. Getting reviews of the items or just bringing awareness to great items is so important.
"Stop sucking and start sipping" lmao Mike's face was priceless!!
I also enjoyed how the camera just lingered there as Ben played innocent and Mike's face slowly changed.
You know the best straw replacement?
Not using a straw unless you REALLY have to.
13:20 that was a great speech from Mike! 💞
the best! keep them coming!
yes mike!! please can you do a video about how the sorted kitchen will limit and change the single use plastics, maybe about food waste etc and composting? would love to see that, been watching since the beginning and for you to grow and change along with the rest of the world be amazing ❤️
I am so proud of you for the team you are ! I ve been a subscriber for about 4 years and are so happy in the direction you are going. Bringing awareness in this subject is important and more important bring it with joy. Being green and finding sustainable options should be fun and you are bringing that to the table! Thankyou! :D
SPEECH! Go on Mikey. Making a stand, and speaking sense. Well said Sir.
Really enjoyed this concept, I'd definitely like to see more videos under this sort of theme
It's a huge conversation... We guess this is just one way to kick it off.
I really liked this video. I especially liked that it didn't just pander to the environmental argument. I've always said exactly what Jamie did, if an alternative product doesn't function properly it's not actually an alternative. I do think we can replace most single use plastic but things like paper straws are not the answer. Everyone I know now uses three or four of them for a single drink from McDonald. There are alternatives that are biodegradable and actually work but they shouldn’t cost the earth (pun intended).
Absolutely love that you guys are having this conversation. In my household, it's ziplock bags, seal-able compostable plastic bags would be amazing.
Thank you for this and for your continued attention to a growing conversation. I think it's so important for all of us to be more aware and to be doing what we can, and for people with a platform and an audience to bring attention to this issue is huge. Also can I give Mike some fangirl brownie points for that soap box bit near then end? You're officially my favorite now Mike. (Sorry Ben).
Japan has a lot to catch up on in regards to this.....
....its shocking the amount of unnecessary plastic is used on a daily basis here
You also watching japanese streams?
It's understandable why food is seperated in different plastic wraps/bags/containers, but there's also alot of stuff that don't even need to be wrapped in plastic.
@@AndreasElf im Japanese now back in japan after speading years abroad. And its made me realize that though japan has areas that they are very efficient, theres areas that they are so wasteful
Japanese society does recycle very heavily though, almost religiously. You’ll never find a general waste bin in public, unlike in the UK, because you’re supposed to take all your trash home with you and recycle it properly, ie wash everything clean, including thorougly soaking paper labels off plastic and glass containers. And they sort their recyclables quite finely, certainly more than just paper plastic glass. There’s also a lot of social pressure to recycle properly. Your friendly apartment building manager will come give you “advice” if you don’t do it right... (also side note that I am not Japanese, though I lived there for a short while :p )
@@Nagato12 Also they shipped a lot of their garbages to third world countries so they don't have to deal with it.
@@Nagato12 Individual Japanese separate their garbage, but it's up to the waste management to actually recycle, and they do a terrible job at it. Recycling rates are abysmal in Japan, compared to other industrial nations.
the coconut brush actually cost less then a pound in asia
as it should. it should be expensive to get products from the other end of the world. what would be local to europe are wood and bristle brushes. they're less than a pound here. but they're not in fashion.
They're not new. They've been around in Asia for a long, long time.
Price is likely higher because its sustainably made. Cheaper ones which are widely available are likely not unfortunately.
yeah japan has had those for as long as i can remember...
J actually makes a valid point with the avocado stones and Ben's counter to it is wrong. Apple seeds are not replanted when reproducing the same type of apple, the take cuttings of living trees of that apple type because it will not grow the same apple otherwise. To put that into perspective every Pink Lady apple tree is a clone of the original and the same is true for the other types, they are a clone of the first tree to grow that fruit.
Absolutely one of my favorite episodes!!! Thank you for helping raise awareness of this.
Love that you guys have highlighted this! Love how Mike framed the discussion! It’s great! Thank you guys for doing this!
Those coconut fibre brushes with steel wires windings are actually really common here in SEA. I never realised they are not obtainable worldwide
because here other non plastic burshes are traditional. because we don't have coconuts ^^
and its like 50cents a piece, roadside store.
Jamie is very salty lately, someone should feed him a potato to soak it up 😂
12:55 That was rather beautifully eloquent. 👍 Mike!
I really appreciate the way mike summoned this conversation up! It is so easy to get overwhelmed and feel like things are hopeless. I think more of us need mike’s mindset.
I've been waiting for you folks to do this video for awhile now and I couldn't be happier! You addressed this in a wonderfully balanced, direct way.
We've had coconut brushes since before I was born over here in Malaysia. We use them for lots of things from dishes to scrubbing floors.
We used coconut husks for buffing floors in the Philippines too.
jules goes to show we can learn a lot just by talking to one another and sharing ideas 💡
About the straws, they are definitely necessary for elderly people or people with disabilities!
but then on average, all those modern variants are just shit. not that straws are THE actual plastic problem in any case, but if just the ones that needed them used them, they would even be less so.
@@TeylaDex How are the "modern variants..just shit"?? What way do they not do the job? How are they inferior to plastic straws?
@@mandyfish2468 I recommend that you watch this video th-cam.com/video/4IBH0pcKzlY/w-d-xo.html you should watch the entire thing but if you do not have the time, or patience to do so, she starts explaining the cons of the most common alternatives with a graph at 3:20.
@@carissadrew8808 I just finished watching the vid. Thank you for pointing me to it. To be honest I had not thought that deeply into the issue, mainly because I had not personally encountered anyone who needs to have a straw bent that far.
All the issues with alternative straws are valid & important. The easiest to overcome is the cleaning/sanitizing. When done properly there should be no issues.
I find it ironic that in the vid Jessica states all the alternatives are hard to sanitize for re-use, she then later states she washes, and re-uses, the bendy plastic ones in the dishwasher, possibly the least effective method. I have tried cleaning straws in the dishwasher and it is not good as they do not get effectively cleaned inside. The small brush that comes with the re-usable straws is very good at cleaning the inside, when used properly.
@@mandyfish2468 I do not remember if Jessica mentioned this in the video but she also has memory problems that make it hard for her to remember to clean straws and she has dexterity issues that means she has trouble using the cleaners that are provided. if you are interested she has another video on straws that gets a little bit more personal (it also has quite a lot of sass.). th-cam.com/video/3XGIxUXDWqw/w-d-xo.html
"I always wondered what you could do with avocado stones"
... grow avocados.
😂
A friend’s grandma uses the avocado stones as ink for linens. You see, grandma is old school and likes to put initials on fabric napkins, and bed sheets and stuff. She puts the fabric over the stone and patiently pricks the stone until her desired initials are made.
Did you watch to the end?
I don't think avocados are true to type. .....you dont get the same avocado you just ate from it's stone.
True, but you'd still end up with waste, as you can't plant every stone you get from your harvest. Keep enough back to plant when you know you'll need to, but also use them to do other things.
Wow, this might be my favorite video from you guys yet. Not only was it hilarious (literally too many good bits to go back and transcribe for a comment) but I learned a ton and it got me thinking, which is incredible. I love how Mike said at the end that you guys should be talking about these things, because he's so right, but you do it in such an entertaining way and one that gives people options. I like what Ben said about the items we use on a much more daily basis not even being considered. I just go out and buy a new pack of sponges every time I run out, and I've never though to research a better option to help due my part. Thank you guys for this video; it was super inspiring to me and really got me thinking about what I can change in my personal life.
Glad you're enjoying the videos and hoping it shines a light on some things. Not to shame... We all do it... But to help us consider.
Love this. Would totally watch more of these. would love to see themed plastic free episodes (Valentines plastic free, desserts plastic free etc.)
That coconut brush though, we’ve been using that for cleaning pots and pans for centuries in the Philippines.
All over Asia actually.
and?
@@lightgivener and what? Info was shared.
Non-asians think they discover new stuff, we've been using for centuries.
@@VixeyTeh and that is exactly what I meant by 'and?'. Every culture or community has things that sometimes get discovered, used and changed by other cultures. Could be the same between two friends. It is not 'non-asians' and 'asians' who this applies to only. Transcultural processes are to be expected and natural. There are exploitive political and economical structures withing globalization and it would be cool if all people would benefit more equally instead of just yuppy companies. But saying "we already did that" is so often used for othering and saying "see, we are better". No one is better or lesser than someone else. You got born by happenstance into a group that used this cool pan cleaner. Others have other cool traditions. And?
Hey! Amazing video this is, love that you are addressing the sustainability problem! And as Mike says, we ARE the ones that can make the change!!!
One little remark though, the "compostable" products actually take much longer than your average spring onion greens, so they are becoming a problem in the compostsble waste industry. So, until that logistic issue is solved, I'd say use other alternatives or do not throw them away together with the compostsble waste!
This has got to be my favorite video so far. Here in New Zealand its now against the law for shops to provide single use plastic bags. It's really not hard to be without them. It's been easy to adjust to bringing your own bag with you. I love all the alternative products you have shown and totally agree with the message you have sent out that it's down to us consumers to make the change needed. Please please do more videos on this theme! Loved it! :)
I just recently ran across some of the older SORTEDfood posts so forgive me if this has already been discussed. Interestingly enough, reusable shopping bags in the US are being targeted now as a means of cross contamination and other serious health risks. Some stores are now refusing that customers use them and have gone back to paper and/or plastic bags.
@@AveryFa not picking apart your comment. But I feel like the cross contamination argument is only really valid in america as pretty much everywhere else in the world people are capable of packing their own bags in shops.
Love that you guys covered this topic. Something important to note is that a lot of biodegradable plastics can’t be composted in your backyard compost pile, they need specific heat and moisture conditions that are provided in industrial composting facilities. So if you use them, you have to then make sure that they go to the right place, otherwise they still take a very long time to break down
I really appreciate you guys for pointing out in this and your kitchen gadget videos that sometimes these things are necessary for disabled folks. It's really easy for abled people to say "Well what idiot can't just drink out of a glass?" without realizing the harm those comments do to stroke victims, people with Cerebral Palsy, etc.
Before jumping on to the bioplastic bandwagon, be sure to look into just how long, and under what conditions the various products will biodegrade most efficiently. If they photodegrade, mixing them into a compost heap won't help all that much.
Additionally, be sure that you check about the permeability, if it needs to act as proper PPE.
12:55 MIKE!!! YOU'RE MY HERO FOR THE SPEECH AT THE END!! thankeoooo :')
What Mike is saying at the end, dude, marry me
He is a very considered individual!
Ah thank you, I've watched for years and I love seeing people get more engaged with the world so thank you so much
@@SortedFood did mike typed that
@@britnii113 Bet it was Janice
@@constantsong yea i think you're right😂
I really can not tell you how much I personally appreciate videos like these. Please please keep up this amazing work! You really are making the world better!
Pushing the conversation forward is exactly what you guys do! Great job!
I have never been more attracted to Mike as I am in that last moment ❤
I would say same, but then I remembered the clip of him performing Summer of '69...
@@constantsong haven't seen that!
Not since he dressed as Aladdin and sang his version of A Whole New World
MIKE
Yassssss Bennuendos are back!! Honestly, they make me giggle everytime.
Thank you for using your platform to talk about this.
I really appreciate that you guys don't shy away from environmental issues. A lot of popular content creators try to be as apolitical as possible, and I can understand why, but nothing good can get accomplished that way. I really respect your willingness to go for it.
For a second there I thought you were going to eat plastics...
That is what "alternative food products" would imply, isn't it?
"We know that plastic straws are the enemy"
*NOOOOOOOOO!* Plastic straws are FAR from being in the top 50 of the "problems for the environment" category.
This whole straw thing was a viral media story that is *entirely* based on a 9-year-old kid's school project. Seriously, that's the source.
Trying to help is good! It's awesome even! But fighting a non-problem while there are real problems is not helping.
Exactly! The whole non-renewable energy industry is destroying the Earth faster than plastic straws ever could. But, no ... let’s take some bad science from a 9 yo and pass laws on that. Stop dumping waste into local water supplies. Stop fracking. Stop spreading lies about windmills. And above all, stop making a 16 yo girl the enemy when all she wants to do is save the planet.
Using a reusable or compostable straw is not fighting...it is doing. On to the next problem....
@@JeanDowdle Doing... what?
Can I make a bad pun and say that is such a straw man argument?
No one is saying that straws are the biggest problem here. The overuse of single use plastics is a large problem which is damaging the wildlife, the environment, and probably ourselves as well. There are many big issues all contributing to this mess. As long as we are trying to take steps to fix what we can, I fail to see what good it will do to to fuss about and argue that the step wasn’t large enough.
And I honestly don’t mind that the story was sourced from a 9 year olds school project. The kid saw what happened to the turtle (I think it was if I remember correctly), and was concerned. Frankly, it would probably not have gone viral if a scientist reported on the same thing. And public attention is sometimes hard to catch.
Don’t discount good things, just because a person is very young , or very old. We all have things to offer.
@@seban678 Just a little bit more than I was doing yesterday. Today I don't use plastic straws, tomorrow I will learn to throw away less. Doing what? Doing what we can.It's a start.
i like the idea, people are just uneducated on things. Over 40% of the plastic in the ocean is from fishing operations, but we don't hear about that.
We also don't hear the countries that are responsible for most of the pollution, because they are considered "developing nations" and are excluded from most environmental policies.
DamienDarksideBlog What countries are you speaking of?
Didnt coke just get hit for being the largest plastic wast producer like across the board (and by hit I mean it was pointed out and literally nothing was done about it)
You are wrong yourself. 20% of the oceans plastic comes from shipping, fisheries and offshore industry. 80% comes from industry and people on land.
Yup. 0.025% is straws, at most, and disabled people need them to live. If we make them medical equipment (a lot of people suggest having pharmacies only sell them) the price will skyrocket.
Wow, Mike's speech at the end was so good. I thought this video might have just been made because the algorithm would approve, but hearing him talk so passionately about the importance of using their platform to raise these issues completely changed my mind.
liked video for Mike's outro speech. proper legend. love you guys! so much respect for you all xx
More of these please!
I've been searching for "tupperware" alternatives. I have glass containers with plastic lids but the lids dont last very long. That would be a great subject research!
I've found glass containers with lids that are more hinge-like and "snap" on last longer than lids that are more flexible throughout and have to fold around onto the container.
Honestly if 'tupperware' style containers are your concern then you are not really part of the problem. Those kinds of containers are long lasting, multi-use and tend to have less effect on the environment than the 'green' alternatives. Paper and cardboard for instance is the biggest green trap around, sure it degrades over time but the impact you make by producing that paper is much higher than plastic that is reused. Looked into it when our supermarkets went all reusable bags and pay for single use ones if you want, turns out that paper bags and a lot of so called green alternatives are worse for the environment.
Mason jars with the lid and rings used for canning. You don't need to seal them just to hold food for a few days in the fridge.
@_in my eye I dont use the lids in the microwave. I have both Pyrex and anchor brand glass containers and experiences cracked lids with both. I have to look for lid replacements as I really like the containers.
@@isabellelord-fortin9857 For reference, I use the brand "glasslock." I think I've had them for at least 6 years, and haven't had a lid crack yet. You just need to take out the seal to wash so mildew doesn't grow!
I thought Mike’s little speech towards the end of the video was really well said. Great video!
Dahlia Mike for PM
I’m so happy about this video because I have a lot of friends who want to innovate this field.
Love the video fellas, really good to see people with the platform having an open discussion about the good and the bad (cost, functionality, convenience etc)
Everything Mike said at the end is love ❤️ Please continue talking about this stuff and spreading awareness coz it truly matters. Love and luck always
Made my first Sorted recipe last night (croquembouche). It turned out perfectly. Thanks guys!
I wonder how hard Tyrone rolls his eyes when Ben comes home and tells him Jamie’s dad jokes...
my day has all of a sudden turned from 'meh' to 'the best day ever' for approximately 15 minutes and 12 seconds
Glad we could help!
Love, love, love this episode! These items may be a bit pricey now, but the more people buy these alternatives as opposed to non-biodegradable materials, the greater demand will force competition and drive costs down. I'm buying those coconut straws and bio-gloves!
As someone who doesn't really focus on the environment as much as I probably should. I enjoy videos like these. If I was in a store and I saw something for 4 dollars that was plastic and then saw something just as usable that was say 5 or 6 dollars and sustainable it would make me think twice about picking up the plastic one and just switching to the sustainable unit. I am glad people are coming up with ideas like this.