SHOP MINDFULLY – Avoid Plastic Packaging, Eliminate Plastic Pollution

The end of the year holiday and festive season is just around the corner and many of you will be shopping for gifts for yourselves and your loved ones. Before you buy, remember this: Most products today are made of toxic, polluting plastic.

Let’s shop mindfully and say no to overconsumption this season. The Plastic Pollution Coalition, a global alliance of individuals and institutions committed to eliminating plastic pollution worldwide, has the following useful tips:

> Only buy products that are essential, and skip the rest.

> Say no to trends, which have a short lifespan. Remember, plastic lasts forever.

> Find one essential product that you can swap for a plastic-free item, like deodorant packaged in paper instead of plastic.

> Invest in something practical and reusable, like glass foodware, instead of plastic wrap.

> Go bulk. For items like beans, rice, and nuts, find items available in bulk/wholesale and bring your own glass jar to skip the plastic packaging.

> Support truly low-waste businesses that are using reusable and plastic-free packaging.