Spotlight on: The Plastic Problem
Last month we published The Plastic Problem, a book to help your family cut plastic out of their lives. We were lucky enough to speak to its author, Aubre Andrus, about what she learnt through writing the book. Take it away Aubre!
“Writing this book changed my life. It made me re-examine a lot of the ‘auto-pilot’ actions I take on a daily basis, like grabbing a lid or a straw when I don’t need it. I became much more aware of how much plastic pollution my daily routine created, and I immediately tried to change that. I’m still working on cutting out plastic from my life, but every time I do it makes me feel really good!
When it comes to saving the planet, many people are taught 'reduce, reuse, recycle' but the mantra should actually be 'reduce, refuse, recycle'. With that in mind here are some extra ideas to get your family started as 'plastic patrollers'":
Take a check-list of your waste
"How many bags of rubbish and recycling does your family create each week? Each month? Don’t forget about small waste bins in the bathroom or bedrooms. Keep a tally of how many bags or bins you fill up then make it a fun family challenge to reduce that amount next month and so on".
Focus on one room at a time
"There are so many ways to cut plastic out of your life, which is great - but it’s also overwhelming! Try focusing on one room like the kitchen or the bathroom first. For the next month, make small changes that reduce waste in that room specifically".
Declare a plastic-free shopping week
"Take a trip to the shop and attempt to fulfill your needs with the least amount of plastic possible. This is called ‘pre-cycling’. Ask your kids for help finding these solutions".
Model eco-friendly behaviors for your kid(s)
"As parents, we know that kids are more likely to pick up on a habit that they see us doing ourselves, like grabbing a piece of fruit instead of crisps for a snack. Start modelling low-waste behaviours for your kids like saying no to plastic cutlery, straws and bags and using fabric napkins and dish cloths instead of paper ones".
Challenge your family to pack a waste-free lunch for a day
"Our daily lunch routines often create a lot of plastic waste. There are many simple solutions kids and adults can take such as buying snack items in bulk and portioning them out in reusable bags, or packing reusable silverware and cups as well as fabric napkins”.
Thanks Aubre for all of that useful info! Since its release, both kids and adults alike have been flicking through the pages of The Plastic Problem. Here’s what Annabelle, 8 years old, had to say about it:
“I like this book because it gives me ideas about how to help the environment. The book talked about how lots of plastic ends up in the ocean, how there's plastic in your clothes, and how plastic heats up the earth. I also learned that a plastic water bottle can take 450-1,000 years to break down. That's not good! This book is important because it helps to solve the plastic problem. I would recommend this book to anyone - young or old”.
The reviews have also started to come in on the children’s book review site, Toppsta. Here’s what Kate-jw, who has been reading it to her class, has said:
"My class loved this and were all eager to get a chance to read it! Some great ideas in here on how to reduce our plastic usage, which they are all pledging to do!"
