it takes an estimated 450 years for a simple object, like a plastic water bottle, to decompose. now imagine all the plastic in your starbucks cup, lid, takeout box from your local cafe, and the utensils. uh oh. 

in place of that, here’s three ways to enjoy breaking-your-fast while being environmentally friendly.

1. bring your coffee cup with you

an estimated 16 billion single-use coffee cups go to waste every year, but there’s no need to keep contributing to that. although stores like starbucks and whole foods stopped allowing the use of personal cups for pandemic sanitation reasons, peet’s coffee has reinstated the practice. 

stylish cups are more fun… but be sure to pick a durable one that isn’t also made of plastic. the typical reusable cup must be re-used an estimated 20-100 times to be worth the energy used to make it in the place of a disposable cup, so be sure to get one that you will love for years to come! options like the frank green cup ($29.95 for the 12 oz) that is made of recycled material and can be recycled (and only needs to be used 15 times according to the brand’s website). you can also try a huskee cup ($22 for travel cup) that is made from “coffee husks” (a waste material produced in coffee production) and has a nice minimalist aesthetic.

2. make tea at home

not a fan of lugging around a reusable cup? not a coffee-lover? if you want to try a tea that’s good for you and the planet, swap out those staples and extra material-using tea bags for loose tea! when you buy big-brand tea bags you’re throwing away the pointless bags and potentially ingesting microplastics. a recent study by researchers at mcgill university found that steeping a single plastic tea bag at brewing temperature releases about 11.6 billion minuscule particles known as “microplastics” and 3.1 billion even smaller “nanoplastics” into each cup. microplastics are each around as thick as a human hair, and each nanoplastic is about 1,000 times smaller, so you cannot see them even as you gulp them down.

there are microplastic-free options, though! arbor tea is a brand that sells loose-leaf tea enclosed in compostable packaging. so, you can compost the tea leaves and package with no waste and not have to swallow the microplastics that come from a tea bag! arbor teas also has a solar-powered packaging facility and transports packages by truck and sea freight to avoid shipping by plane to lower carbon emissions.

suspicious of greenwashing? the arbor teas backyard compostable packaging was awarded the gold award in sustainability by the flexible packaging association in march of 2021. if you want to try other brands, make sure to check out the ethical consumer rating site which ranks companies that you should order from and others that you should really stop buying from, like lipton and twinings. 

3. make a plastic-free meal from home

there’s something so fulfilling about a breakfast that you get to make yourself (an accomplishment before noon?). according to a recent study by science advances, over 40% of all demand for plastic is generated by single-use plastic products, which often end up in toxic landfills. if you don’t want to add to that, stop opening little plastic packages of pop-tarts  and go for that classic veggie omelet! not only is it healthier for you, but you can avoid creating waste by choosing cardboard cartons for eggs and bringing your own mesh bag to your grocery store or farmer’s market for the vegetables, instead of using a plastic produce bag. the cotton bags from package free shop are a nice choice.

if you’re more rushed and feeling some toast, you can bring your own bag to a local bakery, even chain ones like tatte, and buy a loaf there. stores like whole foods also offer a “bulk section” that includes an option to bring your own jar for some delicious nut butter as your topping. more sustainable, natural, and delicious!

––

it’s fun and simple to cut back on plastic early in the day; it could inspire you to spend the rest of your day waste-avoidant, too. shopping with ethical brands and encouraging earth-friendly business practices can be a great way to use your consumer power. how about that as a morning burst of energy?

“is everything of plastic? almost, ” a video advertisement for the futuristic dream house boasts. 

we are past that future now. so where is the house?

well, depending on the type of plastic, pieces of the house may have ended up in different places around the world. since plastics can take anywhere from 20 to 500 years to break down, elements of the house are likely still somewhere on this planet, negatively affecting animals and plants alike, and likely ending up on our plates.

microplastics have been found everywhere, and are now thought to be ubiquitous in the environment.

microfibers from house of the future’s synthetic fabrics could be falling out of the sky with snow and rain. microplastics have now been found to undergo transportation via the atmosphere and be deposited back down to earth.

some of the synthetic materials, once weathered into smaller pieces by other forces could easily be ingested by all sorts of wildlife, especially since research shows that plastics immersed in ocean water emit a chemical signal that seabirds smell and easily mistake for their other sources of food.

some of the more dense plastics from the house might more easily sink in aquatic environments, like this high-density polyethylene bucket at the bottom of the ocean.

even if the entirety of monsanto’s house of the future was properly disposed of in a landfill, it could still be wreaking havoc on the environment. landfills have been found to leach chemicals and have the potential to contaminate groundwater sources. or, like the scene shown in this photo, the elements can weather away at the manmade features and eventually wash them out to sea.

how can we change?

while we cannot undo the creation of the house of the future, all of us can pursue actionable everyday steps to help curb the deleterious effects of plastic on our environment and its inhabitants.

• before you buy something made of plastic or packaged in it, try to find a secondhand or zero waste alternative to it. always have your bottle or mug on you and think ahead for food or snacks so that you don’t catch yourself in a pinch having to purchase plastic-wrapped food.   
• contact companies you support about reducing their plastic footprint. this handy guide walks you through how to go about contacting businesses—complete with a script!
• if contacting businesses is not up your alley, call them out on social media about excessive packaging. outreach is key to solving the plastics problem
• contact your representatives and urge them to support the break free from plastic pollution act of 2020.

1. prioritize post-consumer paper.

whether your teacher has a no-laptop rule or you just prefer the feeling of a pen in your hand, make your notes smarter by looking for post-consumer paper products. made from recycled materials, post-consumer paper is used in notebooks such as the cleverly named decomposition books. post-consumer paper can also be recycled into loose-leaf ruled and printer paper.

2. buy more bamboo.

many products traditionally made from plastic now have bamboo alternatives. unlike plastic, bamboo is natural and biodegradable. bamboo alternatives are available for everything from rulers to staplers to pencil sharpeners. you can also say farewell to plastic forks and knives in your lunchbox with a set of reusable bamboo utensils. 

3. check out chipboard.

chipboard, which is made from recycled paper scraps that are layered and glued together, is another great alternative to plastic. the material is used to make binders, tab dividers, and portfolios.

4. pass on plastic pencils.

it’s no surprise that that 24-pack of plastic mechanical pencils is going to create unnecessary waste. next time you need to stock up, challenge yourself to keep track of a couple of metal pencils rather than losing two dozen plastic ones. of course, you could always keep it old school with classic wooden pencils; you might even want to check out highlighter pencils in exchange for traditional plastic highlighters. 

5. less is best.

the most effective way to reduce waste is to simply buy and use less. that means making smart purchases, or no purchases at all if you have other supplies on hand. if it is necessary to make new purchases, look for things that can be reused again and again, without the need to repurchase a lot of replacements and refills. for example, look for refillable pens or zero-waste staplers. as always, remember to check out your local thrift store to see if any of the items you need are available second-hand!

1. sun protection

sun protection is an essential element for any happy day in the sand. yet, those empty plastic sunscreen bottles really add up when you reapply every couple hours. fortunately, you don’t have to trade in your own health for the planet’s. instead, look for sunblock packaged in recyclable and re-purpose-able metal tins or glass jars. there are even some spf options with entirely biodegradable packaging, such as eir nyc’s surf mud pro.

2. snacks

after hours in the waves, you’re sure to work up an appetite. as you pack up snacks in preparation for your trip, phase out single-use plastic wrap and zipper bags for biodegradable food wrap or reusable zipper bags, perfect for sandwiches or summer produce. 

don’t worry about filling up your cooler with plastic water bottles. instead, pack your beverage of choice in a temperature regulating reusable bottle, like those from hydro flask or s’well, that keeps liquids cool as the weather gets hot.

3. swimwear

after a long winter, you might find that last summer’s swimsuit is worn out or doesn’t fit quite like it used to. if it’s time for a new suit, consider investing in one made from recycled nylon from patagonia or reformation or one made using discarded plastic bottles from madewell. take the time to find one that’s just right. a swimsuit that spends only one summer on your body will still spend centuries or more in a landfill. 

swimsuits aren’t the only piece of beach gear being made from repurposed materials. nomadix towels are made using recycled plastic bottles and are perfect for the beach, pool, or yoga.

4. summer reading

there’s nothing better than kicking back on the beach with a good book. if you’re in need of something to read, try stopping by your local library, thrift shop, or used book store before checking out on amazon. yes, it may require you to do a little searching, but you will cut out shipping waste and you might surprise yourself with a new favorite author!