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Zero waste lifestyle: 10 practical tips to get started

Can coconut waste replace plastic-foam coolers?

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Some Gen Alpha kids are into minimalism and decluttering.</li><li>They value sustainability and quality thanks to better environmental awareness, experts said.</li></ul>Tweens are coming for wasteful consumerism.<a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-alpha-explained-technology-views-mental-health-2023-10">Some Gen Alpha kids</a> are taking a stand against buying too much stuff — and dragging their parents along for the ride."They do decluttering missions," said Yuriy Boykiv, the CEO of the e-commerce accelerator agency Front Row Group, who has two children aged 10 and 12.They "don't have a lot of stuff," he told Business Insider.Boykiv counts himself among a growing cohort of parents under pressure to clear out their closets and donate the excess.Before a mall trip, his kids and their friends "are like, 'Listen, before we buy something, we'll just get rid of most of the stuff we have,'" he said."Some of them are very minimalist in nature."<h2 id="df9da932-4814-4ccb-9770-698b2cb695a8">A taste for quality</h2>Gen Alpha, anyone aged 14 and under, seems more selective about spending than the generations that came before them, even when all they have is their allowance.They are still likely to be big spenders. Thanks to their <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sephora-kids-gen-alpha-tiktok-trend-explained-2024-1">obsession with Sephora</a>, many are <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-alpha-is-obsessed-with-skincare-aging-anxiety-2024-5">already fueling sales in skincare.</a>They are predicted to be <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-is-generation-alpha-how-shop-spend-education-work-live-2024-1">a major economic force</a> — Business Insider recently cited an analyst predicting they would wield $5.46 trillion of spending power by 2029.But that is tempered by a strong conscience. Gen Alpha is learning about the environment and the climate crisis at school, realizing early the consequences of fast fashion and consumerism — including its own choices.Children are lobbying their parents to be more discerning as well. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://mccrindle.com.au/article/topic/generation-alpha/generation-alpha-and-environmental-consciousness/">A recent survey by the consultancy McCrindle</a> found that 80% of parents have been influenced by their Gen Alpha kids to be more environmentally aware as they spend."Not only do they care about where the product is coming from, but they go to their parents and say, you have way too much stuff, or this thing is not good," Boykiv said. "They just want to consume quality stuff."<div type="image" title="Gen Alpha girl putting on lip gloss at a makeup store, using a ring light mirror" height="3264" width="4928" msid="113017090" hostid="261" sizebytes="264392"></div>The <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-underconsumption-core-gen-z-tiktok-trend-2024-7">underconsumption core</a> aesthetic has also been trending in recent months, with <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/deinfluencing-is-the-anti-influencer-trend-rich-with-paradoxes-2023-1">online creators hoping to "de-influence" their audiences</a> and inspire them to buy less.Many Gen Zers and millennials would like to do the same but struggle to resist the lure of budget-fashion sites.Gen Alpha, at least so far, seems purer of mind.<a target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" class="c-link" href="https://dkcnews.com/genalphareport/">A 2024 survey of 1,000 Gen Alpha parents</a> found that 63% of their kids care about sustainability.In 2019, the digital agency Wunderman Thompson Commerce also <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://gertkoot.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/wtc-generation-alpha-2019.pdf">surveyed 4,000 Gen Alphas</a> and found that 66% wanted to buy from companies that were trying to have a positive impact on the world, and that 18% wanted to buy products that were non-plastic and sustainable.<h2 id="0b3d13fd-c83f-4f49-9c5d-366bf08bda94">Saving the turtles</h2>Julie Peak, a decluttering expert and professional organizer, told BI that a recent job was clearing out a kid's playroom.The mom had realized the kids weren't playing with their toys anymore. When Peak asked them why, they said they'd rather have one big thing they could play with in lots of different ways than a bunch of small things.Peak said she's also noticed children as young as 8 recommending their parents be more mindful about their impact on the environment."I had one client's child request to the parents that they wanted to start using reusable bags," she said. "They said that they wanted to protect the turtles."Peak said she thinks Gen Alpha is starting to see through the tricks of consumerism early, noticing that their older family members aren't getting <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/gen-zers-regret-shein-hauls-when-the-high-wears-off-2024-5">that much joy out of their impulse purchases</a>."We know so much more now, and our kids are getting more exposure to our footprint and our choices and how they affect the environment," Peak said. "I think they're more conscientious of that."Laura Ascher, a DIY blogger who focuses on minimalism and sustainability on her site <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.ouroilyhouse.com/">Our Oily House</a>, told BI she's also seen Gen Alpha's "passionate advocacy for decluttering.""This generation is being raised in an era of social media and seems to have rejected the impulsive consumerism that is often associated with older generations," she said.<h2 id="a37fa048-1966-495f-bc2a-debade2e0429">Return of the mall</h2>An unexpected sign of this shift — as shown by Boykiv's kids — could be heading back to the mall. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.lek.com/press/nearly-two-thirds-gen-z-prefer-store-shopping-online-new-study-finds">While Zoomers</a> and millennials <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://store.mintel.com/report/us-millennials-online-shopping-behaviors-market-report">prefer to shop online</a>, Gen Alpha specifically <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.n2o.co.uk/news-ideas/gen-alpha-purchasing-behavior">likes shopping in-store</a>.Stephen Yalof, the CEO of the retail operator Tanger, told BI that malls are cool again for tweens.They like to "shop in packs," he said, looking for "very specific brands and very specific products," such as Stanley Cup water bottles, Drunk Elephant serums, and Glow Recipe cosmetics.<div type="image" title="A mother and child clearing out their cupboards, drawers and doors to wardrobes open and clothes all over the floor" height="1414" width="2121" msid="113017091" hostid="261" sizebytes="163562"></div><h2 id="443b8761-12a5-46bc-ba98-479e4f90c3fe">Shopping smart</h2>Gen Alpha may also benefit from having a wider range of sources for their research."We're seeing that they're a smart generation, and they have more information than anyone else," said David Delisle, an author, financial-literacy expert, and dad of two boys.Helenor Gilmour, the director of strategy at the kid-focused consultancy Beano Brain, told BI that Gen Alpha are "savvy spenders and savers" who are "very aware of the importance of doing the right thing.""The savviest amongst them are becoming mini entrepreneurs," she added, through reselling their old things.They're "emotionally intelligent about where, when, and how to treat themselves," Gilmour said, and still go to Amazon, Temu, and Shein for bargains.Overall, Delisle doesn't think it's likely that every Gen Alpha child is above consumerism. But they probably will grow up to be better equipped to navigate it, and work out what value means to them."With my guys, one is a spender, and he isn't a minimalist, and he will always have a cluttered room full of a million different hobbies and things," Delisle said. "The other one, that stuff doesn't matter at all. He just wants to go to the beach and play with his friends."

Wasteful consumerism has a new worst enemy: Gen Alpha tweens

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I've been an <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cheap-ways-to-make-space-look-expensive-interior-designer">interior designer</a> for years, and there are some things I won't be buying this year.</li><li>I won't buy desk chairs that are more stylish than functional or high-maintenance plants.</li></ul>As an interior designer, I'm always looking for <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/interior-designer-best-home-decor-bought-this-year-2023-11">items that combine value and style</a>.This year, my aim is to prioritize enduring <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/interior-decor-and-designs-that-look-bad-in-real-life">design elements that withstand the test of time</a>, focusing on wise investments rather than chasing fleeting fads.Here are things I won't be wasting money on in 2024.<h2 id="2ade7cb7-a291-4689-99cb-b5002ff55d54">Overpriced brand-name decor</h2>High prices and luxury names don't always equal quality, so I'm avoiding overspending on big-name decor just because of the label.For me, good design is all about finding hidden gems that blend style and substance, regardless of the brand. I'm keeping my mind open to budget-friendly pieces and a discerning eye on pricey ones.<h2 id="c7c134b3-2ff6-4633-91e8-962cac4f3273">Non-ergonomic office chairs</h2><div type="image" title="White, airy home office with desk in front of windows and small console table with artwork above it" height="854" width="1280" msid="112384753" hostid="261" sizebytes="79254"></div>If you partake in remote work, having a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-ultimate-home-office-guide-for-2024-2024-3">comfortable home office</a> is incredibly important.And although I also want a beautiful space, I'm done splurging on office chairs merely for their aesthetics — yes, I'm talking about you, trendy velvet desk chair!A good desk chair should be ergonomic and designed to be sat in for long periods.<h2 id="cc4b3817-4b81-4522-92a5-39a79b380427">High-maintenance plants</h2>This year, I'm avoiding high-maintenance plants that demand constant attention.Instead, I'm embracing <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/guides/home/best-indoor-plants">low-maintenance greenery</a>, so I can infuse life into spaces without the stress of rigorous care routines.Plastic plants can look cheap, so I've found dried flowers and branches to be reliable alternatives. They're perfect for those of us who can't keep plants thriving.<h2 id="4768c4c3-ed89-4c94-a5c9-31e88cd57ac7">Cheap, mass-produced rugs</h2>Rather than succumbing to the allure of inexpensive, mass-produced rugs, I'll invest in durable, quality ones that elevate the aesthetic of my space and endure daily wear and tear.This way, I can avoid having to replace them frequently.<h2 id="bb516a49-b08f-4aa1-94a1-6795d42875ee">Excessive throw pillows</h2><div type="image" title="Throw pillows on neutral bed with gray bedside lamp" height="3156" width="4765" msid="112384752" hostid="261" sizebytes="1296404"></div>I adore throw pillows, but excess is out. This year, having more than three throw pillows on a bed is a no-goI'll be investing in quality over quantity, selecting pillows that complement a space without overcrowding sofas and beds.<h2 id="4bc81ab1-e7f1-4d41-b886-b0446c3990d1">Fast furniture</h2>Throughout 2024, sustainability will be a top priority for me, guiding my choices toward furniture that lasts and aligns with a more eco-conscious approach.Although a $300 sofa might seem appealing due to its affordability, mass-produced <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/31/realestate/fast-furniture-clogged-landfills.html">fast furniture</a> can degrade quickly and further contirbute to throwaway culture.By opting to pay more for pieces made to last, I'm prioritizing quality and also actively reducing waste.<h2 id="25a5828b-988d-42ca-a638-0ee916c02299">Unnecessarily specialized kitchen gadgets</h2>Sorry, but I won't be adding any more <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/other-uses-for-kitchen-gadgets-2020-5">single-purpose gadgets</a> to my kitchen arsenal.As tempting as that avocado slicer or hot-dog toaster may be, I'll rely on multifunctional tools to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/interior-designer-kitchen-design-tips-rental-space-2023-6">keep my kitchen clutter-free</a>.

I'm an interior designer. I'm not wasting my money on these 7 things this year. 

<keyword id="13135498" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="Gujarat-Titans" source="Orion">Gujarat Titans</keyword> have swiftly shed their newcomer status in the <keyword id="6354831" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-Premier-League" source="Orion">Indian Premier League</keyword> (<keyword id="6354312" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="IPL" source="Orion">IPL</keyword>) despite their relatively recent entry just two seasons ago. Their impressive debut season victory and subsequent second-place finish have firmly established their prowess on the cricket pitch. Now, they hope to emulate this excellence off the field as well, by embarking on a series of initiatives aimed at environmental sustainability and fostering a <keyword id="21195854" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="circular-waste-economy" source="Orion">circular waste economy</keyword>. Embracing the adage ‘environmental stewardship starts at home’, Gujarat Titans have forged a strategic waste management alliance with <keyword id="1517498" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Nepra" source="Orion">Nepra</keyword> Resource Management Pvt. Ltd. (NEPRA) for their home games during the <keyword id="20898019" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="TATA-IPL-2024" source="Orion">TATA IPL 2024</keyword> season at Ahmedabad's <keyword id="10818893" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Narendra-Modi-Stadium" source="Orion">Narendra Modi Stadium</keyword>. This partnership focuses on <keyword id="6408774" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="waste-segregation" source="Orion">waste segregation</keyword>, recycling, and educating fans about sustainable waste management and hygienic practices, paving the way for a cleaner and greener stadium environment. In 2011, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) paved the way for sustainability-related initiatives, by donning a green uniform and planting trees to spread awareness. Other IPL franchises from across the country are also making strides in sustainability. Recent reports reveal that Chennai Super Kings have teamed up with IIT Madras to champion sustainable initiatives, while Rajasthan Royals have renewed their partnership with Schneider Electric, aiming to cultivate a community of environmentally aware individuals. The collaboration of Gujarat Titans with NEPRA, aiming for a "<keyword id="21195853" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="zero-waste-to-landfills" source="Orion">zero waste to landfills</keyword>" objective, will centre on establishing a circular waste economy. NEPRA will take charge of the efficient collection and transportation of waste, leading initiatives to raise awareness among stadium stall operators. Additionally, mindful of the <keyword id="6404408" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="carbon-footprint" source="Orion">carbon footprint</keyword> of visiting fans, Gujarat Titans aim to minimise GHG (greenhouse gas) emissions in the Scope 3 category. They plan to achieve this through collaboration with Gujarat Metro for transportation, the adoption of electric vehicles, and the use of public buses during the team's five home matches. Emphasising the team’s commitment to environmental stewardship through sustainability, GT COO Colonel Arvinder Singh said: “Responsible behaviour on and off the field is an integral part of our conduct at Gujarat Titans. We are alive to the challenges that all of us face and shall strive to make a difference with our sustainable initiatives. Our partnership with NEPRA will enable us to contribute significantly to waste reduction and encourage fans to preserve the environment while enjoying the games.” These initiatives mark a significant advancement from the Titans' previous endeavours during IPL 2023, where they focused on minimising waste sent to landfills and promoting plastic reuse through partnerships with organisations like Bisleri. The recycling of plastic into benches for schools exemplifies their dedication to community engagement and environmental conservation. Such concerted efforts of IPL franchises towards environmental sustainability are poised to inspire sports franchises and fans globally, setting a commendable precedent for collective action in promoting eco-conscious practices.

Batting for the environment: Gujarat Titans kickstart sustainability and circular waste economy initiatives

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I was a <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-things-to-order-at-starbucks-according-to-a-former-barista">Starbucks barista</a> for a year, and I saw plenty of customers waste their money.</li><li>You can usually get a better value on iced drinks by asking for light ice.</li></ul>I <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/favorite-things-to-order-starbucks-someone-who-worked-there-2022-3">worked as a Starbucks barista</a> for nearly a year, and I became extremely familiar with just how expensive the popular coffee chain is. As a stingy spender, I made several mental notes on ways customers would unnecessarily waste their money during my shifts.Here's what I wish people would stop paying extra for — plus ways to save a little cash.<h2>I wouldn't pay a premium for cold drinks filled halfway with ice</h2><div type="image" title="starbucks iced drink" height="604" width="806" msid="111292845" hostid="261" sizebytes="45334"></div>The easiest way to avoid spending an arm and a leg on half a cup of ice with a hint of the beverage is just to specify that you'd like light ice. Trust me, baristas are aware that the oversize scoop of ice in a drink can be frustrating. But many are happy to replace the extra ice with liquid if you ask for it. Light ice is even an option on the app. <h2>It might be unnecessary to pay for a shot of vanilla syrup to sweeten a soy latte or cappuccino</h2>Starbucks charges customers for a pump of syrup added to an otherwise plain <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-and-worst-starbucks-drinks-according-to-baristas-2021-6">latte, cappuccino, or cup of coffee</a>. But people might not know that the soy milk the chain uses is vanilla-flavored.The flavoring is more subtle than an actual pump of syrup, but if I already plan on ordering a sweetened coffee with milk alternative (which, unfortunately, also costs a bit more), I usually get soy and save on the extra fee. Otherwise, I'd end up paying one fee for unsweetened oat milk/almond milk and another for vanilla syrup. Unfortunately, for lovers of caramel, hazelnut, and peppermint syrups, you're stuck with the extra charge for the sweetener. <h2>If you're a regular customer, you may not need to pay out of pocket for Starbucks merchandise</h2><div type="image" title="Starbucks Coffee Mugs" height="970" width="1294" msid="111292846" hostid="261" sizebytes="67762"></div>I refuse to pay out of pocket for special Starbucks tumblers, mugs, or coffee beans. If I find irresistible merchandise, I'll take advantage of the Starbucks rewards program.If stopping by for a drink or food item is already part of your daily routine, then you'll easily rack up star rewards in the app that you can redeem for complimentary items. If you have 400 points, you can select any merchandise worth up to $20.You'll have to pay the difference if it's more than $20, but many of the basic items are within the price point. <h2>It's not usually worth ordering Americanos — they're literally just espresso and water</h2>A grande Americano will cost you around $4, which is rather pricey for three <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-hot-coffee-and-tea-at-starbucks-former-barista">shots of espresso</a> with water. Instead, make your own. Ask for a doppio or triple shot of espresso (whatever you prefer) in a grande cup, and then ask for added water. You can essentially get an Americano for almost a dollar less. <h2>If you're looking for a caffeine fix, stop wasting your money on hot venti lattes</h2><div type="image" title="A Starbucks barista prepares a drink at a Starbucks Coffee Shop location in New York." height="1285" width="1714" msid="111292847" hostid="261" sizebytes="120710"></div>If you order a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-and-worst-things-to-get-at-starbucks-according-to-chef-2022">hot venti latte or cappuccino</a>, you're still only getting two shots of espresso, which is the same amount you get in a grande. In a way, buying a venti latte means you're paying half a dollar more for a more diluted caffeine-to-coffee ratio.If you prefer iced lattes, a grande comes with two shots and a venti comes with three shots, so that's a different story. <h2>Don't miss out on the 'bring your own cup' discount</h2>Although <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/former-starbucks-employees-opinions-on-popular-drinks-2022-9">many Starbucks</a> stopped serving customers their orders in reusable cups during the coronavirus pandemic as a health and safety precaution, several locations have restarted the program. This prevents additional plastic use and saves you $0.10. Rewards members also earn 25 bonus stars when they use their own mug, which can then be used to pay for a milk alternative, syrup pump, or additional espresso shot.<h2>Stop paying for bottled water</h2>I've always been baffled by people who insist on buying bottled water <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/starbucks-drinks-not-to-order-what-to-get-instead-barista-2022-8">from Starbucks</a>. I can understand if you absolutely need something unopened, but other than that, there's no reason to pay full price for the one thing the chain offers for free. Don't be afraid to order any size cup of water. Baristas will even add ice if you ask for it.This story was originally published in June 2023 and most recently updated on June 26, 2024.

7 things Starbucks customers should stop wasting money on, according to a former barista

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Amazon said nearly all deliveries in North America no longer have plastic air pillows inside.</li><li>This change avoids 15 billion air pillows a year, Amazon's biggest plastic reduction effort yet.</li></ul>Nearly all Amazon deliveries in North America no longer include plastic air pillows, the e-commerce giant said on Thursday.Amazon said the change would avoid some 15 billion air pillows — the company's largest reduction in plastic packaging to date. Instead, Amazon is using a paper filler made from 100% recycled material that customers can recycle at home as part of a broader effort to eventually eliminate all plastic packaging from North American fulfillment centers. Amazon already met that goal in Europe this year.The switch to recycled paper comes as <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/us-global-plastic-pollution-treaty-under-scrutiny-2024-4">companies and governments are under pressure</a> to phase out single-use plastics that are piling up in landfills and contributing to the climate crisis. The vast majority of plastics are made from oil and gas, can't be recycled, and degrade into tiny particles that leach into the air and environment. Scientists have found those microplastics in human blood along with organs including the liver, heart, lungs, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-found-in-human-testicles-what-to-do-2024-5">most recently testicles</a>, but the effects on our health are still being studied.For years, Oceana, a nonprofit that advocates for protecting oceans, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/amazons-plastic-air-packets-boxes-circle-the-planet-2022-12">has criticized Amazon's ballooning plastic</a> footprint as the company ships billions of packages around the world. Matt Littlejohn, Oceana's senior vice president, told Business Insider that eliminating air pillows indicated Amazon was serious about its plastic-reduction efforts in North America and that it was welcome news for oceans. Plastic air pillows are made with a film <a target="_blank" href="https://affiliate.insider.com?amazonTrackingID=bi-auto-70463-20&amp;h=c38415b31a84dfb5aa56a438e162cc317827951d6b626391c4e894a25633a2fd&amp;postID=66736386b38735ca9df50ca4&amp;postSlug=amazon-cutting-single-use-plastic-shipping-packaging-paper-recycling-2024-6&amp;site=bi&amp;u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nature.com%2Farticles%2Fs41893-021-00720-8">that's commonly found littering marine areas</a>.Oceana recently <a target="_blank" href="https://oceana.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/18/2024/04/Amazons-United-States-of-Plastic-Oceana-Report-April-2024_reducedsize-1.pdf">estimated that Amazon generated</a> more than 94,000 metric tons of plastic-packaging waste in the US alone in 2022, a 9.6% increase over the previous year. That's enough to circle the Earth more than 200 times in the form of air pillows, Oceana said.Amazon disputes Oceana's figures and <a target="_blank" href="https://sustainability.aboutamazon.com/2022-sustainability-report.pdf">reported a lower amount of plastic packaging across</a> its global operations in 2022: Nearly 86,000 metric tons, an 11.6% decrease from the previous year.Oceana said its estimates were higher than Amazon's because the company hadn't accounted for orders sent by third-party sellers. Those independent sellers account for <a target="_blank" href="https://sell.amazon.com/sell?ld=SEUSSOAGOOG-sitelink-guide-D&amp;tag=googhydr-20&amp;hvadid=664128654868&amp;hvpos=&amp;hvexid=&amp;hvnetw=g&amp;hvrand=11107216929719429337&amp;hvpone=&amp;hvptwo=&amp;hvqmt=e&amp;hvdev=c&amp;hvdvcmdl=&amp;hvlocint=&amp;hvlocphy=9007526&amp;hvtargid=kwd-297084214751&amp;ref=pd_sl_2vge9q2e84_b&amp;ld=SEUSSOAGOOG-BFBA12122B-CLK-D&amp;gclid=Cj0KCQjw4MSzBhC8ARIsAPFOuyXwoFqkDpXAG0SpyouCS4LjcgY7qHDkeWaOK2XItdtbw5ohJv0188UaAtm2EALw_wcB%5C">more than 60% of Amazon's sales</a>. Amazon's plastic-packaging data reflects orders shipped through its own fulfillment centers — which some independent sellers opt for — and through its grocery business. The data also isn't broken down by country."The first thing for us is to really test and learn and then scale what we can control within our own facilities," Pat Linder, Amazon's vice president of mechatronics and sustainable packaging, told BI. "That's been our focus."Linder pointed to an Amazon fulfillment center in Cleveland that last year became the first to eliminate plastic delivery packaging and replace it with paper that's curbside recyclable. The effort involved rebuilding existing machines that were using plastic to package products. Additionally, As well as being more sustainable, the recyclable paper is better at protecting orders from damage, Linder said.He added that Amazon would disclose the impact of these changes on the company's plastic use in a future sustainability report.That report is also set to detail Amazon's broader climate strategy. The company aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040 while boosting sales and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-data-energy-centers-water-energy-land-2023-10">building more data centers</a> that demand vast amounts of electricity.In 2022, Amazon's carbon footprint dropped by 0.4% from the previous year, although it was still higher than in 2019, the first year Amazon reported its emissions.

Amazon is trying to eliminate plastic that doesn't get recycled. It's actually making some progress.       

America has long had a plastic problem. It's an urgent question — what do we do with the 40 million tons of plastic waste we produce annually? One year of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/disposable-face-mask-waste-toxic-poison-water-nanoplastics-pollution-health-2022-2">plastic waste</a> is roughly enough to smother the entirety of Manhattan a meter deep, and it has to go somewhere. For years, the answer was simple: Make a lot of it, dump most of it in the landfill, and make the rest of it someone else's problem — the US regularly exported 7 million tons a year to China alone. Some of it was melted into lesser plastic; the rest was incinerated or buried.But then, in 2018, China cut off plastic imports.Now, America is coming to terms with a hard truth: Plastic was never designed to be recycled and there's no profitable way to recycle 91% of it. The environmental impacts have been disastrous. About 430 million tons of plastic are produced globally every year, accounting for 14% of global oil demand. The refinement of plastic alone emits up to 235 million tons of greenhouse gases a year. Most of that plastic breaks down into <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/microplastics-risks-heart-attack-stroke-study-2024-3">microplastics</a> that make their way into the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/expert-how-i-keep-baby-family-safe-toxic-plastic-microplastics-2023-1">air, rain, and our bodies</a>. Almost 95% of America's water supply contains plastic fibers.While the US, the UK, and other European countries responded to China's ban by sending their waste to places like Thailand and Malaysia, those countries then followed China in cutting off waste imports. The message was clear: The Global South would no longer be a dumping ground for the West.<div type="image" title="A scavenger drinks water while collecting plastic waste to sell to a recycling center at a landfill in Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia in March 2024" height="3333" width="5000" msid="109561992" hostid="261"></div>America is now scrambling to find alternatives. One approach peddled by oil corporations like Chevron and Exxon has been to turn plastic into crude oil, which they say extends the life of <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/north-americas-largest-waste-hauler-investing-in-a-plastic-recycler-2022-9">plastic that would've otherwise ended up in a landfill</a>. As these companies look to replace projected lost revenue from the phasing out of fossil fuels, they're lobbying to blanket the country with 150 plants that specialize in pyrolysis, a form of chemical recycling that melts plastic down into crude oil to be used for fuel and petrochemicals, as well as to make lesser-quality plastics. While advocates champion these facilities for breaking down hard-to-recycle plastics that other <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ai-recycling-startups-aluminum-plastic-valuable-materials-2024-4">recyclers toss aside</a>, critics condemn them for emitting toxic particles, relying heavily on government subsidies, and acting as a greenwashed alternative to addressing <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/plastic-recycled-into-bricks-ivory-coast-conceptos-plasticos-2023-2">the plastic problem</a>.As they're pitched as an innovation set to bring us a "circular economy" of plastic that allows us to stop making new plastic and just reuse what we have, marketing for pyrolysis and recycling overlooks a glaring fact: Plastic production doubles every 15 to 20 years.This isn't sustainable, Tim Miller, a vice president at the Ohio plastic-recycling center Royal Paper Stock, told me, adding: "But I don't know how to stop it." Pyrolysis is another sign of America's plastic paralysis.In the years after World War II, plastic flooded the marketplace as a cheap alternative to otherwise scarce and finite materials. It was hailed as a democratic harbinger of a new, utopian age of capitalism, fueling the subsequent decades of cheap consumerism that became synonymous with the American dream."The continuous flow of oil fueled not just cars but an entire culture based on the consumption of new products made of plastics," Susan Freinkel wrote in her book "Plastic: A Toxic Love Story."Plastic went from being practically nonexistent in 1940 to being consumed at a rate of 30 pounds a person each year by 1960. Just as quickly, it became a target of environmental movements protesting litter, garbage-filled oceans, and landfills brimming with plastic. Oil and chemical companies responded by looking into whether recycling was realistic or, more importantly, profitable. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.npr.org/2020/09/11/897692090/how-big-oil-misled-the-public-into-believing-plastic-would-be-recycled">It wasn't</a>. So companies shifted the blame for the pollution onto consumers. The "Crying Indian" commercial, funded by beverage and packaging corporations, aired in 1971, showing a Native American character crying at the sight of litter.The messaging worked. As companies expanded plastic into every facet of life, recycling became the due diligence needed to sustain our hyperconsumption. We didn't worry about plastic bottles because the recycling truck carried them off to a new life. Companies like Coca-Cola and Nestlé slapped "100% recycled" and "100% recyclable" labels on their packaging to appear sustainable. Just last year, the Plastics Industry Association launched a million-dollar ad campaign, "Recycling Is Real," claiming that it's "not only real, but feasible and economical."While recycling is real, the vast majority of plastic isn't recycled, mostly due to how expensive it is to clean and sort it effectively. A 2022 report by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development found only 9% of all plastic ever produced had been recycled; 72% ended up in landfills or the environment. Unlike aluminum or glass, the plastic that can be recycled rarely results in replacing one recycled water bottle with another.<div type="image" title="Recycling sorters at Recologys Recycle Central sort out pieces of flimsy and film plastic destined for landfill in 2019 in San Francisco" height="4480" width="6720" msid="109561996" hostid="261"></div>Instead, it's a process of downcycling — turning plastic into lesser plastics like plant containers or bins before they are relegated to a landfill. By downcycling a tiny portion of plastic waste, companies can genuinely reuse a relatively small share of plastic, while convincing consumers that the industry has created a circular economy of infinitely recycled plastic. Never mind that products advertised as being made from recycled plastic are made almost entirely out of new plastic or that almost all the 300 pounds of plastic every American consumes each year (10 times as much as in 1960) ends up in a landfill, in the ocean, or incinerated.Larry Thomas, a former president of what's now called the Plastics Industry Association, told NPR in 2020: "If the public thinks that recycling is working, then they are not going to be as concerned about the environment." And if they aren't worried about the impact of plastic on the environment, they won't threaten the plastics industry.Since 2018, the fossil-fuel and plastics industries have faced two harsh realities: Oil is being phased out in favor of clean, renewable energy, and plastic waste can no longer be exported to developing nations in the South. To replace their fuel losses, oil companies are going all in on plastic. The International Energy Agency predicted in 2018 that petrochemical products like plastic would outpace trucks, aviation, and shipping in oil demand by 2050. In a recent report, ExxonMobil predicted that petrochemicals used largely for plastics and fertilizer would account for nearly all of the oil industry's growth by 2050, replacing industrial fuel demand, which is projected to decrease. To keep expanding plastic production, however, it needs to look sustainable.<div type="image" title="A Good Year sign in Akron, Ohio" height="960" width="1200" msid="109562000" hostid="261"></div>Akron, Ohio, which hosts about one-quarter of the country's polymer companies, is ground zero for this push. Designated by the Biden administration as the only "tech hub" in Ohio, the city has received tens of millions of dollars from the CHIPS Act, which it hopes to use to create a circular economy around plastic.In 2012, Alterra Energy opened America's first large-scale plastic-pyrolysis facility. According to its website, Alterra converts "plastics back into their original building blocks to produce new plastics and other valuable products." The crude oil produced by the Akron facility is shipped to petrochemical companies around the globe to be purified and made into new plastics. But it's unclear how effective this process is.A study published in 2023 by researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that the economic and environmental impact of turning pyrolysis oil back into plastic was actually far worse than it was to make brand-new plastic. As a result, they said, pyrolysis oil is "typically reintegrated into the petrochemical industry where only a small fraction is used for closed-loop recycling."<div type="image" title="The Alterra Energy facility in Akron, Ohio" height="960" width="1200" msid="109562003" hostid="261"></div>"It has had, let's say, limited success," Miller, the Royal Paper Stock vice president, said about pyrolysis. "No one yet in the United States that I know of is just cranking in plastic and pumping out oil." He pointed to a pyrolysis facility in Oregon that just announced it would shut down after tens of millions of dollars in losses.Residents in Akron are split on the impacts of the Alterra facility. On the one hand, pyrolysis melts plastic to be reused instead of sending it to the landfill or incinerator. On the other, it emits cancerous pollutants such as mercury, benzene, and arsenic, and props up the very fossil-fuel companies that are driving the climate crisis.<div type="image" title="Kelley Sayre in front of her garage in Akron, Ohio" height="1500" width="1200" msid="109562007" hostid="261"></div>"Akron's going for 'the green city on the hill,'" Kelley Sayre, a fourth-generation Akron resident, told me, "but it's really 'the greenwashing city.'"Vicky Abou-Ghalioum, the lead petrochemicals organizer of Buckeye Environmental Network, has been working with Akron residents concerned about the environmental and health impacts of chemical recycling, but it's proved challenging in a city ruled by polymers. "People are afraid to talk about plastic," she told me. Her organization has been pushing the EPA to address the influx of planned pyrolysis facilities in Ohio, arguing that they're bad for the environment and people, and aren't even profitable.In a statement to Business Insider, Alterra Energy said its Akron facility is profitable and diverts over 100,000 pounds of plastic each day from landfills. "We operate in a heavily regulated industry and are in compliance with those requirements," the company said in response to concerns about toxic emissions. It also said one of its customers uses Alterra's oil product exclusively for making new plastic.Despite the problems of pyrolysis, many manufacturers hail it as a sustainable miracle. Companies such as Eastman Chemical Co. see chemical recycling as the solution to recycling or composting 50% of their plastic packaging by 2025, and the American Chemistry Council claims the growing industry is necessary for fostering what it calls "<a target="_blank" href="https://www.americanchemistry.com/chemistry-in-america/news-trends/press-release/2022/america-s-plastic-makers-encourage-congressional-focus-on-advanced-recycling-to-achieve-circularity">plastics circularity</a>." But these companies face an uphill battle. Former Mayor Mike Bloomberg of New York City launched an $85 million campaign in 2022 to stop over 120 proposed petrochemical facilities. "Petrochemical plants poison our air and water — killing Americans and harming the health of entire communities," Bloomberg said in a statement.In the plastic-recycling industry, pyrolysis is seen as a well funded but failing experiment. A 2023 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.beyondplastics.org/publications/chemical-recycling">report</a> by Beyond Plastics and the International Pollutants Elimination Network found that the 11 pyrolysis facilities in operation in the US required massive public subsidies, most couldn't operate at full capacity, and only two of the plants sold the crude oil to be used exclusively for plastic production. Most of it was sold to make fuels and chemicals. Based on their findings, they argued that pyrolysis was ultimately "a public relations distraction to prevent plastic regulation and prop up the profits of the petrochemical/plastics industry."Though the conundrum of plastic grows more dire by the day, there are signs of hope. In early <a target="_blank" href="https://www.unep.org/news-and-stories/press-release/historic-day-campaign-beat-plastic-pollution-nations-commit-develop">2022</a>, the UN adopted a resolution that could send shock waves throughout the entire plastic-disposing world. Heads of state, environment ministers, and UN representatives agreed to end all plastic pollution with a legally binding international plastic treaty to be officially adopted later this year. "Plastic pollution has grown into an epidemic," Espen Barth Eide, Norway's then-minister for climate and the environment, said in the announcement. "With today's resolution we are officially on track for a cure."The resolution would establish an agreement addressing plastic at every level, from production to recycling, in an attempt to reduce plastic pollution worldwide. Organizations such as the international coalition Break Free From Plastic have said that cutting the production of plastic has to be on the table. "The oil and gas industry sees plastic as its primary growth market and is investing billions of dollars in new and expanded facilities," the organization wrote in a 2022 statement. The group recommended bans on single-use plastics, a plastic tax, and regulations that prioritize plastics that can be recycled."Reduction in the production of plastic is entirely possible," Abou-Ghalioum of Buckeye Environmental Network told me. She pointed to the more than 500 cities and 12 states that have banned plastic bags, reducing the number of bags used by the billions. "It's talked about how we rely on plastic for so many things, and it just feels like a marketing ploy to make us reluctant to shift away from it," she said. "We had everything we ever needed before plastic."The tough reality is that the <a target="_blank" href="https://www.sustainabilitybynumbers.com/p/landfill-plastic-area">9.5 billion tons of plastic</a> with us will be here for hundreds of years. But how many millions of more tons are added will be determined by the types of solutions we arrive at today.<a target="_blank" rel="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/author/taylor-dorrell">Taylor Dorrell</a> is a writer and photographer based in Columbus, Ohio.

China stopped taking our plastic. Now America is drowning in it. 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>World leaders are in Ottawa negotiating a treaty to end plastic pollution.</li><li>The US, a major plastic exporter, says its a dealmaker but is under pressure to be more ambitious.</li></ul>World leaders are gathering in Ottawa, Ontario, this week to hash out a global treaty to end plastic pollution.It's a pivotal point in the talks, with countries aiming to strike a deal by the end of the year. The US has positioned itself as a broker between other big oil, gas, and petrochemical exporters — including Russia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia — and countries that want steep cuts to plastic production.But critics say the US isn't being ambitious enough."We'd like to see clear recognition from the US that the treaty has to confront the production of plastic polymers and resins if it's to be successful," Carroll Muffett, the president and CEO of the Center for International Environmental Law, told Business Insider. "We cannot recycle our way out of the plastics crisis."Muffett is among a handful of scientists and business and community advocacy groups who told BI they wanted to see a stronger position from the US. The country has a lot of sway as the world's largest exporter of oil and gas, the main ingredients in plastics. The US has also been at the forefront of a massive build-out of new plastics and petrochemical plants over the past decade. The Environmental Integrity Project, a Washington, DC-based nonprofit, <a target="_blank" href="https://environmentalintegrity.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Feeding-the-Plastics-Industrial-Complex-3.14.24.pdf">identified 50 plastic plants built after 2012</a> and found that at least 20 more would be built or expanded over the next five years.The trend is global. Plastic production is expected to nearly triple by 2060 unless countries reach a deal to rein it in, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.oecd.org/environment/global-plastic-waste-set-to-almost-triple-by-2060.htm">according to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development</a>. A treaty could be the most impactful climate action since the Paris agreement because the plastic industry accounts for 5% of global carbon emissions. That could grow to 20% by 2050 if current trends continue, <a target="_blank" href="https://energyanalysis.lbl.gov/publications/climate-impact-primary-plastic">the US Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory</a> said.A State Department spokesperson in an email said the US is concerned that "overly prescriptive approaches" to ending plastic pollution put the treaty at risk because the largest producers and consumers of plastics might not support it. The US position is focused on policies that drive down the demand for new plastic, such as through government incentives and reuse models. However, the spokesperson said that countries "would not be precluded" from adopting their own policies.The Biden administration wants to finish a deal this year, given that the presidential election is in November, several observers of the negotiations told BI. But it will be difficult to persuade the Senate to ratify a treaty, they said.In Ottawa, major disagreements remain over how to tackle the more than 350 million metric tons of plastic waste produced globally each year, much of which ends up in landfills and the environment. Only 9% of plastics are recycled.Hundreds of businesses and countries support cutting plastic production. This could involve phasing out "problematic" plastics that can't be recycled or are harmful to public health and mandating that products be made with more recycled material. Taxing plastic polymers is also being discussed, which could help finance improvements to waste infrastructure in developing countries."Shared financial responsibility is something we really want to see," Allison Lin, the global vice president of packaging sustainability at Mars Inc., said. Lin represents the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, which includes more than 200 companies. Among them are Walmart, PepsiCo, and L'Oréal.Lin said the coalition supported a policy called <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/recycling-rate-us-extended-producer-responsibility-cans-bottles-plastic-paper-2023-2">extended producer responsibility</a>, which slaps a fee on companies' packaging to help fund recycling and collection and has been successful in countries such as Belgium. Plastic makers similarly should bear some of the financial burden, she said.Stewart Harris, a spokesperson for the International Council of Chemical Association, agreed that plastic makers needed to make greater investments, and the group supports EPR and recycled-content mandates. But the industry is opposed to taxes because they would be difficult to implement and it would be hard to ensure money flows into programs tackling plastic pollution, he said.Plastic makers also oppose setting caps on production, as do countries including Russia, Iran, and Saudi Arabia. Harris cited <a target="_blank" href="https://www.oxfordeconomics.com/resource/mapping-the-plastics-value-chain/">an industry-commissioned report</a> by Oxford Economics that found a cap could increase costs for consumers as well as greenhouse-gas emissions. Plastics require less energy to manufacture and transport compared with some other materials, the report found.Cutting plastic production would also hit the bottom line of oil majors such as Exxon. The <a target="_blank" href="https://www.iea.org/news/petrochemicals-set-to-be-the-largest-driver-of-world-oil-demand-latest-iea-analysis-finds">International Energy Agency forecast</a> that by 2050, petrochemical products like plastic would outpace trucks, aviation, and shipping in oil demand.Neil Nathan, a project scientist at UC Santa Barbara, and his team built an artificial-intelligence model of how 11 policies could curb plastic pollution. While many can make a big dent in the problem in the near term, pollution will eventually go up again without production caps, he said.The model has been shared with US negotiators, Nathan added. He's disappointed the US hasn't included some of the most impactful policies into its position, he said."If the US takes a position or is supportive of something, we typically see a snowball effect," he said.Editor's note: April 25, 2024 — This story has been updated to include a statement from the State Department and clarified to reflect that Neil Nathan said UC Santa Barbara's recommended policies can initially curb pollution, but without production caps, pollution will go up in the long term.

The US is under pressure to lead the way in reducing plastic pollution &mdash; but it keeps making more of it 

The concept of the spectral figure draped in a white sheet may have lost its terror appeal, but beneath the waves, where polythene bags drift much like shrouded figures, its reign of fear remains uninterrupted. The extended degradation time of plastics poses one challenge, yet when currents and other natural forces reduce them into smaller, fish-sized bites, a substantial problem arises for our marine friends who ingest them. This results in compromised liver, gut, and immune systems. So, if we are unable to diminish our reliance on plastics or prevent their influx into the oceans, what measures can we take to safeguard aquatic life? This conundrum gave birth to the idea of "biodegradable plastics," materials designed to break down more rapidly when discarded in landfills or water bodies. Scientists had long regarded such bioplastics as a panacea for combatting the microplastic-<keyword id="6355507" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="fish" source="Orion">fish</keyword> issue. However, it turns out that these advanced bioplastics aren't performing as optimally as initially anticipated. While they aren't as detrimental as traditional petroleum-based plastics, exposure to bioplastics still impairs a fish's ability to escape, a critical mechanism for protecting them from predators. Previous studies have revealed that both traditional and biopolymer <keyword id="6489736" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="microplastic" source="Orion">microplastic</keyword> exposure can influence various aspects of a fish's response to danger, such as a decrease in the speed or distance they would travel to elude their assailant. This recent study reaffirmed these findings, observing that fish (specifically a rocky reef species in this instance) tend to exhibit reduced escape velocities when exposed to bioplastics. Conversely, exposure to petroleum-based <keyword id="177410" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="polymer" source="Orion">polymer</keyword> microplastics predictably had an adverse impact on fish across the board. Traditional microplastic exposure hindered their responsiveness to danger and their ability to swim away quickly — qualities vital for survival. This also rendered the fish relatively lethargic, affecting their everyday behaviours like mean swimming speed and overall distance covered. While biopolymers did partially mitigate the harm to fish compared to traditional <keyword id="34567" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="plastic" source="Orion">plastic</keyword>s, the authors expressed concern that impaired escape behaviour would increase the likelihood of predation by birds and other fish. The paper consequently advocates for stricter waste management practices to improve plastic waste control. "With the escalation in the production of petroleum-derived and bioplastics, it is inevitable that marine organisms will encounter larger quantities of diverse microplastics, thus heightening the risk of microplastic ingestion," the paper observes. "It is important to acknowledge that, although bioplastics may be less environmentally damaging than petroleum-derived polymers, they are not without risks." The results of this study have been published in the journal Science of the Total Environment and can be accessed <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167423" data-type="tilCustomLink">here</a>.

Even ‘biodegradable’ plastics may not be enough to protect fish from doom, new research suggests

<ul class="summary-list"><li>In 2020, the rate of plastic <keyword id="12063226" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="recycling" source="Orion">recycling</keyword> in the US dropped by 5.7% from the prior year.</li><li>New research shows that seeing pictures of ocean creatures can make people use less plastic.</li></ul>Your summer beach getaway: sun, surf, sand — and plastic. As many of us head toward the water for Memorial Day, it's more likely than ever that we'll find our oceans aren't just white with foam. They're also laden with plastic flotsam that never biodegrades but keeps breaking into smaller pieces.But maybe the thing to remember as we near the unofficial start of summer isn't how severe <keyword id="12318689" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="plastic-pollution" source="Orion">plastic pollution</keyword> has become but how much we have to lose. That's because new <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00139165221090154" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">research</a> indicates that visualizing beloved ocean inhabitants can make more of us willing to go on a plastic diet.It's certainly one we need. We're using more plastic and often recycling less of it. The amount of plastic in the world's oceans is <a href="https://www3.weforum.org/docs/WEF_The_New_Plastics_Economy.pdf" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">projected</a> to outweigh fish by 2050. And in 2020, the rate of plastic recycling in the US, which was already low, <a href="https://circularityinaction.com/2020PlasticRecyclingData" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">dropped</a> by 5.7% from the prior year.There might be a way we can use nature to help battle the plastic problem. Jiaying Zhao, a researcher with the University of British Columbia, and her colleagues found that placing pictures of marine life like sea turtles, whales, and dolphins above the recycling bins in a Vancouver office tower reduced overall <keyword id="12427295" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="plastic-waste" source="Orion">plastic waste</keyword> — either discarded or recycled — by 17% compared with before the signs went up.The photos of animals grappling with plastic waste in their aquatic homes were more effective than simple recycling signs or ones that asked office-goers to pledge to cut down on how much plastic they used.The decrease in plastic waste held even after the signs with animal pictures were removed, Zhao told Insider. She said that suggested office workers had begun to change their habits and perhaps do without things like single-use water bottles and utensils.When Zhao returned to the building to interview the workers who'd unwittingly been part of the experiment, those questioned by her team said they didn't remember seeing the animals on the posters."That was most surprising because I thought it would be memorable," Zhao said of the photos that showed a turtle chewing on plastic or a dolphin with a plastic bag caught on its fin. "If it elicited some kind of emotional response in me, and I felt bad for throwing away plastic stuff now — and I'm making a conscious effort to not do it — I should remember it, right?"Zhao said the animal pictures above the recycling bin appeared to be an effective nudge to change people's behaviors without proving so distressing that they were traumatized, as was the case with a viral <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wH878t78bw" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">video</a> several years ago of a turtle with a straw lodged in its nostril. Outrage over that video pushed some consumers and businesses to ditch plastic straws.<h2>Happy turtles could help change behavior</h2>In some cases, less dire images might win out. Zhao said subsequent experiments she and her colleagues conducted using images of "happy" turtles and dolphins appeared to be even more effective in changing people's actions than unsettling images.There could be broader lessons in all this for the environmental movement, Zhao said, because many awareness campaigns ask consumers to commit to shifting their behavior in some way."A lot of the tactics are like making a pledge," she said. "I pledge not to do this or not to buy this. That didn't work in our study."The researchers found that when people made an emotional connection to the animals — even if they didn't remember it — the effect was more powerful.Linda Escalante, the Southern California legislative director for the Natural Resources Defense Council, said giving thought to the influence of our actions, including our reliance on <keyword id="12149811" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="plastics" source="Orion">plastics</keyword>, was essential to maintaining a successful coexistence with marine life. Besides, she said, as plastic pollution breaks down into tiny bits, it makes its way back to us."It is penetrating the food web," she said. "You find this stuff all over the planet in places where you could never imagine because it is easily transported by water and air."That's why it's now in our <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/04/06/1091246691/microplastics-found-in-human-lungs" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">lungs</a> and in our <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/recycling-doesnt-keep-plastic-out-of-stomachs-lungs-or-blood-2022-4" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">blood</a>. And it's why we <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/03/30/youre-eating-a-credit-cards-worth-of-plastic-a-week-and-its-killing-your-gut/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener sponsored">consume</a> a credit card's worth of the stuff every week. So doing more to protect water is in our self-interest.Escalante, who also sits on the California Coastal Commission, a powerful state agency, said she believed demand for beach days would increase because rising temperatures in many inland areas — and even wildfires in the parched Western US — would drive demand for access to water and cooler coastal areas. That's yet another reason it's so important to safeguard bodies of water, she said.She also pointed to humans' need to experience natural beauty, something on display during the height of the pandemic."We became more attached to getting out there, to the outdoors, to finding that connection," Escalante said. She said she didn't expect that to diminish, adding: "Our beaches, our coasts are going to be in very high demand."

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