The majority of us don't bat an eyelid when we are thirsty because we can just turn on the tap. The reality of it though, is that water is the foundation of everything we do and need to live. This World Water Day had me thinking long and hard about our impact on the world and our water supply and how our actions mean more than we think. So here are some everyday things we can all do to not just help ensure water is available for everyone, but to also allow our water to remain as clean as possible.
Clothing
Glitter
I'm a big glitter fan which is why I have included it on the list because in reality, glitter is very harmful for the environment. Why? Well, most of us when wash glitter straight down the sink with water or in the shower and so, an already small piece of plastic enters the water system and then continues to be broken down which can prevent it from being filtered out. The glitter issue has become something I am very aware of and there are so many fantastic alternatives available now instead, such as glitter made from eucalyptus trees and other biodegradable brands. So this summer when you're getting ready for festivals, I hope you can hear my nagging voice telling you to get something which doesn't have a detrimental impact on our water and ocean life.Tea and Coffee
As a nation of tea lovers and fast living, tea bags and disposable coffee cups are an every day occurrence. Tea bag however have plastic infused fibres in the bags themselves and coffee cups are lined with a polyethylene which just as in teabags, breaks down into tiny pieces which disposed of. What can you do, well there are now some tea brands that don't use plastic in their bags, or you can opt for loose tea leave which is an easy and guaranteed alternative. For coffee cups its simple, start carrying your own or choose to have your drink actually in the cafe instead of as a takeaway, meaning you also take a 5 minute brain break as well.Organic
Last but by no means least is about shopping organic. Whether this is in your food or your clothes, organic simply means that no pesticides and herbicides where used to treat the item before hand. This means that these items haven't contributed to chemical run offs which effect water ways, soil but also human health if you live in an area where high levels are used (there are cases of whole villages in India who grow cotton, having highly disabled children due to the chemical run of used on the cotton and land).
As consumers, we have to take responsibility of our own actions to help keep our oceans and water systems as clean as possible. We don't yet know the true extent of the damage caused by our actions but if microplastics are anything to go by, we need to all help in what ever way we can to reduce our impact.
If you'd like to find out more information about the plastic problem, SloActive have written a fantastic guide here that I'd recommend having a scan of.
Love
Erin
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