Plastic was one of the greatest inventions of the 20th century, accessible right from the early 1900s, plastic was a flat-out hit by the 1960s. Though it’s difficult to imagine what the modern world might look like without plastic, it turned out too good to be true. There are multiple types of plastics, and it takes anywhere between 400 and 1000 years to degrade in a landfill. Out of all the plastics produced in the world, 91% of them aren’t recycled. This means that more than 6.3 billion metric tons of plastic products that have ended up in the garbage are still around, so many plastic products are thrown every year that they can easily circle the Earth four times.
With such dependency on plastics, we are not only hurting the environment but also damaging our bodies and marine life. Synthetic substances in plastics interact with hormones and may lead to various medical conditions, including heart disease and diabetes. Plastic pieces from bags, bottles, and other items that are bound with synthetics can be ingested by marine animals and poison them instantly or eventually. As the negative impact of plastic on the environment and all the beings on Earth is known, the world is beginning to reexamine plastic’s convenience for all of us. Many countries and cities are attempting to manage modern life’s reliance on plastics by banning single-use plastics.
A few major companies like Starbucks are also trying to reduce their contribution in dumping plastics by selling reusable mugs for $1 which you can use to get a 10% discount on your drink.
Not just governments and companies, even individuals are thinking of ways to reduce the need for plastics which tends to be a big move to consider impacts of climate change and a step to eliminate it. Sustainable products right from straws to bins, bottles and even dishwashers are being replaced using other degradable materials rather than plastics. We’ve compiled a list of inventions that are eco-friendly reviewed from news articles for biodegradable products and gone through articles on sustainable inventions by nonprofit organizations known for their work to protect the environment.
Silicone food bags
Just imagine how much junk you would abstain from collecting if you didn’t have to throw out plastic bags. Produced using 100% pure platinum silicone, these food bags are completely functional, self-sealing and most importantly, it’s non-plastic. They are completely usable and are leakproof.
Edible water bottles
If you happen to think at first glance, this definitely isn’t natural. You can even consume the packaging of the product? Yes, it’s possible! After all, it’s produced from plant-based materials. Ooho is made from seaweed extract. The material degrades in a natural environment within six weeks on average – rather than 450 years for plastic bottles – unless you eat it.
Edible forks, spoons, and chopsticks
This is another type of popular plastic product that you no longer have to worry about because you can eat the alternative, is cutlery. Bakeys spoons, forks, and even chopsticks are made of sorghum, rice, and wheat flour. They are baked in molds and sometimes flavors are added too. Basically, you don’t have to buy dessert anymore, it’s already in your hands.
Bamboo toothbrushes
Taking into account that an individual uses a new toothbrush every three to four months, it’s disheartening to think how much plastic waste we add to landfill sites from toothbrushes alone. Plant-based toothbrushes have been around for several years. All its components, right from the box and packaging are made from bamboo or compostable castor bean nylon.
Store bags made of starch
Ever imagined that bags can become food for animals after their use? This might sound unrealistic but happens to be a reality. As many cities are banning plastic bags, these bags are the best alternative. These bags are made of starch and vegetable oil derivatives. Even if animals don’t eat them in the end, these eco-friendly bags will dissolve within a day!
Cotton produce bags
Most of the time, while we visit any vegetable or fruit store; we end up carrying plastic bags that are separately packed for vegetables and fruits. People end up carrying 10-15 plastic bags after just one shopping trip, and all these bags, unfortunately, end up in the trash bin without being reused again. There are many kinds of affordable and reusable bags made from 100% cotton mesh biodegradable material.
Silicone stretch lids
Silicone stretch lids are way better and elegant alternative to aluminum foil or stretch wraps that are so common. Imagine all the money you’ll save from not having to buy tupperware in all kinds of sizes and shapes. Silicone lids can be used in the microwave too, you need not worry about any malfunction when you use these lids to reheat any food. They can even be used in the freezer and regular oven.
Eco-friendly conditioner bars
Eco-friendly solid shampoo bar is a better replacement for liquid version of shampoo. One eco-friendly bar is equivalent to 5 bottles of liquid shampoo. The bars are also available as conditioners, lotions, and face washes. The bars are made of coconut oil, cocoa butter, kiwifruit seed oil, and essential oils.
Plant-based sanitary napkins
This conversation about women’s hygiene is mostly limited, what’s more regarding this topic is; sanitary napkins and pads impact the environment enormously. A single pad consists 90% of plastic, and it takes about 500-800 years to decompose. Without a doubt, millions of pads are used every single day all over the world.
Heyday makes plant-based sanitary napkins which are made from corn and bamboo fiber and take just six months to decompose after disposal! And regarding its comfort, it’s naturally soft, odorless, and highly absorbent with no side effects for sensitive skin. Your period is about to get a major chemical-free upgrade using these plant-based sanitary napkins.
