Summary: <br> <br> 5 New Ways to Reduce Your Plastic Waste<br> <br> Plastic waste is everywhere, am I right? (Hey there, plastic-wrapped cucumber!).<br> If you’ve ever looked around and wondered why on Earth everything is wrapped in plastic—and if you’ve wondered whether such overreliance on a single-use product derived from fossil fuels is completely contradictory to common sense—you aren’t alone.<br> Here’s the answer. Because plastic production requires fossil fuels, fossil fuel companies are investing billions of dollars into new plastic production facilities (<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2017/dec/26/180bn-investment-in-plastic-factories-feeds-global-packaging-binge" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">source</a>).<br> That’s right: plastic production is set to *increase* by a whopping forty percent in the next decade. You will likely observe more and more nonsensical items wrapped in plastic in the coming years, and it all has to do with profit (ahem … cucumbers). <br> The plastic pollution crisis is here to stay, and so it has never before been more important for you and me to curb our reliance on plastics starting in our own homes. On this week’s episode I offer 5 new and never-before-mentioned strategies to reduce plastic waste and extend your Plastic-Free July efforts into August and beyond.<br> Here’s a preview of today’s episode:<br> [4:00] Why and how to give yourself reusable ultimatums<br> [6:30] Why, exactly, the supermarket depends on plastic (Hint: Money!)<br> [9:50] The health and environmental benefits associated with homemade snacks<br> [11:30] How to conduct a restaurant audit<br> <br> Resources mentioned in the episode:<br> <br> * <a href="https://amzn.to/30lru9O" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Berkey water filter</a><br> * <a href="https://amzn.to/3k2cndj" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Soda stream</a> (for homemade seltzer)<br> <br> <br> **THANK YOU to all the listeners who have left reviews, reached out personally, and told friends about the show. I appreciate you!<br> Happy listening!<br> <br> * Want more episodes like this one? Check out <a href="https://mamaminimalist.com/062/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">#062: 5 Ways to Take Home Less Plastic from the Supermarket</a>.<br> * Social distancing is the *perfect* time to review your favorite podcasts! <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-sustainable-minimalists-podcast/id1329830361" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">On the Apple Podcasts app</a>, hit the Library tab, scroll allll the way to the bottom past all prior episodes, then click on the stars to leave a review. (Thank you!)<br> * Join our (free!) community <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/134165317219800/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">here</a>.<br> * Find your tribe. Sustainable Minimalists are on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SustainableMinimalists/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Facebook,</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/mommyminimalist/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Instagram</a> + <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/mommyminimalist/pins/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pinterest</a>.<br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br>
