Paring Down Plastics

This week we explore how to pare down the amount of plastics in your life. We talk about how using fewer plastics is better for the environment and your health. We share tips on how you can easily reduce the amount of single-use plastic you consume. Show Notes 1:32 -  We kick off the show with a question from Ian's mom about how to pair down single use plastics and finding a replacement for plastic trash bags. 7:55  - Ian re-frames the conversation by asking "how do plastics affect us individually?" 10:05 - What is meant by "single use plastics" and what is the journey of a piece of single use plastic from its origin as raw materials to the trash. 17:17- What are micro-plastics? Where do they come from and, more importantly, where do they go? **18:56 **- The floating island of plastic trash that's formed between California and Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. It actually contains an estimated 1.8 trillion individual pieces of plastic. 23:30 - The impact of China no longer accepting plastic garbage from foreign countries. 26:30 - The "recycle-ability" of different types of materials. 28:08 - The impact of plastic on human and animal health. 33:45 - The bright spots on the horizon and the reasons to be optimistic about some recent efforts from private companies and governments to reduce plastics. 37:33 - The startup companies that are building businesses to help reduce the consumption of single-use plastics. 39:25 - Darren describes how he became aware of the health issues related to plastics and credits his wife, Mardee, with introducing him to BPA-free drink-ware. 42:40 - Ian reflects on how he first learned about the dangers of plastic containers 10 years ago. 45:02 - March sings the praises of the Soda Stream. 51:35 - Darren shares the reasons for his optimism about this topic - and we clarify that he's not an advocate of eating elephants. 🐘😄 54:45 - Tips for reducing the consumption of plastic in your own life. 💡 Tip 💡 1:00:45 - Darren gets inspired with an idea for an augmented reality app that gives visibility into the environmental impact of the products around us. 1:09:01 - How you can support charities whose work contributes to lowering the need for single-use plastics. 1:14:30 - How to read the numbers on recyclable plastics. 💡 Tip 💡 Mentions 👍 Product: the SodaStream 📰 Article: NYT article on the origin of the plastic straw ban 📰 Article: 2018 U.N. Environment report on single-use plastics 📰 Article: New enzyme that breaks down plastics 📰 Article: IBM - A radical new recycling process will breathe new life into old plastic. 💦 Water For People 💦 Lifewater 💦 Global H2O 💦 Water.org Follow Us Instagram Facebook Twitter Subscribe iTunes RSS Weekly email newsletter Full Episode Transcript Better Show Blog Feedback Email: [email protected] Enjoy the show? Leave a review in iTunes! Tell two friends about the show!