How COVID has made our plastic problem way worse
The problem with plastic waste isn’t a new topic for Lumen. You may not realize that the largest culprit of our single-use plastic waste is actually from the grocery store. Nearly everything is wrapped in plastic — milk and juices, snacks, beauty products, and even produce are all over packaged. Food containers alone create more than 82 million tons of waste each year. A couple of years ago, we were making progress. Companies like Trader Joe’s set aggressive examples by removing millions of pounds of plastic packaging from their stores.
But the pandemic has set us back. Meal and grocery delivery services banned reusable bags and bulk food bins, causing plastic waste to skyrocket 30% in 2020 alone. (We actually wrote about the end of weekly grocery store trips in 2019, little did we know we were closer to that reality than we thought.) Single-use plastic became the most sanitary option to reduce cross-contamination and contact spread of the virus. We now know there is little evidence to support this. We face an uphill battle to bring our plastic consumption down, but luckily, there are companies on the rise who are leading the charge.
One company with a unique business model is Loop. They work with food and beauty brands to create zero-waste packaging that can be washed and reused. They deliver stainless steel containers in a reusable tote. When you’re done, you can schedule a free pickup of the tote with your empty containers. We wrote about them in 2019 when they were still a pilot program, but now they are available nationally through Kroger and Walgreens, with new brands being added every month. Although we are really excited for the progress Loop has made, there are still issues to address. Materials that replace single-use options are typically heavier and require more fuel to transport. In addition, metal takes thousands and thousands of uses to become worth the manufacturing costs and environmental gain. Despite the forward momentum, there are opportunities to improve.
Local bulk food stores provide an excellent option to reduce packaging waste. Customers bring and fill their own reusable containers that they refill with bulk grains, flour, and oils. Local produce shares and farmer’s markets are also a simple way to get fresh local food with minimal packaging. However, the main change is going to come from grocers offering reduced waste options until bulk food stores become more mainstream. Only a handful of stores offer bulk food or local food options that cut down on packaging. Customers are using what is available, but many people want better options. To find options in your area, Litterless is a great website that lists all of the zero waste grocers and bulk food bins in the US.
As great as reusable containers and bulk food stores are, we need to update legislation to make lasting change. Few large cities have bans on plastic bags, but most do not. In 2020, the first bill was released to reduce single-use plastic nationwide, but nothing has been done since. The US ranks second in the world for plastic waste, beat only by Australia. More than 90 countries have made plans to ban or put fees on single-use plastic bags or other plastic products, and the US is falling behind. There are other lightweight, mainstream alternatives like bamboo, beachwood, paper, etc.
Until there is real legislation in place, we can all do our part to cut down on plastic waste. The Green Education Foundation lists a few ideas that range from using reusable straws and grocery bags to making your own cleaning products and swapping your razor for one with replaceable blades. To find some great swaps for plastic free options check out the Zero Waste Store or Package Free Shop. Not only are they sustainable products, but also beautifully made. Although we have been set back, if we all chose to make changes together, small choices will lead to big results.
