Environmental Advocates of McDonough County The LIFE program recently offered a two-session course on eco-friendly household and hygiene products offered by Kathy Fischer and Mary Gillingham. The program focused on paper products and plastics.
Day one focused on paper products and the impact that the various industries have on trees. Every day approximately 1 million trees are cut down for the sole purpose of manufacturing toilet paper. Forests continue to be cleared at alarming rates to meet the global need for paper products. The loss of these forests impacts important ecosystems and accounts for approximately 25% of global carbon emissions.
When trees are cut down, complex interactions are disrupted. For example, there is loss of many animal and plant species as well as disruption of soil, leading to erosion. Countless species are being threatened. The greatest impact on deforestation is in the boreal forest here in North America, as well as the rainforests in Indonesia and the Amazon.
There is a solution to the overuse of native forests. The first and most obvious is recycling paper. Recycling saves trees, and it takes 31% less energy and 53% less water than is used in processing nature wood pulps. It also reduces the amount of paper in landfills, one of the most significant sources of methane.
Another option is the use of bamboo. Bamboo has a shorter growing time of 3 to 5 years. It absorbs carbon, and there is no leaf loss which is significant for photosynthesis. Bamboo also has a lower need for water.
One product that all households use can be sourced from the options just discussed—toilet paper! Consider the impact if we all used tree-free toilet paper, since the average person uses 140 rolls per year. Some examples of toilet paper product options include Seventh Generation, Save Trees, and Who Gives a Crap. Besides toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, facial tissue and printer paper are also available.
The use of these recycled paper and bamboo options contributes to a healthier environment. Some people use these products while others also believe in recycling other products that come in plastic or glass containers. Glass recycling was discussed in an earlier article, and along with paper recycling, it is one of the most important recycling options. Another commonly used product is detergent.
Examples of excellent ecofriendly detergents brands include Mrs. Meyers, Seventh Generation, Full Circle, and Ecos. (Just because advertising shows Dawn detergent being used to clean oil covered ducks does not mean it is environmentally friendly!)
Plastic recycling, while touted as a great way to protect the environment, is not the wonderful option that has been promoted.
Plastic products are everywhere. Each day Americans throw away enough plastic to fill the Dallas Cowboy stadium to the brim. Sadly, only 9% will get recycled.
The remainder end up in landfills as litter, or dumped into our oceans. Plastics do NOT fully degrade. Their products will be with us for centuries.
Plastics are polluting our oceans. It is estimated that 1 to 2 million tons of plastic enter the oceans every year.
In addition, emissions from the manufacturing of plastics have become the “new coal,” emitting greenhouse gases, toxins and particulate matter into the atmosphere.
Plastic pollution is disrupting our ecosystems and contaminating our soil.
Even more concerning is that recent medical studies have found that microplastics are affecting our bodies.
Most of these tiny, microscopic particles are the result of weathering from sunlight and physical wear. But other microplastics are intentionally used in the manufacturing of cosmetics or in fibers used in synthetic clothing.
These particles impact our health when ingested.
Approximately 39,000 to 193,000 microplastics particles are estimated to be consumed by the average person every year.
Health experts point out that exposure to microplastics can trigger inflammatory responses in cells and tissues of the brain, lungs, and placenta. A recent study found that patients with arterial plaque containing microplastics had a 4.5 times higher risk of heart attack, stroke, or death, compared to patients who did not.
More will be said about plastic studies in the next article. In the meantime, please consider recycling your glass, and use tree-free paper products, and other eco-friendly products such as eco-friendly detergents. For more information you can contact us at [email protected].
