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Ever wondered why we use glass instead of recycled plastic bottles at Pleasant State? Other than the obvious "because we wanted them to be ridiculously-good looking", you might be surprised to know that a lot of thought went into this decision to reduce negative impacts on people and planet.
Unfortunately, there are a lot of downsides to recycled plastic that many of us don't know about, and definitions around recycled plastic, 100% recyclable plastic and ocean bound plastic can all be very misleading.
Recently, environmental advocates lodged a complaint with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) over 'ocean plastic' and "ocean-bound plastics" products, alleging they are a greenwashing marketing tactic.
Using phrases such as "made from 100% ocean plastic" and "ocean-bound plastics" is confusing for consumers because it makes it sounds like the recycled plastic was pulled from the ocean, but in reality these terms can be used interchangeably to include plastics collected as far as 50 kilometres from the coast!
On top of this, as plastics weather they release toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs). If you're favourite yoghurt brand claims that their container is made from 100% recycled plastic, it's important to note that food-grade plastic has to be virgin, you can't be mixing contaminated ocean plastics with it.
While these tactics are disappointing, it's a reminder that we can't recycle our way out of the plastic problem. Instead businesses and consumers need to work together to take steps to phase out single-use plastic where possible. One way we have managed to do this at Pleasant State is by using glass instead of plastic or recycled plastic bottles.
Glass is a great alternative to plastic for a bunch of reasons. One, it's non-toxic and doesn't contain harmful chemicals like BPA. This means that it won't leach harmful substances into your food, drinks, skin or home surfaces, making it a MUCH safer option for you and your family.
Secondly, glass is 100% recyclable, meaning it can be used over and over again without losing quality. Unlike plastic, which can only be recycled a handful of times before it becomes unusable.
Lastly, glass is a more sustainable option as it's made from natural materials like sand, soda ash, and limestone instead of the petroleum derived ingredients used to make plastics.
So, what can you do to make the switch from plastic to glass? Here are a few tips:
• Look for products that come in glass packaging, like Pleasant State!
• Invest in a reusable glass water or stainless steel water bottle instead of buying single-use plastic bottles.
• Use glass containers to store your food instead of plastic containers. Particularly if microwaving food!
• Buy products in bulk and store them in glass jars to avoid buying products that come in plastic packaging.
All these small changes add up to have a really positive impact of people and planet. Let's work together to create a more Pleasant future for everyone!
