#ThinkBioplastic is a digital educational platform cutting through the plastic debate with science and facts to address the plastic predicament.
P is for plastic
This website and its short explanatory videos convey the problem about production, use and disposal of plastics (or rather organic polymers) are simply the best Iâve ever come across. Alisa Murphy of Life Size Media, Europe's cleantech communications agency, funnily and comprehensibly explains the lifecycle of plastics.
Episode 1 âWhat's wrong with plastic?â explains the plastic problem: the problem isnât using plastics but rather how theyâre made and what happens to them once weâre done with them.
Episode 2 âUnsavoury beginningsâ gets into the chemistry of organic polymers and dscribes the âbirthâ of long hydrocarbon chains by the man-made chemical reaction called polymerisation.
Episode 3 âWhy wonât you die?â deals with why plastic doesnât break down and biodegrade and thus canât be digested by naturally occuring microbes.
Episode 4 âPlastics from planstsâ describes the advatages of biobased plastics such as pens made out of potatoes, coffee pods made of corn or cutlery made of cellulose.
recipe for about 48 homemade dishwasher tabs (in German)
D is for dishwasher tabs
If you can find the ingredients package free then this is a good zero waste alternative to bought dishwasher detergent. Youâll need:
200 g baking soda
200 g citric acid
100 g Epsom salts
120 ml clear vinegar
optional: 20 drops of lemon oil
Mix the dry ingredients first. Add the vinegar and wait for the bubbles to reduce. Mix and scoop into an ice cube tray. Press the paste down with a spoon or finger to fill out the molds. Leave to dry in a warm place for about 24 hours. Use the resulting tabs as you would use store bought tabs.
Instead of rinse aid you can use about 120 ml vinegar per cycle.
An alternative recipe (found here: zerojourney.wordpress.com/2017/07/12/dishwasher-tabs/) includes:
Did you know you can wash your clothes with chestnuts? In this video we show how to make your own detergent from chestnuts in a few simple steps.
C is for chestnut detergent
You might have heard of washing with washnuts from soapberry trees (Sapindus mukorossi) but there is an alternative tree that is prevalent in Northern America and Eurasia. Chestnuts contain saponin which is a natural cleaning agent. If you want to give washing a load of coloureds with chestnuts a go, follow these 4 simple steps:
quarter 5 to 8 clean, dry chestnuts
place chestnut pieces in a jar
add about 300 ml of water, close the jar, shake and let steep overnight (approx. 8 h)
strain finished detergent into another jar
If youâre in a hurry you can also cook the chestnut pieces on the stove for 15 minutes and use the resulting liquid as detergent.
The liquid doesnât keep so instead of making a larger batch, keep some dried chestnut quarters or granules for use as needed.
When washing whites, you can remove the brown shell in order to minimise the risk of discolouration.
The recipe was found here: https://www.smarticular.net/waschmittel-aus-kastanien-herstellen/ and https://trashless-society.com/waschmittel-aus-rosskastanien-verlosung/ (for German readers).
Crowdfunding-Projekt von Jeevaanu. Jeevaanu bietet umweltfreundliche und nachhaltige Alternativen fĂŒr Mensch, Tier und Umwelt.
J is for Jeevaanu
Jeevaanu is the name of a biotechnologically optimised liquid that uses microorganisms to aid processes in the home, the garden, for water treatment, agriculture and more. The bacteria in the solution provide an alternative method to clean drains, toilets, cat litter boxes, rubbish and compost bins. They eliminate smells and the need for chemical pesticides and artificial fertilisers. The spray helps ferment biodegradable food waste and garden scraps so that the composting process is accelerated. Jeevaanu (Hindi for bacteria, jeevan = life) was produced by Actibak, a small start-up that so far operates in Germany and India. Actibak's founder Christopher Koikkara's ambition is to make sustainability a fun endeavour  with the help of simple and innovative ideas. By seeing the bacterial solution in action you learn the benefits of creating closed loop systems first hand.
- With the help of Jeevaanu compost bin and compost accelerator everyone can turn one's biological kitchen waste into high quality fertiliser through anaerobic metabolism.
- Since cats are carnivores they process a lot of protein. The microorganisms that cause feaces to decompose also produce the unpleasant smell. This can be neutralised with with the cat litter spray which also creates a probiotic environment and supports the cat's health.
- The drain cleaner metabolises biological waste (hair, feaces dandruff) and thus prevents blockages.
Additional profits will go to social projects in India as well as research into plastic eating bacteria.
How to replace plastic containers of bath cleaner with grapefruit and salt and other useful and zero waste solutions.
A is for alternatives to hygiene and cleaning products
Here is a selection of humorous and simple videos of how to make everyday products yourself. Hygiene products such as skin care (oats+milk+honey in bath), mouthwash (cinnamon), insect repellent (orange peel), burn relief (honey) and sunburn relief (cucumber) as well as cleaning products such as bath cleaner (grapefruit and salt), glass cleaner (lemon+water), toilet cleaner (vinegar+baking soda), scented laundry boost (baking soda+basil), shoe polish (banana), furniture polish (lemon juice+olive oil) and metal polish (flour+vinegar+salt) can all be easily replaced with products you are likely to already have in your pantry.
just* is a WWF initiative created to show that there are often simple and natural alternatives to many of the wastefully packaged products we use every day.
A selection of insightful documentaries about rubbish, our plastic consumption and what is being done about it.
D is for documentaries
This selection of 15 documentary films and series shows the extent and effects of the global waste problem (Plastic Planet, Plastic Paradise, Plasticized, Trashed, Addicted to Plastic) and gives and insightful overview of the environmental issues that products such as plastic bags (Bag It) and bottles (Tapped, Divide in Concord) cause.
The film follows artist Vik Muniz as he journeys from his home base in Brooklyn to his native Brazil and the world's largest landfill, Jardim Gramacho, located on the outskirts of Rio de Janeiro. There he photographs an eclectic band of pickers of recyclable materials. Muniz recreates photographic images of the so called catadores out of garbage and reveals both their dignity and despair as they begin to re-imagine their lives.
The Secret Life of Rubbish (GB, 2012)
director: Chris Durlacher
A two-part BBC series offers an original view of the history of rubbish collection in modern Britain. As the programme sifts through the rubbish of the mid-20th century, we discover how the Britain of Make Do and Mend became a consumer society (Episode 1). Episode 2 deals with the 1970s and 1980s, when two big ideas emerged in the waste management industry: the privatization of public services and environmentalism.
Plastic Planet (A, D, 2009)
director: Werner Boote, writer: Werner Boote, cast: Werner Boote, John Taylor, Peter Lieberzeit
Werner Boote presents an up-close and personal view of the controversial and fascinating material that has found its way into every facet of our daily lives: plastic. He takes us on a journey around the globe, showing that plastics have become a threat for both environment and human health (http://www.plastic-planet.at/). - If you live in Germany, you can watch the film here: http://m.bpb.de/mediathek/187448/plastic-planet
Plastic Paradise: The Great Pacific Garbage Patch (USA, 2013)
director: Angela Sun, writer: Angela Sun, cast: Lewis Goldsmith, Angela Sun
Angela Sun's journey of discovery to one of the most remote places on Earth, Midway Atoll, to uncover the truth behind the mystery of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Along the way she encounters scientists, industry, legislators and activists who shed light on what our society's vast consumption of disposable plastic is doing to our oceans, and what it may be doing to our health (http://plasticparadisemovie.com/).
Plasticized (BR, ZA, AUS, K, SGP, USA, 2011)
director: Michael Lutman, cast: Marcus Eriksen, Anna Cummins
Plasticized follows the 5 Gyres Institute on a scientific expedition to understand the extent of plastic pollution in the South Atlantic Ocean. An eye-opening look at one of the institute's global missions, studying the effects, reality and scale of plastic pollution around the world (http://www.plasticizedthemovie.com/).
Bag It (USA, 2010)
director: Suzan Beraza, writer: Michelle Curry Wright, cast: Jeb Berrier, Anne Reeser
The film follows Jeb Berrier in Colorado as he makes a resolution to stop using plastic bags at the supermarket. He embarks on a global journey to unravel the complexities of our plastic consumption leading him to question the role of plastic in his life. What starts as a film about plastic bags evolves into a funny and relatable investigation into plastic and its effect on our waterways, oceans, and our own bodies (http://www.bagitmovie.com/).
The Clean Bin Project (CDN, 2010)
director: Grant Baldwin, cast: Grant Baldwin, Jenny Rustemeyer
Partners Jen and Grant go head to head in a comedic battle to see who can swear off consumerism and produce the least amount of garbage in an entire year. Featuring interviews with lecturers and pollution expert, the film presents the serious topic of waste reduction with optimism, humor, and inspiration for individual action (http://www.cleanbinmovie.com/).
No Impact Man (USA, 2009)
directors: Laura Gabbert, Justin Schein, cast: Colin Beavan, Michelle Conlin
For one year, the Beavan family swore off plastic and toxins, turned off their electricity, went organic, cycled. Together they attempted to make zero impact on the environment while living right in the heart of Manhattan, and this is the sensational, funny, and consciousness-raising story of how they did it (http://noimpactproject.org/movie/).
Trashed (USA, 2012)
 director: Candida Brady, writer: Candida Brady, cast: Jeremy Irons, Evangelos Kalafatis, Clive Oxenden
Jeremy Irons sets out to discover the extent and effects of the global waste problem, as he travels around the world to beautiful destinations tainted by pollution. This is a meticulous, brave investigative journey that takes Irons (and us) from skepticism to sorrow and from horror to hope (http://www.trashedfilm.com/).
Addicted to Plastic (CND, 2008)
director: Ian Connacher
This Canadian documentary explores the worldwide production and environmental effects of plastic. The host takes a 2-year trip around the world to give us a better understanding of the life cycle of plastic. It is an in-depth look at plastic and how we have indeed become addicted to what we have been made to believe is a necessary item.
Tapped (USA, 2009)
directors: Stephanie Soechtig, Jason Lindsey, writers: Josh David, Jason Lindsey, Stephanie Soechtig, cast: Sally Bethea, Earl Blumenauer, Amanda Brown
This documentary creates an insight into the unregulated and unseen world of an industry that aims to privatize and sell back the one resource that ought never to become a commodity: our water. It explores the social, economical and environmental risks of a seemingly harmless item and portrays the lives affected by the bottled water industry by featuring those caught at the intersection of big business and the public's right to water.
Divide In Concord (USA, 2014)
directors: Kris Kaczor, Dave Regos, producers: David Regos, Jaedra Luke, cast: Jean Hill
This feature-length documentary follows an 84 year-old-woman trying to take down the third largest industry in the world. Resident Jean Hill is waging a seemingly unwinnable battle as she tires to ban the sale of bottled water in her town Concord, Massachusetts, while facing opposition from local merchants and the bottled water industry (http://divideinconcord.com/).
Garbage Warrior (GB, 2007)
director: Oliver Hodge, cast: Michael Reynolds, Chris Reynolds, Shauna Malloy
This feature-length documentary tells the story of US architect Michael Reynolds and his fight to introduce radically sustainable housing. An extraordinary tale of triumph over bureaucracy, Garbage Warrior is above all an intimate portrait of an extraordinary individual and his dream of changing the world (http://www.garbagewarrior.com/).
This BBC series follow celebrity chef, television personality and journalist Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall on his mission to find out why we waste so much and how he campaigs against waste by food producers, retailers and consumers.
Baykeepers (AUS, 2014)
directors: Michael Lutman, writer: Michael Lutman, cast: Neil Blake
After hearing about expansive amounts of plastic in every major ocean, Port Phillip Baykeeper Neil Blake finds the sands of his local beaches in Victoria, Australia, are turning into a kind of micro-plastic confetti. In his journey to measure how far plastics has invaded the bay, Blake discovers a growing community striving to protect Port Phillip's health for generations to come.
also soon to come:
A Plastic Ocean (HK, 2016)
director: Craig Leeson
Journalist Craig Leeson discovers plastic waste in what should be a pristine ocean when searching for the elusive blue whale. Together with an international team of divers and scientists he travels to twenty locations around the world over four years to explore the fragile state of our oceans, uncover alarming truths about plastic pollution, and reveal working solutions that can be put into immediate effect (http://www.plasticoceans.org/film/).
Body butter and lotion present two different kinds of moisturisation. Which one is better for you depends on your skin type. Since dry skin needs more moisture rather than oils, a lotion is better. If you have oily skin a butter is better for you. Whereas body butter is made of oils and butters, lotion is made with water. Lotion preserves the moisture already in the skin, have little oil and don't provide lubrication.
recipe for non-greasy lotion Ă la Kathryn:
2 tsp grated beeswax
1/2 cup of almond or olive oil
2 tsp of vitamin E oil
2 tsp of cocoa butter
3/4 cup of water or rose water
Melt the beeswax, almond oil, and cocoa butter in a double broiler. Once melted add the vitamin E. Pour the water into a blender and once the water is blending slowly stream in your oils very slowly creating an emulsion. It will form into a thick and creamy consistency. Pour into a spare pump bottle or mason jar.
Body butters create a barrier on the skin that seal in moisture and provide lubrication. The oils have a slow absorption rate.
recipe for whipped body butter Ă la Lauren:
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup shea butter
1/4 cup cocoa butter
1/4 cup almond oil
essential oil of your liking for scent
Mix all four ingredients and boil them on a double boiler. Once melted put it in the fridge until solid (roughly 1 h), then whip for 5-10 minutes until it has the consistency of whipped cream.
Homemade versions of lotion will need to be emulsified and kept in the fridge to prevent spoilage. Body butter has a much longer shelf life.
Refillable bottles are the healthiest alternative to disposable bottles, both for the environment as well as your body. (Read more about the reasons against using plastic bottles at the end.) Here are some alternatives to plastic bottles:
Slovenian architecture centre (pictured)
The design of these bottles was inspired by the Cooperative Business Bank in Ljubljana designed by Ivan Vurnik & Helena Kottler Vurnik in 1921. Kaja Weisseisen, head designer at the center arhitekture slovenije, used elements from the façade in her bottle design. The hand blown bottle holds 550 ml of liquid and is made ââfrom borosilicate glass whereas the stopper is made ââof stainless steel, polypropylene and silicone. There is also a detachable silicone cup at the bottom. If youâre interested in these bottles which are from the 2015 collection email [email protected] - they have some left. Otherwise more designs are available here: http://www.trgovinaika.si/en/trgovina/vurniks-bottle/ and here: http://myequa.com/collections
The following are also definitely free of bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical that is believed to act like a hormone in the human body and can be found in PET bottles.
soulbottles
The team behind soulbottles have put a lot of work into sourcing high quality and 100% plastic free materials locally for their bottles. No coating is used and while the swing top is made of ceramic, the gasket is made of natural rubber. You can choose from a variety of arty designs or customise a bottle design (when you purchase more than 50 bottles). A bottle holds 600 ml and weights 470 g.
Klean Kanteen
Stainless steel has the advantage of weighing less than glass. Klean Kanteens come in many different shapes, colours and with different bottle top variations. The most classic of its models is Klean Kanteen Reflect which holds 532 ml and weighs 215 g (also available: 800 ml at 244 g). They are produced in China with high standards for quality and safety, fair labour and environmental responsibility.
Soma
Soma is a relatively new company that produces trendy water filtration systems, beakers, and carafes. The Soma Glass Water Bottle holds 500 ml and weighs 283 g. It has a bamboo lid and the silicone sleeve is available in four colours including white, grey, mint, and eggplant.
ECOtanka
Founded in New Zealand ECOtanka was the first company to introduce stainless steel bottles. They come in a wide range of sizes with various lids from stainless steel or polypropylene plastic. Their most popular model is the Sports Tanka which holds 800 ml.
24Bottles
Italian brand 24Bottles was founded in 2013 and mark all bottles with â-0,08âł which stands for 0,08 kg CO2 saved by refilling your bottle instead of producing one single disposable 500 ml plastic bottle. Their stainless steel Urban Bottle holds 500 ml and weighs only 115 g (also available: 1 l at 158 g).
Eco Brotbox Pure
The elegant design of the Pure bottle is composed of a simple borosilicate glass bottle and a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) bottle top which comes in lots of bright colours. The 500 ml bottle weighs 166 g. Also available soon: stainless steel bottles.
Aladdin Aveo
Aladdin, a century old brand that started out producing lamps, introduced an innovative process called eCycle that utilises a mix of up to 95% recycled plastics. The 600 ml Aveo bottle is made of Tritan copolyester (BPA-free) and weighs 159 g.
Lagoena
German company Natureâs Design produced a glass bottle with a beech-wooden lid and wrapped in a cork shell. Its glass is made of silica sand and 40% recycled glass and its shape is proportioned after the golden ratio. Lagoena holds 500 ml whereas the âThank youâ model holds 700 ml.
source: https://utopia.de/ratgeber/bpa-frei-langlebig-trendig-diese-trinkflaschen-sind-empfehlenswert/ and https://lessplastic.co.uk/product-category/reusable-drinks-bottles/
5 Reasons (taken from soulbottles):
35,000,000,000 plastic bottles are being dumped into oceans and waste disposal sites each year.
Worldwide, only 1 out of 10 plastic bottles is being recycled.
It takes 450 years for one PET bottle to fully decompose.
Sea animals confuse small plastic particles with food and starve.
Every year, the production of plastic bottles consumes as much oil as 1 million cars would need for one year of driving. It takes three litres of water to produce one plastic bottle. Glass on the other hand can easily be recycled.
further sources: https://lessplastic.co.uk/product-category/reusable-drinks-bottles/ (in English) and https://utopia.de/ratgeber/bpa-frei-langlebig-trendig-diese-trinkflaschen-sind-empfehlenswert/ (in German)
On her last speaking tour, Bea wore her black multiway dress a different way at 22 different events. This is an album of the various outfits she was able to create.
M is for multifunctional clothes
Reducing oneâs wardrobe in order to live more minimalistically, doesnât mean having to wear the same outfit every day. It means you can be more creative with what you already have (also see post âW is for wardrobeâ below). Multiway dresses offer a lot of variety with only one garment but you can create a multitude of different looks even with a simple black shirt: http://www.zerowastehome.com/2012/10/50-ways-to-wear-mens-shirt-i-did-i/
On a recent trip to beautiful Tallinn, I came across two companies that have made upcycling into not only a viable business venture but also an art form. Upcycling is a process that enables circulation of leftover materials back into production by innovative design and by doing so significantly reduces environmental impacts.
Reet Aus
Estonian fashion designer Reet Aus has been creating her collections and theatre costumes with the principle of upcycling since 2002. Her PhD thesis âTrash to Trend - Using Upcycling in Fashion Designâ deals with the possibilities of implementing upcycling in mass production of the fashion industry. Since 2012 she has been cooperating with Beximco, a certified apparel manufacturer in Bangladesh. Items produced in this way use on average 70% less water and 88% less energy compared to regular products. A short profile on Tallinn and Reet Aus can be found here: https://vimeo.com/27238423. A documentary called âOut of Fashionâ (2015) directed by Jaak Kilmi and Lennart Laberenz features Reet Ausâ work: http://www.homelessbob.ee/movies/out-of-fashion/ (unfortunately, it hasnât yet been translated into English).
Studio Tartuensis
The centre for graphic arts and printmaking in Tartu makes notebooks by using old books discarded by libraries. New pages (recycled whenever possible) are inserted into the covers of old books. The Tartuensis College design uses spiral binding whereas Tartuensis Classic also uses the original spine of the book so the notebook looks and feels exactly like a book (and can easily be mistaken for one). They have an Etsy shop and a gallery on facebook.
Zero Waste Homeâs app BULK helps you eliminate packaging from your life, by pointing to bulk food bins and liquid refills near you. And it lets you share the locations that you find with others.
S is for (zero waste) shopping
To help you find shops that sell products in bulk in your area check this handy bulk locator developed and run by Zero Waste Home (http://www.zerowastehome.com/2013/05/bulk-app-update/). Searches can be filtered by location and type of product and new locations can be added and rated.
For people living in German speaking countries, hereâs a list of zero waste supermarkets:
For World Oceans Day, 13 artists using marine plastic in their work.
O is for ocean plastic artists
Marine plastic does not fully degrade but breaks down into smaller pieces and eventually microplastics. Marine fauna can mistake these for food which causes digestive issues and starvation.
For World Oceans Day on 8th June Time Magazine put together a list of artists who work with marine plastic debris:
1/4 tsp bentonite clay (or another loose powder such as cornstarch)
1/4 tsp filtered water
3-4 drops of grapeseed oil (or coconut/ jojoba/ olive oil)
Take activated charcoal and mix well with bentonite clay
Add 3-4 drops of oil and mix a little
Add your water until smooth, making sure to scrape the sides of the bowl
After a few minutes, you'll get a smooth consistency which you can then pour into a small container.
Let the mixture sit for at least an hour before applying. The mascara will have a wet consistency, much like store bought mascara.
and a recipe for liquid foundation (found here: http://wellnessmama.com/27328/liquid-foundation-recipe/)
Either use a natural pre-made moisturiser and add colours and pigments until you get the desired colour and coverage or make it from scratch which allows for more customisation.
for the DIY version youâll need:
2 tsp of argan oil or jajoba oil
1 tsp of shea butter
1/2 tsp vegetable based emulsifying wax
1 tbsp aloe gel
1 tsp witch hazel
OR 3 tbsp of natural pre-made lotion (in place of first 5 ingredients)
and for the base colour and coverage use either or some of these powders:
1-4 tsp zinc oxide (non-nano and uncoated) or white cosmetic clay
1/4-1/2 tsp organic cocoa powder
1/2-1 tsp mica powder in colour of choice
1/2 tsp clay of choice (e.g. kaolin clay, Earth Clay or Bentonite Clay )
OR 2-3 tsp natural mineral powder in colour of choice
Melt the shea butter, argan oil and emulsifying wax in a double boiler until completely melted.
Add the aloe and witch hazel and whisk until completely incorporated and smooth.
Turn heat off.
Slowly, start adding colors. Start with zinc and clays until desired coverage is reached. It will still be too pale at this point.
Add mica powders and cocoa powder a tiny pinch at a time until desired colour is reached.
Let cool for a few seconds and test the colour and coverage on your forehead to make sure youâve achieved the right tone for your skin.
Spoon the mixture into the desired container and let cool.
Of course, the best solution is to not buy tetra packs in the first place (use glass bottles or jars instead) but this is how you can reduce the volume of your packaging waste.
for a visual list of products containing palm oil, check Kathryn Kellogg's blog post
P is for palm oil
Palm oil is an edible vegetable oil that comes from the palm fruit and can be found in snacks, beauty products, cleaning products, pet food, etc. It makes up 30% of the world's vegetable oil in products. If fact, it's in 50% of household products in the US, Canada, Australia, and UK.Â
The African oil palm tree can flourish where heat and rainfall are abundant, such as the rainforest. Large lots of forest are cleared for palm oil plantations (on average 300 football fields an hour...) causing deforestation, habitat degradation, climate change, and animal cruelty.Â
It's tricky to spot as it can be listed simply as a vegetable oil. It can also be referred to as vegetable fat, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS), Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate (SDS or NaDS), Palm Kernel, Palm Oil Kernel, Palm Fruit Oil, Palmate, Palmitate, Palmolein, Glyceryl Stearate, Stearic Acid, Elaeis Guineensis, Palmitic Acid, Palm Stearine, Palmitoyl oxostearamide, Palmitoyl tetrapeptide3, Steareth 2, Steareth 20, Sodium Kernelate, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Sodium Lauryl Lactylate/Sulphate, Sodium Lauryl Sulfoacetate, Hyrated Palm Glycerides, Sodium Isostearoyl Lactylaye, Cetyl Palmitate, Octyl Palmitate, Cetyl Alcohol or Palmityl Alchohol.
