Earth Day 2024, a day to honour and celebrate the amazing planet we inhabit, to come together to take action for a healthier planet and brighter future. So I thought I I would take the opportunity to write about the importance of environmental conservation and sustainability, particularly in relation to our role as parents and how the way we treat our planet can affect our babies, those who will inherit our legacy. This year the theme is 'planet v plastics' so I will focus on this in relation to 'babies v plastics'.
There is more and more evidence and research to suggest that micro-plastics are being leached into each and every aspect of our environment, including our bodies! For those who are unaware, micro-plastics are the billions of miniscule pieces of plastic caused by the breakdown of larger plastic products. These are leached into the environment, oceans and waterways from plastic toys, polyester based clothing, furniture and other household objects. New evidence suggest that babies ingest more micro-plastics than adults because of key developmental stages like teething and crawling, where babies rely on taste to decode their world and are therefore putting their hands to their mouths and ingesting tiny elements. There is even evidence to confirm that micro-plastics have been found in human placenta and breast milk!
69% of the fabrics we wear are made of oil based plastics, due to demand for the production of clothes which dry quickly and don't need to be ironed, however, this fabric doesn't allow skin to breathe, causing moisture to be trapped, with fibres breaking down into micro-plastics. Every time pieces are washed, thousands of these tiny particles are released into the water. Of the 171 trillion estimated micro-plastics in the oceans, fibres from clothing are responsible for 35%.
So how do we help to address this problem I hear you asking?
By ensuring we purchase alternative natural products which are sustainable and biodegradable.
Choosing to buy less, and quality over quantity.
Campaign and engage with curbing unnecessary plastic production.
Look for plastic free alternatives to baby bottles, cups, cutlery etc materials such as bamboo and silicone are far more sustainable.
End greenwashing...companies who claim to have green credentials when in fact they are continuing to cause damage to our environment.
Sign the global plastic treaty. This is a great opportunity for the United Nations and Governmental Organisations to prove the health of the planet and its citizens take priority over an industry threatening the health of every human on Earth. Click here to sign the treaty petition today.
Repair and recycle. Improve the longevity of the clothes we have by recycling them on sites such as Vinted, or by repairing them, I have seen some really creative ideas for how to repair garments recently which not only look beautiful but create a one of a kind piece. How about experimenting? I love this darning from Alex Onver.
I firmly believe that if we all make a small change to our lifestyle and think more consciously then we can effect real change to our planet in a positive way. What one change will you make today?
