sustainability

Less Trash, More Yum!

less trash more yum picture with stainable lunches and and and x on a bag of trash

As the school year begins, many families across the country return to the daily routine of packing lunches. But did you know that the average student generates 67 pounds of lunch packaging waste per school year? That’s nearly 19,000 pounds of trash for just one elementary school. Fortunately, packing a waste-free lunch is a simple and effective way to reduce environmental impact, save money, and promote healthier eating habits.

What Is a Waste-Free Lunch?

A waste-free lunch avoids disposable packaging and single-use items. Instead, it uses:

  • Reusable containers for food and drinks
  • Cloth napkins and stainless steel utensils
  • Whole fruits and bulk snacks portioned at home
  • Refillable water bottles

The goal is to eliminate trash that ends up in landfills and reduce the carbon footprint associated with food packaging and transportation.

Why It Matters

According to research from Penn State University, U.S. school cafeterias waste between 27% and 53% of the food they serve, with fruits and vegetables being the most frequently discarded items. Packing lunches at home allows families to choose foods children are more likely to eat, reducing food waste and promoting better nutrition. It also encourages portion control and healthy food choices.

Tips for Packing a Waste-Free Lunch

The Ohio State University Extension offers practical strategies for families:

  • Use reusable containers for sandwiches, snacks, and drinks
  • Avoid single-use plastics like baggies, juice boxes, and plastic utensils
  • Pack whole fruits instead of pre-packaged fruit cups
  • Include a cloth napkin and reusable cutlery
  • Buy in bulk and portion out servings at home

These small changes can make a big difference in reducing waste and promoting sustainability.

Health and Academic Benefits

Packing a lunch at home also gives parents control over what their children eat, allowing them to include balanced meals with fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. Children who receive nutritious meals are more likely to be food-secure, in good health, and perform better academically. Similarly, studies from the University of Washington found that healthy school meals can reduce childhood obesity and improve overall health outcomes.

Get Kids Involved

Children are more likely to eat what they help prepare. Let them choose their favorite fruits, veggies, and snacks, and teach them how to pack their lunch using reusable containers. This not only reduces waste but also empowers them to make healthy choices and learn sustainable habits.

Packing waste-free lunches is a slight change with significant benefits—for your child’s health, your wallet, and the planet. By making thoughtful choices and utilizing reusable items, families can reduce waste, enhance nutrition, and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Sources:

https://fcs.osu.edu/sites/fcs/files/imce/PDFs/Waste-Free_Lunches.pdf

Written by: Susan Zies, OSU Extension, Wood County, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator

Reviewed by: Laura Stanton, OSU Extension, Warren County, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator

Going Green: Sustainability at Work

Earlier this month, several Ohio State University Extension educators toured the Ohio Stadium (also known as The Shoe) in Columbus. The purpose of the tour was to learn how the fourth-largest stadium in the country continuously ranks #1 when it comes to recycling. In fact, OSU diverts 90% or more of materials from the landfill by recycling, repurposing, and composting after every football game.  

On the drive home from Columbus, I started to reflect on my behavior at work and the sustainability practices in our county Extension office. Although I do a lot at home to be sustainable, I realized I was not being as environmentally conscientious at work. To be “greener”, I am trying these ideas to make my work life more sustainable. 

  • Eliminate single-use plastics. Think about your break room and find ways to replace coffee pods, plastic utensils, straws, soap dispensers, Styrofoam cups, and water bottles. To reduce using these pesky plastics, visit a thrift store and purchase cups, dishes, and cutlery that can be used repeatedly. Plastic-Free July has numerous resources to help you reduce your plastic consumption. 
  • If you pack your meals, try to be as waste-free as possible. Consider purchasing condiments and other food items that can stay in your office so you can skip individualized food items like ketchup, mustard, salad dressing, sugar, and creamer. 
  • Turn off office lights and electronics when you are out of the office. Purchase energy-efficient lighting and appliances to lower your energy consumption at work and save money. 
  • Educate yourself about your local recycling option and limit what gets put in the landfill. Compost food waste and coffee grinds. Take advantage of the Hefty ReNew program currently offered in central Ohio, Greater Cincinnati, and Greater Dayton. 
  • Reduce paper use by limiting how much you print. When you print something, always use both sides of the paper. Have leftover handouts? Use them for scrap paper before putting them in the recycling bin. 
  • Collect pop can tabs to donate to the closest Ronald McDonald House. There are five locations in Ohio, including Columbus, Dayton, Cincinnati, Toledo, Akron, and Cleveland. 
  • Consider cloth napkins and towels, as well as Swedish dishcloths to reduce paper waste. In the U.S., it’s estimated that one person produces 40 pounds of paper towel waste every year. If paper towels are the only option, adopt a “one or none” mindset to reduce waste.  
  • Purchase eco-friendly products and supplies, and use the services of sustainable suppliers. 

To be more mindful when planning work events, you can download the Ohio State University Extension Sustainable Meeting Guide to think of ways to limit waste at meetings and conferences. In addition, our Sustainability team has created numerous educational resources to help protect the planet and its resources. Visit our website to find tip sheets, videos, and even a home tour to help you be more sustainable. 

Older hand passing the planet to younger hands

Written by: Laura M. Stanton, Ohio State University Extension, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Warren County, stanton.60@osu.edu. 

Reviewed by: Susan Zies, Ohio State University Extension, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Wood County, zies.1@osu.edu. 

Upcycle Your Wardrobe

Embroidered flowers on the back of a denim jacket.

I recently attended a conference where an educator from the United Kingdom spoke about “Right to Repair” laws happening in European nations. These laws hope to incentivize consumers to repair, rather than replace, some of the products that they own, as well as discourage businesses from making their products very difficult or outright impossible to repair. I started wondering if the United States government was pursuing any “right to repair” legislation and was pleased to see that this movement is also on the mind of our legislators too. Currently, four states have officially passed Right to Repair laws and 30 other states have introduced their own bills. Discussions are happening at the federal level as well.

While we wait for these policy changes to be enacted, there are actions consumers can take to extend the life of the products we own, especially when it comes to our closets. The life of clothing can be extended with basic sewing skills, such as sewing on a new button and repairing ripped seams. But what if you are not savvy at sewing, and just want a quick refresh? No need to replace your entire wardrobe, it may instead be time to ‘upcycle’ your clothing! Upcycling is the act of “repurposing an item into something else” – it differs slightly from ‘recycling’ as you are reusing the item without having to first take it back to its original state.

When considering if you should upcycle a garment in your closet, first check for any excessive wear and tear. Clothing that is beyond repair may not be worth your time to upcycle, but can still be used in other ways, such as dust rags, plant ties in your garden, or as a child’s dress-up clothing. If the garment you wish to upcycle is still in good condition, consider what kind of changes you plan to make (Minor changes? A complete overhaul?), and if it’s something you would feel comfortable wearing.

Not sure where to start? Here are a few ideas to upcycle your old clothing:

  • Dye it – this is a popular way to refresh formal dresses, though it can be done with other garments as well.
  • Patch it – If a small hole is keeping you from wearing a garment, you can try your hand at sewing it up, or add an iron-on patch. Suede patches on blazers or sweaters can create a new look.
  • Cut it – If your jeans are looking a little frayed at the bottom, consider cutting them shorter for a new pair of shorts.
  • Embroider it – some quick decorative stitches in your clothing can change it up just enough to make it feel new again. If you are unfamiliar with how to embroider, be sure to visit your local craft store or check out a video online for help.

Consider ways to extend the life of your clothing to save money and to keep used textiles out of the landfill!

Written by: Jessica Lowe, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Pickaway County, lowe.495@osu.edu

Reviewed by: Jenny Lobb, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Franklin County, lobb.3@osu.edu

References:

Hamilton, W. (2019, June). Rags to Riches: Recycling and upcycling Old Clothes. New Mexico State University – BE BOLD. Shape the Future. https://pubs.nmsu.edu/_c/C313/index.html

Lobb, J. (2022, April 26). Textile waste: A fashion faux pas. Live Healthy Live Well. https://livehealthyosu.com/2022/04/26/textile-waste-a-fashion-faux-pas/

Osmanski, S. (2024, May 7). 10 ways to upcycle old clothes according to experts. Reader’s Digest. https://www.rd.com/article/upcycle-clothes/

The United States Government. (2023, October 25). Readout of the white house convening on right to repair. The White House. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2023/10/25/readout-of-the-white-house-convening-on-right-to-repair/#:~:text=Over%2030%20states%20have%20introduced,just%20the%20last%20three%20years.

Yakimova, Y. (2024, April 23). Right to repair: Making repair easier and more appealing to consumers. News | European Parliament. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20240419IPR20590/right-to-repair-making-repair-easier-and-more-appealing-to-consumers

Beyond the Suit Case: Step Toward Sustainability

a set of luggage

As I plan my summer travel, I wondered what changes I could make before I even purchase my tickets that would make trekking across the ocean just a bit more sustainable. According to the Vacationer, 82% of Americans plan on traveling this summer with 25% planning to head abroad in 2024. Regardless of where travelers head to, tourists effect the people, economy, and environment they travel to. When crossing any national, ethnic, cultural, or state border it is important to consider what impact travel can have on both parties. One way to ensure each party has as little negative impact on each other as possible is to travel more sustainably.

The United Nations World Tourism Organization defines sustainable tourism development as travel that compares the negative to the positive social, cultural, environmental, and economic impacts of the travel in the host nation. Before the plane has the left the tarmac, here are some simple steps to help support sustainable travel for future nomads.

Check Your Travel Options

a flowchart shoing how carbon offsetting works
Picture of Carbon Emissions Offsetting Process https://www.altexsoft.com/blog/carbon-offset-aviation/

Planes, trains, and automobiles, all present challenges considering the environmental impact of our travel. Because of the very public battles with climate change, reports on carbon emissions are often at the top of environmental concerns when discussing sustainable travel. And because most of our travel in the United States requires moving across wide distances over land or an expansive ocean, it can be a challenge to find sustainable ways to see the world. One simple way to hunt for sustainable travel is to find an airline that off sets their carbon dioxide emissions.  By offsetting their carbon emissions, airlines pay for other reduction services based on the carbon produced on their flights. Airlines may have a logo that identifies their strategies to offset carbon emissions, or they may be part of a national or international commission to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions. It is also good to be aware of potential “greenwashing” campaign, where companies paint a much greener picture than the reality.

Select a Sustainable Destination

From the definition, sustainable travel can look at cultural, social , economic, or environmental sustainability, which means selecting your ideal location can coincide with sustainable ideals. From international travel guides and news outlets, many sources have done the research regarding some of the most sustainable destinations.  Cities across the globe are focusing on reducing waste, zeroing their carbon footprint, or building more sustainable infrastructure. In 2024, the BBC listed Valencia, Spain one of the most sustainable destinations. To get on the list, Valencia has been working toward sourcing all electricity from renewable resources and building interconnected neighborhoods promoting more biking and green spaces. This is just one of many locations where sustainable travel is a bit more achievable.

Keep Educating Yourself!

Learning about social issues, cultural differences, and current events allows the traveler to be aware of spots to visit and locations to avoid. From what you wear to where to go, a “Responsible Traveler” as the Center for Responsible Travel calls it, supports the host nation’s social and cultural dynamics, the local economy, and the environment while in the host nation. Seeking opportunities to see culturally significant locations while avoiding tourism that harms the local economy is very important. Having cultural awareness, or knowing how and why other cultures are different from yours, will set your trip up for success.

No one begins the journey towards sustainability without a few missteps. By keeping the environment, social needs, and locality in mind, travelers can take steps toward being more sustainable beyond their suitcase.

Writer: Ryan Kline, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences and 4-H Youth Development, Ohio State University Extension, Ross County, kline.375@osu.edu

Reviewer: Misty Harmon, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Perry County, harmon.416@osu.edu

Sources:
Hammond, Richard. “How to Travel Better: A Beginner’s Guide to Sustainable Travel in 2023 and Beyond.” Travel, 9 Nov. 2022, www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/how-to-travel-better-a-beginners-guide-to-sustainable-travel-in-2023-and-beyond.

Martinez, Nikki. “How to Travel Sustainably in Summer 2022.” Warner College of Natural Resources, 1 June 2022, warnercnr.source.colostate.edu/how-to-travel-sustainably-in-summer-2022/.

 

Turning Over New leaves: Celebrate Food Waste Prevention Week with Composting!

man composting food scraps

It can be challenging to understand the impact our food waste and diet have on our environment. From preserving our foods to planning out our meals there are many steps we can take to reduce our food waste. In honor of Food Waste Prevention Week, April 1- 7, lets dig in to yet another form of food waste reduction: composting! Though composting has often been viewed as difficult or as an advanced way to stop food waste from entering the landfill, Extension offers some beginner friendly tips!

What is Composting?

The Environmental Protection Agency defines composting as the controlled aerobic (with air) biological decomposition of organic materials. The process requires turning over the material to provide air to the bacteria which often produce a smell as they work. For us non-experts, composting is the process of breaking down organic materials, including some of our food waste, at a much faster rate due to the heat of decomposition. West Virginia Extension notes that “when done properly compost can go from start to finish in as little as three months.” At the end of the composting process, you have a rich, smell free, earthy substance referred to as compost, which is great for our gardens and flower beds

How do I get started composting?

 The basics of every compost pile, no matter the size, is to have the correct ratio of green to brown materials. Green materials are rich in the element nitrogen and often refers to grass, food waste, coffee grounds, etc. Brown materials are carbon rich which includes twigs, paper, cardboard, etc. The green to brown materials ratio can vary widely depending on your type of compost, but tips to help you get started are universal.

As you get started, it’s important to look for a few things in your compost:

1. Keep your compost pile wet!

Composting chart

Adding water allows for the decomposition process to avoid those nasty smells and speed up the process. According to the Natural Resource Defense Council, it should feel like a wrung-out sponge!

2. Check the compost temperature!

The larger the pile the hotter the temperatures!! The increasing temperature is what allows your compost to breakdown organic material faster. For the first few days 140 degrees is recommended, but anything beyond 160 degrees produces charring.

3. Be sure to turn over your compost pile!

Air is another vital ingredient to allow your compost to digest. Make sure to turn it once a week over the summer and once every few weeks in the winter.

4. Keep working at it !

It can be challenging to start, but keeping at it is a great way to reduce your food and over all waste

Resources

Bennett, Amanda. 2021 “Composting at Home.” OSU Extension Publishing. Accessed April 2, 2024. https://ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-1189-99

Hu, Sheila. 2020. “Composting 101.” What is Composting? Natural Resources Defense Council. https://www.nrdc.org/stories/composting-101.

Morrow, Emily. 2020. “Composting for Beginners.” West Virginia Extension. Accessed April 2,2024. https://extension.wvu.edu/natural-resources/soil-water/composting-for-beginners

United States Environmental Protection Agency. n.d. “Composting at Home.” Accessed September 24, 2021. https://www.epa.gov/recycle/composting-home.

Writer: Ryan Kline, Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development and Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Ross County, kline.375@osu.edu

Reviewer: Misty Harmon, Extension Educator, Family & Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Perry County, harmon.416@osu.edu

Go Green This Holiday Season

A "Happy Holidays" gift tag on a naturally wrapped gift

The holidays bring many opportunities to “go green” and think about the impact our traditions and activities can have on our environment. Being green doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive, but it often means taking a little extra time to be intentional. Here are four ways to go green over the holidays:

1. Gift Giving
During the holiday season, there is often increased pressure to purchase items that you might normally skip at other times of the year. The social pressure to buy gifts, cards, and miscellaneous “stuff” fuels consumerism and waste. Try to avoid any gifts you purchase from ending up in the landfill. Consider gifting an experience, a homemade consumable product (like bath products or food), a second-hand item, or an eco-friendly product like Swedish dishcloths, reusable water bottles, or glass soap dispensers.

2. Product Packaging
When you purchase an item this holiday season, consider the packaging and challenge yourself to eliminate waste. It turns out, plastic packaging accounts for nearly half of all plastic waste globally, and much of it is thrown away within just a few minutes of its first use. For example, gift cards are popular, but the plastic cards themselves are difficult to reuse or recycle. Go old-school and give cash or checks as a sustainable alternative.

Pink bath salts in a glass mason jar.

3. Gift Wrap
Did you know that in the United States, an additional five million tons of waste is generated over Christmas, four million of which is wrapping paper and shopping bags? Newspaper, butcher paper, reusable boxes, metal tins, and paper gift bags are creative and sustainable ideas for gift wrap. Choosing these materials helps to keep traditional gift wrap, bows, and ribbons from ending up in the landfill.

4. Holiday Traditions
Holiday cards, party invitations, decorations, hosting, and food can take a serious toll on our environment. Large gatherings can mean single-use plates, utensils, cups, and napkins. Avoid or reduce this waste by choosing reusable products. Uneaten food becomes food waste, so use the interactive guest-imator to plan how much food you really need at your gathering. Finally, if you decorate with a live tree, look for opportunities to reuse or recycle your tree and keep it out of the garbage. Your tree can be used for mulch, to protect fish in lakes, or to provide shelter for birds.

Looking for more green ideas? Visit the OSU Extension Sustainability website to find tip sheets, videos, and a 3-D Sustainable Home Tour.

Written by Laura Stanton, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension, Warren County. Email: stanton.60@osu.edu.

Reviewed by Jenny Lobb, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, OSU Extension, Franklin County.

References:

Garber, M. (2012, December 22). Wrappers’ delight: A brief history of wrapping paper. The Atlantic. https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2012/12/wrappers-delight-a-brief-history-of-wrapping-paper/266599

Mansfield, S. (2022, December 22). Green your holiday this season. United States Environmental Protection Agency. https://www.epa.gov/perspectives/green-your-holiday-season

The National Christmas Tree Association (n.d). How to recycle and give real Christmas trees a second life. https://realchristmastrees.org/all-about-trees/how-to-recycle

Stanton, L. M. (2022, July 19). It’s time to rethink packaging and recycling. Ohio State University Extension. https://livehealthyosu.com/2022/07/19/its-time-to-rethink-packaging-and-recycling

Zee, G. (2022, December 7). Plastic gift cards on climate advocates’ “naughty list” this Christmas. ABC News. https://abc13.com/plastic-gift-cards-christmas-gifts-pvc-toxic/12534016

Photo Credits:
Natural wrapping image by rawpixel.com.
Mason jar with bath salts image by Victoria Emerson, pexels.com

Our Small Changes can Help Our Planet

picture of the earth that says "one world"
Photo by Markus Spiske on Pexels.com

There is a recent report out that says the Earth’s climate is changing more rapidly than previously thought. We may reach the critical temperature increase of 1.5 degrees Celsius as compared to pre-industrial times by the mid 2030s. We’ve observed that that our last eight years have been the hottest on record. We are also seeing more extreme droughts, flooding and hurricanes in other parts of the country and it’s only going to get worse. We also have the issue of pollution. Trash on roads, beaches, streams, campgrounds, and parks seems to be getting worse every year.

What can we do as consumers? Choose paper over plastic, recycle, buy electric vehicles? These actions might help but only a little since there are trade-offs. For example, paper bags can be composted and break down, but they degrade forests, and are more energy intense to transport. Only a small percent of what we try to recycle is actually recycled. And the issue with buying electric cars is that they also are resource intense to manufacture in terms of resources and water.

The best thing we can ethically do as consumers is to consume less- drive less, fly less, eat less, buy less, take shorter showers, use less electricity. We must consider needs versus wants. I’m a type 1 diabetic so I use a lot of single use plastics and insulin to manage my diabetes. I’m not able or willing to compromise my health. However there might be some other small changes I can do to offset. For example, I can eat less sweets so I won’t need as much insulin, and not use as much diabetes supplies.

Small, simple behavior changes especially related to “wants” versus the “needs” can make a big difference over time. For example, cutting your showers by a few minutes can save many gallons of water over a year, in addition to saving energy. If you need ideas for goals, please see our OSU sustainability resource page for ideas.

Author: Dan Remley, Field Specialist, Food, Nutrition and Wellness, Ohio State University Extension

Reviewer: Jessica Lowe, Extension Educator, Pickaway County

Sources:

Diffenbaugh N.S. and Barnes, E.A. (2023). Data-driven predictions of the time remaining until critical global warming thresholds are reached. PNAS 120(6). https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2207183120

World Meteorological Association. (2023). Past eight years confirmed to be the eight warmest on record. Retrieved from https://public.wmo.int/en/media/press-release/past-eight-years-confirmed-be-eight-warmest-record

Tips for Packing a Reduced-Waste Lunch

Back to school season is the perfect time to up your game with the goal of having zero or reduced waste lunches. By planning, your family can greatly reduce the amount of food waste created. Here are a few tips from the Ohio State University Extension Sustainability Team:

  • Purchase glass, stainless steel, or food safe bamboo containers for your sandwiches or leftovers. There are a lot of stainless-steel bento style boxes available right now. Avoid using plastic bags or wrap, and aluminum foil. reusable containers
  • Purchase reusable storage bags, straws, utensils, and cloth napkins that you wash and use over and over. If you use paper napkins, purchase 100% recycled paper napkins.
  • Make sure you use the oldest food in your cupboard, pantry, refrigerator first – as something gets older you may be able to freeze it for later use if you are watching (for example, you can freeze yogurt and fresh fruit for smoothies).
  • Bring your own condiments in small containers – rather than using or purchasing salad dressings or ketchup in single use packaging.
  • Compost your fruit or vegetable scraps. If composting isn’t available at your work or school, consider implementing a program.
  • Recycle what you can and keep up to date on the recycling program available in your community.
  • If you eat out, plan to take part of your meal home for lunch the next day. Eat at restaurants that use brown, eco-friendly to go containers, or better yet, bring your own.
  • The lunch bag options are limitless, so choose one that is easy to care for and fits your personality. Do you like Star Wars, Disney, the NFL, or our beloved Buckeyes? There are handy choices available for the whole family.

You may say that some of these sustainable products are a little pricey, so watch for back-to-school sales or buy these items as gifts for family members and friends gifts. I have been buying my friends glass or bamboo lunch containers the last few years and my daughter bought almost everyone in the family cool decorative mini-coolers last year for the holidays. The coolers work great for lunches or trips. We can’t wait to hear your favorite sustainable practices or lunch packing products.

Writer: Lisa Barlage, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Ross County.

Reviewer: Laura Stanton, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Warren County.

Sources:

Ohio State University Extension, Sustainability Team – https://fcs.osu.edu/programs/resources/sustainability

Stanton, L.M. (2021). Ten Tips for Packing Waste-Free Lunches, Ohio State University Extension. https://go.osu.edu/waste-free-lunches

United States, Environmental Protection Agency, https://www.epa.gov/recycle/reduce-reuse-recycle-resources-students-and-educators.

Eating Out Sustainably

A waiter with two plates of food
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Let’s face it, it’s really nice to eat out sometimes. You don’t have to prepare food or do the dishes, and can order what you want. However, eating out can leave a large footprint on the environment, depending on what you order, how its served, and what you do with leftovers. Food waste, single use items, and resource intense foods contribute to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The good news is that you can eat out more sustainably by making some small changes. Here are some easy tips that you can do when eating out to help the environment:

  • Choose more plant based foods, smaller portions of meat and fried foods. Plant based and fresh foods are usually less resource intense to produce. Guess what? They’re healthier too!
  • Refuse single use straws, utensils, cups, and bags. Bring your own reusable ones.
  • Take home leftovers. Food waste contributes to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions as it rots in landfills. Bring reusable plastic containers to use as a doggy bag for example.
  • Compost or recycle unsoiled paper products such as pizza lids, bags and boxes.
  • Choose restaurants that you feel are ethical and sustainable. You might have to do a little bit of research. Find out if they support your values. Do they pay workers a livable wage, do they source locally, do they offer healthier and sustainable menu items?
  • In general, try to eat out less often. When you eat out, there is also a chance you are leaving food at home to spoil.

Behavior change is hard, so try not to do too many things all at once. Consider setting some small goals. Small goals can lead to big impacts collectively and over the course of time. Think of all the plastic straws you would save from landfills by refusing them over the rest of your life. Choose goals that are really simple and attainable. For example, make a box of reusable items that you could use at restaurant and place in your car. If you go out to lunch 3 days a week, consider cutting back to one day a week.

Author: Dan Remley, PhD, MSPH, Field Specialist, Food, Nutrition, and Wellness

Reviewed by: Jessica Lowe, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Pickaway County, lowe.495@osu.edu

Sources:

Lobb, Jenny. (2022). Starting the Year with a SMART goal. Retrieved at https://wordpress.com/post/livehealthyosu.com/12600

Sabate, Joan. (2014). Sustainability of Plant-based Diets: Back to the Future. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/ajcn/article/100/suppl_1/476S/4576675.

United States Department of Agriculture. (n.d.) Food waste and It’s links to Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change. Retrieved from https://www.usda.gov/media/blog/2022/01/24/food-waste-and-its-links-greenhouse-gases-and-climate-change.

It’s Time to Rethink Packaging and Recycling

Plastic bags overflowing with empty plastic bottles

I used to pride myself on my recycling efforts. I would compare my overflowing recycling bin with my neighbors and wish more people recycled. I felt it was our duty, responsibility, and obligation to protect our planet.

However, my recycling pride was deflated when I read a report from the Department of Energy that showed only 5% of plastics were recycled in 2019. A whopping 86% of plastics end up in landfills and the rest is burned to generate electricity. I finally realized that just because a product has a recycling arrow on it, does not mean it’s being recycled, especially if it is plastic.

So how do we reduce our plastic consumption? Let’s examine four common household purchases and see why plastic should be avoided.

1. Food: Paper Box Rather Than Plastic Cups
Sometimes, there is a hefty economic and environmental cost to convenience, like this example with macaroni and cheese. Turns out mac and cheese from the box is 17 cents/ounce, while the plastic cups cost 61 cents/ounce. Even worse, the consumer is left with four #5 plastic containers, which are one of the least recycled post-consumer plastics, at a rate below 1%. Compare this to paper and paperboard, which have a recycling rate of 68%.

Box of Mac N Cheese next to 4 plastic cups of Mac N Cheese

2. Fruit: Metal Cans Rather Than Plastic Cups
The cost difference between pears in a metal can and in plastic cups is negligible. However, the environmental cost is substantial. As mentioned above, #5 plastic has a recycling rate of less than 1% while the recycling rate for steel cans is 71%. Of course, fresh pears are package free. To have the smallest environmental impact possible, shop with reusable produce and grocery bags, then throw the pear core in a compost bin.

A metal can of pears next to pre-packaged cups of pears

3. Soda Pop: Cans Rather Than Bottles
There is little cost difference between pop cans and bottles. But once again, the environmental difference is noteworthy. Aluminum cans are the most recycled category of aluminum at 50%, compared to the recycling rate of #1 plastics which is 29%.

Aluminum can of Diet Mountain Dew next to a plastic bottle of Diet Mountain Dew

4. Soap: Bar Rather Than Liquid
Again, the cost between bar and liquid soap is minimal, so let’s compare the packaging. Soap bars are often packaged in paper, which have a recycling rate of 68% while liquid soap is often packaged in #2 plastic containers, which have a recycling rate of 29%. This information also applies to laundry detergent. If you are looking to avoid the large, #2 plastic jugs of laundry soap, consider plastic-free laundry powder, bars, tablets, or sheets.

Body wash in a plastic bottle next to 6 bards of soap

Stay Informed
The dos and don’ts of recycling changes frequently. Stay up to date on what you can recycle curbside and look for additional opportunities to recycle in your community, through zero-waste organizations or your solid waste district.

Final Thoughts
As summer winds down, it’s a great time to start planning waste-free lunches for your kids. The goal is similar: reduce waste and reliance on convenient, single-use, hard-to-recycle items. The next time you are at the store, reach for the apple sauce in the glass jar rather than the plastic one. Mother Earth will thank you.

Note: Item descriptions, prices, and photos were retrieved by the author at a local grocery store that is affiliated with a national supermarket chain on 7/18/2022.

For more information about plastic and recycling, visit:

Written by: Laura M. Stanton, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Educator, Warren County. Email: stanton.60@osu.edu

Reviewed by: Courtney Warman, Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Program Specialist, Healthy Finances. Email: warman.44@osu.edu

Photo Credits: Cover image by rawpixel.com. All other photos by Laura M. Stanton, 2022.

References:

Bollas, B. (2021). Reducing your single-use plastic waste. Ohio State University Extension. https://fcs.osu.edu/sites/fcs/files/imce/PDFs/Single_Use_Plastics.pdf

Leblanc, R. (2019, May 9). An overview of polypropylene recycling. The Balance Small Business. https://www.thebalancesmb.com/an-overview-of-polypropylene-recycling-2877863

Milbrandt, A., Coney, K., Badgett, A., and Beckham, G. (2022). Quantification and evaluation of plastic waste in the United States. Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Volume 183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2022.106363

Stanton, L. M. (2021). Ten tips for packing waste-free lunches. Ohio State University Extension. https://go.osu.edu/waste-free-lunches

Stanton, L. M. (2021). How to pack waste-free lunches. Ohio State University Extension. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wv_zyW-WzZY

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2021, November 15). Ten ways to unpackage your life. https://www.epa.gov/trash-free-waters/ten-ways-unpackage-your-life

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2022, July 9). Facts and figures about materials, waste, and recycling. https://www.epa.gov/facts-and-figures-about-materials-waste-and-recycling

Woelfl, C. (2021, June 7). Our plastic problem. Ohio State University Extension. https://livehealthyosu.com/2021/06/07/our-plastic-problem