Do you feel like there is nothing little ol’ you can do that can actually help save the planet? Think again. All it takes is a simple pledge to eliminate one piece of trash everyday. One Small Step’s Boycott the Baggie pledge challenges us to participate, and aid in its mission to get rid of useless trash.
Moms and dads across the world are packing lunches for their children, but not enough of them realize the absurd amount of waste their children will be producing. It is estimated that 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide each year! That’s one million plastic bags per minute! Remember that it takes an estimated 1,000 years for one plastic bag to decompose, and less than 4 percent of bags used are being recycled.
Watch One Small Step’s Who Needs Trash video to learn the facts. The average student can use up to 67 pounds of lunch waste in one year. That’s about the weight of a fourth grader!
And even if you don’t care about the environmental benefits (though we’re sure you do), you can take the pledge for the savings. Waste-free lunches cost one-third less than those served in disposable products. You could save well over $200 a year by making some simple changes: No more plastic baggies, forks or bottles. Try insulated travel mugs, bamboo spoons and stainless steel containers — all reusable, all eco-friendly.
Take the pledge now! I just did, and it was easy. For more ideas on how you can help reduce waste and for a one-stop online resource for environmentally friendly, safe and non-toxic containers visit www.onesmallstep.com.
