zero
Waste II
plastic
Plastic can now be found in all possible and impossible places on earth - not only in the so-called plastic islands in the sea, one of which is four times the size of Germany. Microplastics were even detected in drinking water, milk, all types of German beer examined and sugar.
It's no surprise when you consider that plastic is very strong - it can last up to 500 years. Then there is the microplastic, which is not only found in many shampoos and other care products. Even with a single wash cycle with fleece clothing, for example, up to 2000 microplastic particles can come loose - which no sewage treatment plant can stop and which ultimately end up in the sea. Overall, it is estimated that around one-third of the plastic produced globally ends up on our soil, inland waterways and oceans.*
There is already more plastic than plankton in the sea today. Not our problem? That would be nice, but only a fraction of our waste is professionally recycled or incinerated in this country. A very large part is exported to other countries - here, due to the lack of regulations there, environmental toxins such as dioxin and PAH are often produced during combustion. In addition, a large part is simply disposed of in the sea - so German plastic waste can even be found on remote islands. This garbage is deadly for many animals - it fills the stomachs so that they starve, the animals become entangled in it or poison themselves. But the microplastics, which are not only found on our plates via fish, are also dangerous for us humans: they have hormonal effects, can reduce our fertility and are sometimes carcinogenic.*
Most people are now aware that plastic is a problem. Less well known, however, is the connection between plastic and climate. Not inconsiderable amounts of CO2 are generated during production as well as during processing, incineration or decomposition: a total of 1,781 million tons*.
The production of a plastic bag alone produces 120 grams of CO2. Unfortunately, the majority of plastic waste is still incinerated today, which also causes climate-relevant emissions. But even the slow decomposition is no better. Studies have shown that decomposition in salt water is particularly problematic with regard to emissions during decomposition. At the same time, the microplastics in our seas are also becoming a climate problem that has not yet been researched in detail.
The main problems are the enormous amount of plastic that is produced today, the planned short lifespan of the products, the longevity of the plastic itself, and the increasing quantities.
According to thatCenter for International Environmental Law(CIEL), plastic production is expected to cause CO2 emissions of 52.2 gigatonnes by 2050 at the forecast growth rates. If the CO2 emissions from the incineration of plastic are added, the total is more than 56 gigatonnes. The emissions from decomposition have not yet been adequately researched, and those that occur during processing have not yet been taken into account.**
* Source:Plastic Atlas 2019(Heinrich Böll Foundation)
** Source:plastikalternative.de- in addition to interesting information about plastic and climate change, you will also find many other great tips for a plastic-free or reduced life.
Would you like to become active yourself right away?
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Read the following tips on how to get hold of unpackaged goods on site and which simple measures you can quickly implement in the household. Browse through the beautiful zero waste blogs at the bottom of the page. Take the"Zero Waste" Challengeshare and exchange ideas with other challenge participants in your group. Or chat in the forum without a challenge"Zero Waste"with people from the area, how you can easily replace cleaning agents, hand cream, toothpaste, etc. Load thecode check- and orReplace Plastic Appdown.
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Where can I get unpackaged goods?
Unfortunately, there is no unpackaged shop in Hall (yet). But if you want, you also have a few options:
Generally: Keep an eye out for unpackaged products! Fresh vegetables and fruit are also available unpackaged in conventional supermarkets.
market- every Wednesday and Saturday morning
Everything fresh is available at the market. Many market visitors bring cloth bags and glasses or cans with them so that they can buy not only fruit and vegetables, but also bread, olives and more unpackaged.
The Bioritter has an area with basic groceries in filling stations as well as various unpackaged drugstore items. Cleaning agents of all kinds can be filled into bottles you have brought with you from large pump containers.
In the Naturkost Hall, individual basic foods and other products are also offered unpackaged. Dairy products and oat milk are available in returnable jars.
In the health food store near the market square it is also possible to buy unpackaged spices, broth, soaps and shampoo soaps, to buy wooden toothbrushes or milk products in returnable jars or to order bulk packs of many products.
With the organic box, not only can vegetables and fruit be delivered directly to your home without packaging, but also groceries such as red lentils in a deposit jar (fromunpackaged for everyone), cereals in 5 or 10 kg bags or oat milk in returnable bottles.
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denn's also has interesting products that save a lot of packaging: whether it's recycled toilet paper without a plastic bag, miniature wash tabs or dish soap and more
In the "Vom Fass" numerous oils and vinegar specialties can be bottled directly. Just bring your own bottle.
In Hessental there are types of grain in filling columns, in Wolpertshausen there are even many unpackaged products from hair soap and glass drinking bottles to cloth diapers.
In the tea shop in Hall, tea is often filled into glasses that you have brought with you. Please do not bring any old tea packs or the like - this is not possible for moth protection reasons.
Adam's Market
In "Adam's Markt" in the Gelbinger Gasse there is the possibility to have various seeds and nuts filled into glasses you have brought with you. Also available without packaging: spices and solid soap.
Some solid soaps are available without packaging in the "Belle fleur" boutique.
In this shop in Heimbacher Gasse there is the possibility to get tofu without packaging if you bring a container with you.
TIP: Take part in the next zero-waste city tour :) - here you will find out everything you need to know from experienced zero-waste buyers on site! You can find the dates in our calendar - or simply subscribe to the newsletter and have them sent directly to your inbox!
In the neighborhood
The Maas farm shop in Michelbach sells all its own dairy products and more, also without packaging waste.
The Riegenhof in Mainhardt has been offering unpackaged goods since the 1980s. In addition to fruit and vegetables from his own cultivation and products from the region, he also has his own meat from pasture cattle.
Tips for direct start
1. Never throw away your trash carelessly. Pay attention towaste sorting- this is the only way plastic can be recycled.
2. Always weara shopping net and a cloth bagWith you.
3.Cook as freshly as possibleinstead of resorting to packaged foods.
4. When buying, make sure that your shampoo, toothpaste, ...no microplasticsis included - you can use theCodeCheck apphelp. Even better: scour yoursbath: use up what is still there and think carefully about what you would like to use in the future. For example, replace the shampoo with a shampoo bar (or even withrye flour), the rinsing by a solid conditioner, also in soap form (or even by aSour Rinse), your toothbrush with a wooden toothbrush (or even more sustainable: with aSWAK), toothpaste with toothpaste tablets, shaving cream with strong foaming shaving soap, disposable razors with a safety razor. Or just mix your own in a minutedeodorant.
5. Scour yourscleaning closet: only buy what you really don't want to do without - buy vinegar essence, citric acid and baking soda or washing soda instead: this is sufficient for most applications. Example: put citric acid in your toilet, let it sit for a bit (maybe stir to better dissolve). Add washing soda to it. Now use the toilet brush and be amazed at how clean your toilet is :). With vinegar essence you can get rid of even the most stubborn limescale dirt. Also for exampleall-purpose cleaneris made in a flash with these basic ingredients.
Tip: Ask your parents or grandparents what they used to use - simple cleaning agents were often used back then.
6. Scour yourskitchen: Use up aluminum foil, cling film and parchment paper, but don't buy them again. Fill leftovers into glasses or cover the plate with a matching deep plate or bowl. Oil your baking tray - baking paper usually gets greasy anyway, so the tray has to be rinsed, and pizza & co will be much crispier without any problems.
7. Buy yourselfmetal cans and glass bottleson the go. Avoid to-go products. Instead, ask the baker, restaurant, etc. if you can bring your own container.
8th.Drink tap water- if you consider the hormonally active substances from plastic bottles, the many lugging around, the money and the garbage that can be avoided, the step is all the easier.
9. Replace dishwashing sponges withwashable dishclothsand dishwashing brushes with replaceable heads.
10. Buydurable products.
Would like more?
Zero waste blogs with lots of helpful tips & recipes
smarticular.netoffers a wealth of tips and recipes for all household topics
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wastelandrebel.comhas also been linked several times in the text - this is probably one of the best-known German blogs on the subject. Here you will find lots of tips for everyday life.
www.zerowastefamilie.deThis is particularly interesting for families and shows that it is possible even for families in the countryside to live "zero waste".
utopia.deoffers general information on the subject of sustainability - here you will also find many practical tips and ideas for everyday life on the subject of "zero waste".
More information, microplastics app and poetry slam
reset.orgoffers a lot of background information for anyone who has become curious.
Plastic planet- the film from 2009 is still well worth seeing today and is freely available on the website of the Federal Agency for Civic Education (bpb).
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Code Check App- use the app to easily find out which products in your bathroom or shopping cart contain microplastics
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Replace Plastic App- With this app you can easily tell the suppliers of products for which you would like more sustainable packaging that you would like packaging without plastic.
Rita Appleat the Poetry Slam Finale Berlin#17goals
Books
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"The plastic savings book" contains more than 300 suggestions and recipes for all areas of everyday life to avoid the flood of plastic.
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"Five home remedies replace a drugstore- Just do it yourself! More than 300 applications and 33 recipes that save money and protect the environment" is a helpful book with lots of simple instructions for making your own - from cleaning agents and detergents to deodorant, shampoo & Co.
"Zero Waste- less garbage is the new green" is the book for Shia's Wasteland Rebel blog and is aimed particularly at beginners and people with little time - it can be opened at any point and offers a lot of tips and quick recipes to implement immediately.
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"Less in the sea" provides a lot of interesting information about the topic of plastic and garbage in general for children.
"No plastic for the whale - Lena buys unpackaged" by Stephan Sigg, with the help of a nice story, lets elementary school children understand what Zero Waste is all about.
"Sustainably in love" by Chantal Schreiber conveys the background to Zero Waste in a nice story for young people.
* Source:reserve.org
