Around eight million tons of plastic are dumped into the ocean each year, according to a study published in the journal Science. These wastes take centuries to degrade, and end up being ingested by fish and aquatic animals, which often die for this reason.
Waste is generated indiscriminately, for example, when food is packed in polystyrene trays wrapped in plastic wrap. Although there are some ideas for replacing these elements, such as the biodegradable trays created by a 17-year-old girl, the truth is that they have not yet been implemented on a large scale.
This gives us the guideline that we must begin to rethink our daily habits; and that we must start recycling, reusing and reducing from home, since we cannot sit back and wait for governments and leaders to solve the problem, when we are causing it every minute.
In this note, you will be able to learn —or remember— 5 alternatives to forget about disposable plastic film to store your food, and make the world a little better every day.
1. Containers with lids
The first rule to reduce the use of plastic film is basic: forget about covering plates or trays with food with it to put them in the fridge; use a container with a lid.
You can use a classic plastic tupperware, or better yet, if you don’t want to buy it and don’t want to use plastic containers with components that could be toxic to store your food, reuse a container that can be made of glass, such as canning jars.
Rather than wrap a plate in plastic wrap, it’s even better to cover it with another plate and leave it that way in the refrigerator. The film can also be toxic, especially if you leave it on when you heat food.
2. Universal silicone caps
Silicone lids are non-toxic, and for some time there have been universal lids on the market that adapt their size to any kitchen container.
Some also have very funny designs.
3. Damp cloth
Sometimes the new seems better to us simply because it is new, but we already had an alternative in our hands.
In many kitchen recipes it is indicated to cover the dough or preparation with plastic film so that it rises, but our grandmothers carried out the same process years ago, covering it with a damp cloth, achieving the same results in a more sustainable way.
4. Bioplastic film
If it still seems more practical to use film anyway, there are currently bioplastic films that are biodegradable. They are produced from vegetable starches, from plants such as cassava or sunflower. They are more expensive but represent a good solution to the problem of contamination and to prevent toxicity in food.
5. Make your own film
If what you are looking for with the plastic film is a waterproof film through which oxygen does not pass, you can obtain the same result with other materials. Some of them you can make at home, such as a beeswax waterproofing cloth.
To do it, you simply have to brush a cloth with melted wax and let it dry.
Start today to acquire more sustainable habits!