Avoiding Microplastics

I was just watching a YouTube podcast and someone asked a question from one of the hosts. I won’t say which podcast but it was a good question. How can we avoid Micro-Plastics? The hostess said, “The first thing you can do is avoid drinking water from plastic water bottles.” The temperatures change before it gets to it’s spot in the grocery store where plastic can leech into the water. I’ve heard that advice before and it was a good reminder. It’s better to get food that’s not wrapped in plastic or eat large fish like Tuna which can be ingesting the plastic longer as it grows.

Then she talked about fibers from microfleece which can enter the body through the skin. We can be in Micro-Fiber blankets a long time. We should also avoid wearing synthetic materials. That’s true but personally I think that is hard to avoid but I think we should keep striving and trying to avoid it. She mentioned that people are using recycled materials and they have plastic like polyester in them. That is true and revelations such as that hit me hard in the head because here I am recommending them and am happy about them but these are plastics that are getting into our bodies and the bodies of our children unnecessarily. So, now the journey takes a turn like it will as we move through life and time and learn things along the way like all thinking and learning human beings. The animal beings can think and learn as well. Let’s avoid these Micro-Plastics and use more natural yarns, fibers and tools. Adknitters, crocheters, weavers, spinners, embroiderers, sewers, tailors and any place in the yarn crafting and fiber arts movement…AVOID PLASTIC in all it’s forms like a plague. Support, teach and influence others to avoid plastic and the influence the next generation. We can do this!

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I was just thinking about this topic. I’m looking at patterns and tops and sweaters in these yarns that are being used are so incredibly beautiful and come in such nice textures and colors. When I look at the fibers percentages, there are times that it says it has recycled polyester. It’s great that they are reusing plastics in another form yet it’s still a plastic. What if our under garments and anything we wore under the sweater were all natural fiber. That would be a good protection for the synthetic sweaters that I currently own but microplastics are still released in the water when I washed them. I guess natural undergarments close to the skin is a solution but it will still best to buy the yarn in natural fibers. Even better might be to eliminate the consumer buying of the plastic bottle in the first place. We must make the water filtration more popular than plastic water bottles. There seems to be alternate choices for anything we buy. We need to start a trend in our family and community and not only lead by example and gifts but also voicing things in a positive, friendly way.

Water bottles need to be a popular gift. My sister has gifted me about 5 of them over the years. My son gave me a nice one, too. I don’t know if they were giving me the hint to use water bottles or it was a trend or what.

We went to the supermarket yesterday and people were filling their carts with water bottles. I don’t think people realize the harm in plastic for their health and the health of sea-life. I’m sure I didn’t know when I was younger. We can make a difference now by eliminating plastic in our daily lives and switching our consumer choices to something better. Buy natural materials like wool, cotton, wood, steel, ceramic, paper and glass more and buy less. If we eliminate plastic consumerism in the first place, we will also eliminate the need to recycle them later.

If you have any more ideas, put them in the comments area or email me.