Progression Foundation

Together, let's increase awareness and understanding.

Marion Michele, Social Media - BeProFoundorg

Marion is the post master behind our Instagram account, combining her passions for animals, our environment and social media all in one place. She's also a photographer who often focuses on pastel-infused sunsets and palm trees.

About Marion Michele

Marion Michele, Social Media - BeProFoundorg
Marion is the post master behind our Instagram account, combining her passions for animals, our environment and social media all in one place. She's also a photographer who often focuses on pastel-infused sunsets and palm trees.

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Is recycling a thing of the past?

Raise your hand if you know what Operation Green Fence is? I certainly didn’t. Well not until recently. Operation Green Fence is a program that was implemented by the Chinese government in 2013. This program allowed China to enforce the regulations that were enacted two years previously in Article 12. Blah, blah, blah. It means that China started inspecting the recyclable material that they were receiving and if it didn’t meet a certain standard, they wouldn’t accept it. Green Fence, get it?

What this means for recycling programs is that they need to get better. In 2017, the US sent 3.7 billion pounds of plastic to China. 2018 saw a decrease of 35% or 1.3 billion pounds of plastic. That’s a lot of plastic that isn’t getting processed. There are already issues with recycling centers in many different states. There are waste management companies in Oregon that are taking plastics to landfills. There are locations in the U.S. that are halting their collection of mixed recyclables. There are plastics being stored in parking lots and tractor trailers because there is nowhere for them to go. We need to figure out what to do with the plastic to effectively recycle it and there is currently no end in sight for supply. The US currently only recycles about 25% of the plastics that it manufactures.

So what does this mean for you? That’s the important question. The answer is, you should still recycle. It is still an important step for eliminating plastic waste. It’s just not where your primary focus should be anymore. Reduce, re-use, recycle. It still applies but they’ve always kind of been in order of importance.

Reduce, reduce, reduce! This is the one that makes the biggest impact. Plastic waste is created by us using plastic, so if it is at all possible, don’t. When we’re not buying products that contain plastic, there isn’t a need to produce more. They aren’t being used.
Reduce. It’s funny how simple that is. Unfortunately, I use way too much plastic and it’s because it’s not really that simple. It takes a lot of effort. Luckily for all of us, lawmakers and businesses are making changes to enable this to be easier. Single use plastics are being banned in many different forms. Companies like Trader Joe’s are making commitments to reduce the plastic in their products. All of this is going to make it easier for us to personally reduce. The key to being successful at any plan is to make it easy. Edging towards plastic free is currently my number one goal.

We would love to know your thoughts. Please write to us by email profound@progressionfoundation.org or on our social media @BeProFoundorg.

AUTHOR: John K. Hagler

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Weekly Tips: The Solution on Plastics

Photo by Ishan @seefromthesky on Unsplash

Plastic pollution is a global problem. But the solution starts local.
The Progression Foundation envisions a world without plastic pollution through sharing information and sparking inspiration for action and change.

Was a straw the first introduction to our world’s plastic pollution? It was for a lot of us. If you haven’t seen the video where a turtle cries as blood streams down its nostrils while volunteers struggle to dislodge a straw stuck within its nose then you best be clicking that hyperlink. You’ll never want to use a straw again! Which is great and all–we all need to #StopSucking. However, the attack on straws represents a greater issue.

Plastic pollution is suffocating our earth. Sea creatures are swimming in trash. Waves of plastics are washing up on our shores. National Geographic reports that 73% of beach litter worldwide is plastic. And (sadly) the amount of plastic production is increasing, instead of coming to a halt.

(STAT) Since the 1950s, around 8.3 billion tons of plastic have been produced worldwide.
The Guardian reported that an estimated 8.3 billion tons of plastic have been produced since the 1950s — an equivalent weight of more than 800,000 Eiffel Towers.
And only 9% of it has been recycled.

And its impact is being felt by hundreds of species of seabirds, whales, dolphins, sea turtles, and other marine life that ingest or get entangled in plastic. Once produced, most plastics won’t decompose for 450+ years (if they decompose at all), meaning that a one-time-use plastic purchase could potentially spend eternity on our beautiful earth. The impact is seen and felt around the world.

With all these big numbers and crazy stats being thrown at us, it can seem like whatever we do it just won’t be enough. But that’s where we’re here to let you know that no matter how small your action is, it HELPS! We’ll be sharing one tip a week on social media to keep the convo going.

Follow us on Instagram @BeProFoundorg and Facebook to get our ProFound Plastic-Free tip of the week and #BeProFound for our Earth! Want to win some Stop Sucking Swag?! Add your comment below or tag us in a social media post with your Reduce, Reuse & Recycle tip for a chance to win swag and be featured here on our blog and social media channels.

WEEK ONE: REDUCE:

Ask your pizza place to skip the plastic centerpiece in the box when you order. Your pizza may not thank you but all of the animals that might eat it will.

 

Week Two:

Only clean plastic can be recycled. Make sure you wash any containers before you place into your recycling bin.

 

Week Three: Check your plastics and avoid the worst ones.

Yes, if you can avoid all plastic that’s the best solution. But the first step in going plastic free is being conscious about the ones you. Check the bottom of any plastic container for their number (1-7). The worst ones are 3, 6 & 7. 

3 is Polyvinyl Chloride, which is extremely toxic plastic containing hazardous additives like lead. Commonly found in plastic wrap, nut butter jars, some squeeze bottles and kid’s toys.

6 is Polystyrene, which is toxic for ourselves and the environment. (HMMMM let’s seriously avoid this one!!) Found in styrofoam, disposable and take out containers and plastic cutlery.

7 is Polycarbonate and “other” plastics (ummmm….”other”? #notokay). It’s found in metal can liners, clear plastic cups, and juice and ketchup bottles. 

BONUS TIP:

Use non-plastic containers.

Mason jars are *literally* life-savers. Bring reusables with you when you go shopping. Take note of how much they weigh before filling. Keep a note in your phone on how much they weigh, so you don’t have to repeat the process or remember numbers. 

 

Week Four: Shop at your local farmer’s market

Shopping at your local farmer’s market is a great way to buy fresh fruits and vegetables and reduce your plastic consumption — just don’t forget your own bags!

Something else we think is great: at the local Farmer’s Market here in Hermosa Beach, they just started a “Bucks for Buckets” campaign, meaning if you bring pale of trash collected at the beach (which they provide the pale), you can trade it in for bucks to spend at the market. All around great concept to get people to buy fresh AND keep your local city clean and green. 

Week Five: Donate Unwanted Plastic

Instead of tossing what you don’t need, look for an organization that could use it. Items like old ladders and dog crates might seem like trash, but to a lot of local non-profits, they are super useful. Also, opt to give away for free on sites like Next Door or Offer Up. You know what they say: one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.

Week Six: REDUCE: The No-Poo Method

No, we’re not talking about 💩. This week’s plastic-free tip is all about washing our hair. It’s a simple method that will keep more shampoo bottles from washing up on shores 

It’s called the No-Poo method and it’s super simple.  First, create a 2 tbsp baking soda to 2 cups water mix to clean your hair (lather like normal shampoo). Then, rinse with an apple cider vinegar and water mix (same ratio as the first). To help with shine, softness, and smell, add some essential oil after rinse (no need to rinse here).

Essential oils we like:

– basil: promotes growth

– chamomile: conditions and helps psoriasis

– sage: helps with dry scalp

– eucalyptus: encourages a healthy scalp

– citrus: adds natural shine

 

Week Seven: Reduce: Watch What You Wear

Avoid buying new plastic clothing.
What you’re wearing is reflection of so many things…let it also stand for your stance on plastic.
Clothing made  from synthetic materials, like polyester, acrylic, lycra, spandex, and nylon are all plastic fabric. These synthetic fabrics create microfiber pollution when you wash and dry them. And with the news circulating that the average human digest 50,000 microfiber particles a year, it’s safe to say our clothes are contributing.
Instead, look for organic cotton, hemp, ethically-raised wool, and other natural fibers and dress to impress…and save the environment (and our health!)

Week Eight: Let Your Voice Be Heard!

Tip brought to you by Plastic Tides
If you are upset about businesses using plastics. Then write and email/mail a short two paragraph letter to the owner/ceo explaining why you do not want them to use plastics and encourage an alternative option. One letter might not seem like much, but your words could have a serious impact. Who knows, with enough letters the company might take action!
About @Plastictides:
We are a nonprofit organization that strive to inspire action towards a plastic-free future by combining adventure, education, and youth empowerment. To learn more about our organization check out our website
https://plastictides.org/

Week Nine: Make Your Litter Picking Count

Tip brought to you by Plastic Patrol Pledge.
Make your litter picking count – use social media to take action and raise awareness of the plastic pollution crisis. This year, Plastic Patrol’s goal is to remove one million pieces of plastic and log it in the Plastic Patrol app. Each piece representing one animal that has suffered at the hands of plastic pollution.
About Plastic Patrol:
Plastic Patrol was set up in 2016 and has already made great strides to remove plastic waste from 42 countries around the world. Combining community action with disruptive technology to gather important data for scientific research into plastic pollution. With your help we can continue our mission to stop plastic pollution at the source.

Take the Plastic Patrol Pledge and help save one million animals #OneForOne