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More durable products can replace disposables at many times

Anyone who pays attention to the harm that certain disposable objects can do to the environment, realizes that most of them have to do with food. Straws, disposable cups, shapes and a multitude of objects make our life easier, but they could be avoided, reducing environmental damage. eCycle lists four food-related items that can be replaced with non-disposable equivalents:

1. Molds

When there is a children's party, the brigadeiros, kisses, pies and other sweets and snacks are traditionally placed in small paper forms. They avoid the candy's contact with the surface, but they lose their use very quickly, as they are not reused. A good alternative that already exists in Brazil is the silicone form, commonly used for cupcakes (slightly larger candies). It just needs more care when the food in question has to be placed in the oven along with the form. In Warehouse 2000 you will find cupcake shapes. At Elo7, the molds for brigadeiro.

2. Straws

The plastic straw is used to decorate drinks and to avoid having to take the glass to the mouth. But have you ever stopped to think that a straw isn't much needed? If you still like using this accessory, why not try metal models? As with chimarrão from Rio Grande do Sul, the metal straw (there are models made of titanium) can be washed and used again as often as you like. On Amazon, you find a template and we've already commented on a template here.

3. Food packaging

With the rush of daily life, it is common for us to make use of services that deliver food to the workplace. However, in addition to food, a Styrofoam container and plastic cutlery are also sent to us. Instead, take a few minutes and prepare your food. You can pack it in specialized containers, like the one developed by Smart Planet, free of BPA, offered on Amazon. If you were in doubt about sustainability in packaging, check out 27 examples of eco-friendly packaging.

4. Cutlery

Instead of making use of plastic cutlery whenever you are caught by surprise when eating out, have sustainable cutlery on hand. They can be the traditional ones, made of metal, or models made with sustainable wood, which are more heat resistant. Here you can find a kit with a fork, spoon and knife.

5. Reusable cups

We are very used to having that afternoon coffee or a glass of water in the waiting room in small disposable cups, but we do not know the impact that its use can have on our health and the environment. When in contact with hot material, plastic (and this includes Styrofoam) releases toxins with BPA and styrene, known for their health problems, in addition to being a difficult material to recycle and that ends up polluting rivers and seas.

The solution is to invest in reusable cups made of glass, ceramic, metal (aluminum or stainless steel) or a plastic called polypropylene that is recyclable and resistant. A good example is the Keep Cup and Smash Cup, reusable polypropylene cups that help reduce your environmental footprint in a few uses.

Plastic, paper and metal are essential in modern life, but let's use them for more important things in our lives. For the others the keyword is reuse.