Taking the Kids: Traveling more sustainably
Ready to take the challenge? Earth Day is coming up April 22 and EarthDay.org is urging all of us to join the #plasticdetox challenge and reduce plastic use.
That’s easy to do when you travel. Use reusable water bottles. Encourage the kids to slap stickers on them from the places you have visited. Carry reusable totes rather than use plastic bags. They make great souvenirs too. Avoid straws. Pack lunches and snacks in reusable containers.
“ Plastics are a danger to people and all living creatures,” said Kathleen Rogers, president of EarthDay.org, “We are all ingesting and inhaling microplastics. They are everywhere. Are we just hoping they are safe or is even the remotest possibility they might be toxic so terrifying that we can’t contemplate it?”
Scary stuff. Microplastics, as well as the additive chemicals used to make plastics, are essentially tiny specks of plastic, typically smaller than a grain of rice. According to a new study posted on Earthday.org, the full extent of the health risks associated with microplastics is not fully understood but evidence is mounting that they pose potentially serious health risks, especially for babies and infants.
There is evidence that babies ingest more microplastics when they are crawling, teething, and putting everything into their mouths. Microplastic exposure, the report says, could affect many of the major organ systems in a developing child.
Even worse, there are more plastics now than ever with production increasing rapidly, which is why EarthDay.org is calling for a 60 percent reduction in plastic production by 2040.
Show off your eco-friendly swaps, creative ideas, and sustainable choices on social media. Inspire others to join the Plastic Detox Challenge by raising awareness about plastic pollution and its harmful effects.
Since the very first Earth Day in 1970, more than a billion people have been mobilized in more than 190 countries to protect the planet. EarthDay.org– has developed a“How to Do Earth Day 2024” toolkit.
Visit the official Earth Day 2024 webpage to stay updated on upcoming events, initiatives, and opportunities to make a difference.
Join EarthDay.org’s Great Global Cleanup. There are many events. As you travel this spring and summer, you will find sustainability efforts front and center everywhere from cruise ships to all inclusive resorts to national parks and airlines.
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