The Plastic Problem in Numbers
Nearly 400 million tonnes of plastic are produced annually worldwide, and about 8 million tonnes end up in the ocean each year. Approximately 40% of the plastic produced is single-use plastic.
Plastic itself is not bad — it is a fantastic, resistant, and durable material. It is the use we have given it that has turned it into one of the main environmental problems of today. It was created to last, but we use it for a few seconds and throw it away.
What Can We Do?
Recycling and participating in beach cleanups is great, but it does not solve the underlying problem. The problem is the consumption model. We need to change our mindset: minimize and generate as little waste as possible.
Here are practical alternatives organized by area of your daily life:
🍎 Food
Buying in bulk and avoiding plastic packaging
There are many stores that sell bulk products: flour, legumes, sugar, salt, nuts, and pasta. Markets also offer fruit, vegetables, and zero-kilometer products.
This way you are helping to promote the local economy and conscious, sustainable eating.
Bulk stores in the Canary Islands:
🧹 Cleaning
Bulk or homemade products: the healthiest option for you and the planet
There are stores that sell bulk cleaning products where you can bring your own containers and refill them. Another option is to make your own products like homemade soap.
For garbage bags, there are compostable or biodegradable bags — stopping using plastic to buy more plastic makes no sense.
Stores in the Canary Islands:
🧴 Hygiene and Personal Care
Take care of yourself, but do not neglect the planet
There is a huge amount of ecological and plastic-free products:
- Bar soaps
- Cream deodorants
- Solid shampoo
- Bamboo toothbrushes
- Biodegradable dental floss
- Reusable makeup remover pads
For sunscreens, we recommend those with physical filters rather than chemical ones — they are less harmful to marine ecosystems and your skin.
For menstrual hygiene, the menstrual cup and cloth pads are comfortable, hygienic alternatives that will save you a lot of money.
Natural cosmetics in the Canary Islands:
🎒 At School or Office
Have you thought about how much waste is generated every day?
Your best allies against single-use plastic:
- Reusable lunch box
- Reusable cup and bottle
- Bamboo utensils
- Bamboo or metal straws
- Cloth napkin
For sandwiches, beeswax wraps work great as a reusable wrapper.
✈️ On Trips and Excursions
It may seem exaggerated, but on trips we generate a huge amount of plastic waste. With small habit changes, you can drastically reduce your impact.
Every consumption decision is a vote for the world we want to live in. Change starts small, but its impact is oceanic.
