It’s here! Earth Day 2024! While Earth Day might feel like a holiday, it’s really a movement meant to change our relationship with consumption and our treatment of the planet. This year, earthday.org is shining a light on something that has permeated not only our planet, but also our bodies with the theme Planet vs. Plastics. Their goal is, by 2040, to reduce the production of all plastics by 60%. And we're here for it!
When it comes to babies, parents make choices for them that not only affect their health but also the health of the planet. Unfortunately, marketing to parents is flooded with fast, convenient, and throw away. That’s a big, wide door for plastics to strut right on through. And boy does it.
Plastic-Free For Healthy Babies
It turns out babies may not even be born plastic-free anymore. A 2022 study found that microplastics were present in placentas, meconium, infant feces, breastmilk, and formula. To make matters worse, babies are especially prone to microplastic consumption due to their love of exploration and instinct to put everything they find into their mouths. While long term effects of babies' exposure to microplastics is largely unknown, there have been connections made between certain plastics and disruption of the endocrine system. There have even been links made between microplastics and heart disease or cancers.
Reducing Plastic Waste From Baby Products
Babies make a lot of garbage. Fast and convenient, which is the rallying cry for tired parents, means disposable or short term plastic products a plenty. According to the EPA, there were over 3 million tons of disposable diapers entering landfills per year as of 2018. And that’s just the disposable diapers. This works like everything else, until consumer preference changes the industry will continue to pump out plastic that is destined for short-term use and a long life in a landfill (if it makes it to a landfill).
Baby Products That Reduce Plastic Exposure & Waste
In the spirit of earth day, here are 10 of our favorite earth friendly baby products:
Other Ways To Reduce Baby's Exposure To Plastics & Waste
First off, use less. The only thing a baby really needs is their parent. Everything else is a bonus. So be a minimalist and keep nice to haves off the registry.
Second, pick plastic free items or items made from recycled plastics. If it is something that will be on your baby or in their mouth, skip the plastic all together. For baby adjacent items, recycled plastics are a great alternative for virgin plastics.
Third is thrift! There are hand-me-downs, good wills, second-consignment shops, facebook marketplace, and garage sales to name a few thrifty options. But what about the baby shower you ask? Try filling it with services that will make it easier to be a healthy and present parent. Because the most important thing to any baby is hugs and food (same baby, same).
Let's gooooooo! Parents vs. Plastics!
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