With estimates that around 12,000 million metric tons of plastic will be in landfills or in our environment by 2050, it's easy to feel like this overwhelming issue is out of our control, but the change actually starts with us as the consumers.
You may know Bonnie Wright better as Ginny Weasley from the Harry Potter films, but she's much more. Bonnie is an environmental activist and advocate for eliminating single-use plastics, a film director, producer, and screenwriter.
Colleen Wachob, co-CEO at mindbodygreen, sat down with Bonnie on the mbg podcast to discuss how she became passionate about reducing her impact on the environment and the simple ways she's cut down on plastic in her life.
Growing up, Bonnie spent time on the coast of England with her family and came to love the ocean. She gained inspiration from her surroundings and developed an understanding of nature's cycles. Over time she's seen a cultural shift toward convenience and the subsequent negative impact on the environment. As a surfer who spends a lot of time on the water in California, Bonnie sees the amount of plastic pollution floating in the water and on the beaches.
With all of this, she's made it a priority to reduce her plastic consumption. Here are some of the strides she's made that you may want to incorporate into your life.
Bonnie emphasizes that these changes did not happen overnight and recommends starting with one category such as beauty products or food containers and then moving to the next. "Even if your choice seems so small and insignificant, it does all connect," she explained.
If you're feeling stuck with where to begin, she suggests noticing what self-limiting beliefs may be holding you back. Perhaps you feel like you're not good enough to remember to bring your own water bottle? These are normal ways to feel and are merely thought patterns that have been ingrained in us. To break through some of these, acknowledge that they are thoughts you can overcome and you are more than capable of making choices that support you and the environment.
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