Plastic is now omnipresent. We all know those spectacular images of tons of waste floating at sea or bird carcasses with bellies full of plastic. We also find microscopic particles where we least expected them: in the sea depths to the tops of the greatest peaks, including the entire food chain... and our own bodies. Commonly used in a multitude of packaging and everyday products, most plastics can release chemicals and persist for a very long time in the environment. To mitigate the effects of this toxic and polluting material, promises of recycling are held out, which are more of a mirage.
What if we tackled the problem at its source? What if we became the protagonists of our consumption? The overabundance of plastic particles that are suffocating nature and endangering our health is such that we cannot eradicate it completely. What we can do, on the other hand, is slow down the influx of new plastic into our lives, which is precisely what the authors of this guide invite us to do by giving us all the tools to achieve this.
Popularization work which allows us to better understand the different plastics and their dangers in the short and long term, Living without plastic is also a real toolbox to help us do without it on a daily basis. Chantal Plamondon and Jay Sinha show how to analyze our personal use of plastic and provide ideas for safe, reusable and affordable substitutes, confirming that our personal choices represent a powerful force for change.
Illustrations by Elodie Duhameau
