People from different backgrounds share their measures to reduce plastic use in their everyday life.
Paweensuda Drouin, 25
Miss Universe Thailand 2019
Amount of plastic used in a day:
I never really count how many pieces of plastic I use, but I do try to use as little as I possibly can. Still, it’s pretty hard to avoid things like food packaging, bottles and other items that I get from convenience stores, food delivery, markets and shopping malls.
Things I have done to reduce plastic use:
I carry a tote bag with me when I go shopping. I also bring my own water bottle from time to time to avoid buying water in plastic bottles. Instead of buying takeaway food in Styrofoam boxes, I just eat at the restaurant. If I have to order food delivery, I decline plastic cutlery. There are also alternative options for drinking straws made from paper, wood and steel.
Different ways our society can effectively reduce the use of plastic:
Honestly, this starts with us. We have to realise the gravity of this problem, as well as the side effects that could take place from plastic trash. We also have to realise the significance of reducing the use of plastic. There are so many ideas we can follow. For one thing, we can support companies that have an awareness about this issue. When we travel, we can choose to stay at environmentally-friendly hotels. We also have to dispose of our trash correctly. I don’t want to see more trash ending up in the sea and harming marine life.
Naamo Rodkaew, 44
Freelance worker
Amount of plastic used in a day:
Three pieces. I use a bottle, cup and straws. They are usually from convenience stores. Nowadays, I try to use fewer plastic bags, as people and the media have been advocating.
Things I have done to reduce plastic use:
This depends on each situation. I try to bring my own bags when I go shopping. On other occasions, it can be necessary to opt for a plastic bag. We could say it’s unavoidable. Sometimes you just can’t refuse plastic.
Different ways our society can effectively reduce the use of plastic:
We need incentives and more support. Celebrities can help with the advocacy. They can spread the word and ask the public for cooperation in reducing the amount of plastic we use every day.
Yutthapong Gul-oung, 46
Triathlete and hairstylist
Amount of plastic used in a day:
About 5-15 pieces, including drinking straws, water bottles, plastic wrap from books, cups and gloves for doing hair colouring.
Things I have done to reduce plastic use:
I try not to use plastic as much as I can by using tote bags instead of plastic bags at convenience stores. I bring my own mug or bottle when I buy drinks. Within the sports circle, we also try to use one cup per one runner during marathons. Usually, there are stations set up every 2km to give runners water. Most just dispose of the cups after one sip. And to think that there are 2,000-5,000 runners at a single running event. Just think how crazily we are using and throwing away plastic. Now, there are some runners who carry their own lightweight cup like a keychain around their neck. When they reach a station, they just ask a staff to pour water into their cup and carry on.
Despite all the effort, and despite us all knowing the harm plastic brings to our marine ecosystem, we still produce and use a lot of plastic on a daily basis. We should fix the problem at its root by not producing plastic products and asking everyone to just reduce the convenience in their lives by a little.
Different ways our society can effectively reduce the use of plastic:
To make this effective, we must have the same mindset. We have to be serious in order to dial back our behaviours to when we weren’t using plastic so carelessly. The state should educate people, set regulations for factories, and punish those who dump trash into the sea.
Korawit Sittisakornsilp, 28
Vocal instructor, singer and musical actor
Amount of plastic used in a day:
It depends on where I’m working. At my music school, I use 3-5 pieces a day such as bags from eateries and convenience stores. If I go outside, the amount goes up to 5-10 pieces, mostly from food and drinks bought from stores.
Things I have done to reduce plastic use:
There are times I say ‘no’ to plastic bags from 7-Eleven and other shops. It depends on the level of convenience I can afford at that specific time, like whether I’m already carrying a bag with me, or if I intend to eat what I’m buying right away. At Tops Supermarkets, there are days when they specifically reduce plastic usage. So, I just put my purchases into the cart and take them straight to the car. No plastic bag needed. Or, like Ikea, they don’t give out plastic bags at all, so I’m prepared whenever I go there. But I do forget sometimes if I go shop at other places. Maybe it’s because they have yet to force us until it becomes our own habit. So, I do accept plastic bags from shops sometimes and reuse them at home as trash bags.
Different ways our society can effectively reduce the use of plastic:
Ikea’s method works for me: just don’t provide plastic bags at all. If you forget, you just have to buy a new one. The more you end up buying, the more you remember that you have to bring your own next time. It’s not that I don’t want to be helpful, but sometimes with work and everything, it’s very easy to forget to grab a bottle, mug, or tote bag before I walk out the door.
Siyapat Teerapatamorn, 42
Bar owner
Amount of plastic used in a day:
Very little. In the morning, the small coffee sachets I use are made of plastic. Other plastic comes during meal times such as from food packaging and bottles for drinks.
Things I have done to reduce plastic use:
I did think about it, but I’m more into recycling. It’s hard to avoid plastic sometimes, so I put more effort into reusing. If I get a large plastic bag, I reuse it as a trash bag. It’s hard to reduce plastic use in this country unless we have a strong campaign advocating it. We can ask celebriti
Ornyupa Sangkamarn, 36
Chief of Academic Section at Seub Nakhasathien Foundation
Amount of plastic used in a day:
The plastic I use is more on a weekly basis. I normally carry a tote bag, water bottle, food container, and silicone drinking straw with me. So the plastic I get would be, say, when I buy a loaf of bread that I can eat for five days, or straws I get with packs of fruit juice or milk bottles and cotton buds I use. The bag for bread, and other bags I acquire, can be washed, dried, separated, and even sold. In a week, I end up using 3-4 pieces of plastic.
Things I have done to reduce plastic use:
I try to reduce plastic use by buying larger sizes of things. For example, when I buy milk, I buy one 5-litre container which I can later use to put my homemade cleaning liquid in. Making my own cleaning fluids is another way for me to acquire fewer plastic. But there are also difficulties. Say I want to eat sticky rice. Most shops already pack it in small plastic bags. Even when I bring my own food container, some shopkeepers — with good intentions — put plastic-packaged food in my container anyway. I have to keep an eye on them and be quick to say I don’t want plastic.
Different ways our society can effectively reduce the use of plastic:
I think the government should make it a policy — one that is enforceable. We’ve always talked about it, and I think it’s already too late to start instilling some sense into people. The government should make it mandatory for people to separate their trash and set specific days to pick up certain types of trash. They can also start charging for plastic bags. Or the state could work on a mechanism for companies to switch to more environmentally-friendly packaging for their products, but also not in a way that pushes the burden too much on consumers. Maybe the state can offer tax reduction to encourage these companies.
Pakawat Masripunt, 27
Graphic designer
Amount of plastic used in a day:
About 5-6 pieces. There are plastic straws, cups, even bags for your cups, and bags for skewered fish balls. I mostly get them from the market or street food vendors.
Things I have done to reduce plastic use:
I am trying to adjust. When I go to convenience stores and shopping malls, I don’t take plastic from them. And if I don’t forget, I bring my own mug to the coffee shop. The problem is when I look for food in the market and from street vendors. Then I always get a lot of plastic bags. And I can’t say ‘no’ either. If I do, they have nothing else to put my food in for me.
Different ways our society can effectively reduce the use of plastic:
I think tote bags and biodegradable bags help a lot. But, most importantly, we have to adjust everyone’s mindset. Make sure they know and understand this issue and what can be done about it. I think the state can help by regulating plastic prices. If they can make biodegradable items cheaper than plastic ones, shops might use them more. But if plastic bags remain the cheapest option, especially in this economy, it’s going to be hard to change because everyone will always choose what’s cheaper.
Fai Janto, 45
Cleaner
Amount of plastic used in a day:
I normally collect around 10 large bags of trash every day throughout the entire facility where I work. For my personal use, not much. Just stuff here and there I get from convenience stores. I get a plastic bag to carry a cup of hot noodles, for example. If it’s not really necessary, then I just carry the stuff myself.
Things I have done to reduce plastic use:
I try to use fewer plastic bags. When I go to the doctor, I bring my own bag for medicine. It’s not really hard to adjust because I mostly carry a tote bag with me anyway. It’s just more convenient that way.
Different ways our society can effectively reduce the use of plastic:
It’s just hard, really. As someone who deals with trash every day, I see a lot of what people throw away after using it just once. Like plastic plates. Maybe people can use paper plates instead or even bring their own plate when they buy food.