Plastics – Week One

     Chapstick is something that I use, a lot. I have a chapstick for pretty much every jacket pocket and every backpack compartment. My lips get chapped very easily and having something to keep them healthy and sooth that pain is important to me. I apply chapstick at least very hour, sometimes more frequently than that. Each tube lasts between two to four months, because I alternate between so many tubes it takes a while to get through each of them completely. I also tend to lose them due to how small they are. After I finish using a chapstick I’ll toss it into the recycling bin, even though I’m not sure if the type of plastic it’s made of can be recycled.
     Despite the lack of any numbers on the tubes of chapstick that could signify the kind of plastic they are made from, after some research online it became apparent that they are most likely made from polypropylene. Also known as plastic number five, it is often used in the creation of  yogurt cups, medicine bottles, ketchup bottles, and kitchenware. Polypropylene is a microwave-safe plastic because it is heat resistant and won’t warp in the microwave. This plastic is accepted by most curbside recycling programs. The most commonplace environmentally friendly alternative to plastic tubes is actually cardboard, however there are also chapstick container made out of wood. As someone who has always mainly focused on the cruelty-free aspect of my purchases, I never really noticed how much more there was to be aware of. After some research I came across Juniperseed Mercantile, a chapstick brand that is vegan, cruelty free, and environmentally friendly. The chapstick sold by Juniperseed Mercantile is three times the size of a normal tube and even the shipping materials are plastic free. I think once I finish and recycle my current chapsticks, I’ll be turning to greener alternatives.

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