​The terms biodegradable, compostable and degradable all create the impression that they offer better environmental outcomes to conventional plastics and that they disappear harmlessly into the environment, right?  

No, this is not the case. 

As the world moves to ban single-use plastics, biodegradable plastics are increasingly in focus as an environmentally friendly alternative. However, some plastics degrade into microplastics, others take a very long time to disappear from the environment, and in certain conditions they produce powerful greenhouse gases.

As a committed sustainability practitioner, I will always promote plant-based eating most of the time for its lower environmental impact. However, I am also a realist and understand the diversity of food people may select. 

In continuing our waste reduction theme in Term 1, I refer to the great book which was the focus of last week's Green Tip. 

The family in A Family Guide to Waste Free Living  use one roast chicken to serve five people over three meals with zero waste.

During Term 1 at Merici we focus on reducing waste and hope that this translates into action here at school, at home and wherever you may go.

I was recently introduced to a lovely and inspiring book, A Family Guide to Waste-Free Living, which can assist us all to do better with reducing our waste. It is about a family of five living near Hobart who have produced no waste or recycling since 2015. They remind us that even through recycling, we are using energy and resources. 

Costa Georgiadis provides the foreword and states that: