Two things often come in the way of someone's desire to be earth-conscious: health and enjoyment. Many medical practices and solutions are not the best for the Earth, and being told to stop participating in something you love for the sake of the planet can be a hard pill to swallow. But as the beloved PBS children's show host, Mr. Rogers, said - "Always look for the helpers. There will always be helpers." Prescriptions are a part of life for many people. That shouldn't stop you from wanting to be earth-conscious while being health-conscious! Unfortunately, many prescription pill bottles cannot be recycled through normal methods due to their size and plastic type. That's where creators of small businesses like Cocoplum are stepping up! Cocoplum takes your old, cleaned prescription bottles and recycles them into sunglasses and coasters. All around the country, similar small business are stepping up to create and give a second life to materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill. Another example of this is two students from Louisiana State University who helped to developed biodegradable Mardi Gras beads. Every year thousands of people turn out for giant celebrations in the streets that involve throwing petrolium-based necklaces of beads into the crowds. Alexis Strain and Lauren Rogers in Dr. Naohiro Kato’s LSU lab worked with their team to use 3D printing plant-based plastic to create hollow green, purple, and gold strings of beads that would allow seeds to be put in the center of the beads. They theorize the seeds could help the beads biodegrade faster when the beads are planted as the roots wrap around and help to break up the material. Though still in development and looking to scale their operation, these students are part of the growing group of young creatives and scientists who are looking towards the future of practicing sustainability throughout our lives. Take time this week to look through your community to see who may be looking to do the same, and even join them if you can in creating solutions for a better tomorrow!
Sources:
https://www.lsu.edu/blog/2025/02/biodegradable-beads.php
https://cocoplumco.com/
Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya: https://www.pexels.com/photo/person-holding-orange-and-white-plastic-bottle-11768111/
