Are reusable dish covers a solution to the world's overproduction of plastic waste?

Using charlottes, beeswax packaging or any other washable solution is an effective way to protect our environment

According to Greenpeace, the world has produced more plastic in the last 10 years than in the previous 100!

Content

Overproduction of plastics in numbers
The problems of using aluminium and plastic in your kitchen
There are simple, effective and zero waste solutions for removing plastic from your kitchen
1. Beeswax coated packaging or beewrap
2. The dish cover or charlotte

1. Overproduction of plastics in numbers

Global production averages 300 million tonnes per year, of which 8 to 12 million tonnes end up in our oceans.

Plastic pollution is a real plague.

10 tonnes: the amount of plastic produced per second worldwide
1.6 million km²: the size of the Seventh Plastic Continent, which is the size of France, Germany, Spain and Italy combined
450 years: the number of years it takes for (just) one piece of plastic waste to degrade
2050: the year when the oceans will have more plastic than fish
By 2050, all seabird species will be eating plastic on a regular basis.
99%: the percentage of marine animals that will have swallowed plastic by 2050
5000 billion pieces of plastic are already floating in our oceans.
Worldwide, 73% of beach litter is plastic
Estimates of the lifespan of plastic range from 450 years to infinity
The main market for plastics is packaging: it accounts for almost half of all plastic waste generated worldwide, most of which is never recycled or incinerated.
More than 40% of plastic is used only once, before being thrown away.

2. The problems of using aluminium and plastic in your kitchen

Aluminium and cellophane are toxic and dangerous to health
Aluminium and cellophane are non-reusable - single use
Aluminium and cellophane are not recyclable

As you can see, aluminium is everywhere and can cause serious damage to your body. On the waste side, although aluminium is 100% recyclable, its extraction remains problematic and the aluminium foil is too thin and burns in the recycling oven and therefore it is impossible to recycle!

For this reason and all the others mentioned above, I chose to remove it from my kitchen.

As for cellophane, the toxic products contained in this plastic also migrate into liquids and food. Sometimes even at very low temperatures or by simple exposure to the sun. But the higher the temperature, the greater the migration!

3. There are simple, effective and zero waste solutions for removing plastic from your kitchen

a. Beeswax coated packaging or beewrap

to cover dishes or containers
Second skin effect to preserve sliced fruit and vegetables
It can also be used to wrap your sandwiches or children's snacks

To do this, place the wax wrapper in position and then place your hands on it to heat the wax and allow it to mould perfectly around the container or food. After use, simply clean with cold water and soap. However, be careful not to wash it in hot water or put it in contact with hot food as this could alter the wax.

Wrap à la cire d'abeille ou toile enduite à la cire d'abeille

Toile enduite à la cire d'abeille, couvre-plat à la cire d'abeille

b. The dish cover or charlotte

I was really taken with this easy-to-use alternative. These dish covers are designed exactly like hairnets. Although they are not used to wrap food, they are still very practical for covering dishes or containers. In addition, the interior is coated and waterproof, which prevents odours. Finally, the food wrap can be washed in the washing machine at 30° and sometimes even at 60°. Think of taking a set of three charlottes offering three different sizes to cover all your needs.

A washable dish cover fits to keep all dishes in the fridge.
Covering dishes prevents odours from escaping and increases the shelf life of your food
The charlotte is airtight and easy to use thanks to its stretch band
The washable dish cover is suitable for all dish shapes. Square, rectangular or round.
The charlottes are machine washable or washable in hot or boiling water
Using 2 charlottes to wrap a cake allows you to transport it and keep its softness: one on top and one underneath