Blog
Things We Love: Children's Books About Stopping Plastic
This post has been updated for 2021 with even more great children’s books about plastic pollution and protecting our oceans! You can check out the original post here. Looking for a holiday gift for your little one that teaches and inspires them about how to tackle the plastic pollution problem? We’ve compiled a list of some of the best children’s books that address the issue of plastic pollution and protecting our oceans. These books are colorful, informative, and present an otherwise challenging topic in a light-hearted, age-appropriate way. The Adventures of Myrtle the Turtle by Julie Jakeman Come along on The Adventures of Myrtle the Turtle as she discovers the harm that plastic pollution causes to sea life and the importance of recycling. Readers will meet Myrtle’s new ocean friends as they all learn about plastic pollution and how to prevent it by reducing, reusing, and recycling. This book is filled with colorful ocean images and fun rhymes to engage young readers. This Class Can Save the Planet by Stacy Tornio This Class Can Save the Planet shows students how they can help save the environment when they work together. This book offers simple ideas that can be implemented in their own classrooms right away. It’s also perfect for educators because it provides simple advice on sustainable, actionable classroom practices. This book is perfect for Earth Day, Earth Month, and anytime of the year to help students establish environmentally friendly habits. Plasticus Maritimus: An Invasive Species by Ana Pêgo Inspired by author and marine biologist Ana Pêgo’s life’s work, Plasticus Maritimus: An Invasive Species examines plastic pollution in the ocean and why it’s such an important issue. Pêgo explains how plastic can end up in rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans! As a fun twist on scientific field guides, Ana Pêgo describes plastic as a new species, Plasticus maritimus, and offers tips on how to identify the invasive species. She also offers solutions on how to combat plastic contamination and motivates young readers to get involved in environmentally friendly lifestyle changes. Plasticus Maritimus: An Invasive Species is geared towards readers 11 and older. A Planet Full of Plastic by Neal Layton Award-winning author-illustrator Neal Layton explains where plastic comes from, why it doesn't biodegrade, and why that's dangerous for animals and humans alike. But he's also full of ideas for how you can help! From giving up straws to recycling to taking part in a beach cleanup, this book will get young readers excited about how they can make a difference to keep our planet clean. Let's Investigate Plastic Pollution: On Land and in the Oceans by Ruth Owen This new title in the Get Started With STEM series gives young science enthusiasts all the information they need to investigate and do their part to help solve the plastic pollution problem. It is packed with facts; discussion topics; and imaginative ideas for activities, experiments, and investigations. What a Waste: Trash, Recycling, and Protecting our Planet by Jess French This book will teach young ecologists how our actions affect the planet. Discover shocking facts about the waste we produce and where it goes. It also highlights plans already in motion to save our seas and how our waste can be turned into something useful. Saving Tally: An Adventure into the Great Pacific Plastic Patch by Serena Lane Ferrari Tally is a curious little turtle with a talent for getting into trouble. Her best friend Ara is a wise and strong lobster. The most dangerous part of the ocean is about to shock Tally and Ara and make them realize that their underwater world isn’t always so safe. Will they be able to escape the danger? This is an engaging book that addresses plastic pollution and how it impacts our oceans and sea life. It speaks directly to kids by showing what plastic pollution can do to wildlife and sea creatures. Plastic, Ahoy!: Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch by Patricia Newman For nearly three weeks at sea, researchers gathered bits of plastic and ocean organisms. These samples helped them learn more about the effects of plastic in the ocean. Follow along on the expedition to find out how scientists studied the Great Pacific Garbage Patch―where millions of pieces of plastic have collected—and what alarming discoveries they made. Harry Saves The Ocean: Teaching Children about Sea Pollution and Recycling (Harry The Happy Mouse Book 5) by N.G. K. and Sylva Fae From the bestselling Harry The Happy Mouse children's picture book series, join Harry and friends as they teach children about plastic pollution in the oceans. Harry stumbles across a whale that is in trouble. The whale then explains the growing problem of plastic pollution in our oceans, and Harry decides he needs to do something about it. This rhyming book not only explains plastic pollution as a problem but also explains how we can help by taking actions like recycling. One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia by Miranda Paul This is an inspiring true story of how one African woman began a movement to recycle the plastic bags that were polluting her community. In Njau, Gambia, people dropped bags and went on their way. The bags accumulated in ugly heaps alongside roads. Isatou Ceesay found a way to recycle the bags and transform her community. One Plastic Bag shows how one person's actions really can make a difference in our world. All the Way to the Ocean by Joel Harper This is an uplifting story about two best friends and their discovery of the cause and effect relationship between our cities' storm drains and the world's oceans, lakes, and rivers. This book is sure to inspire readers that we can do our part to ensure a cleaner, safer environment. Pesky Plastic: An Environmental Story by Leticia Colon De Mejias This is a fun educational book about plastic and its impact on our planet. Learn what you can do to help Sally, Allen, Pat, and all the sea animals survive "pesky plastic." This ecology-centered story is a wonderful way to begin conversations with children about how each of our actions directly affects the environment. It aligns with National Education Science Standards (NSES). 1, 2, 3, Who's Cleaning the Sea?: A Counting Picture Book About Protecting Our Planet by Janina Rossiter This beautifully created and hard-hitting educational book highlights the issues of ocean pollution and its effect on marine life. Inspired by powerful images of ocean pollution, this book will teach your child not only numbers and how to count but also the importance of taking care of our environment. What's the Commotion in the Ocean? by Nyasha Williams A mermaid has a message for the earth about our seas and oceans! This is a rhyming children’s book reflecting on the current happenings in the ocean and what we can do to save them. An African American mermaid tells the story and addresses our impact as humans on the ocean and inspires change.You can even pair the book with their very owntravel-sized Plaine Products. Books and bathtime always go together! Who knows, one of these children's books about plastic pollution may become your little one's favorite book to read in the bathtub. Most of these books are available at Bookshop.org, Amazon, or find them at your local indie bookseller!
Learn more
Another 100K Milestone!
Plaine Products began as a crusade against bathroom plastics. Our Co-Founders, Lindsey and Ali, were committed to creating a sustainable way to sell high-quality, toxin-free products in refillable, aluminum bottles.Every bottle of Plaine Products sold keeps one single-use plastic bottle from adding to the plastic pollution crisis. The best part? So many of you share the same mission! Together, we’ve hit our most recent 100k bottle milestone in LESS than a year! When we launched Plaine Products in February 2017, we had no idea how far our refillable bottles would go. 2 years and 8 months later, we hit our first major milestone: 100,000 plastic bottles replaced with our reusable, refillable aluminum bottles! From there, it took us exactly one year to hit our 200,000 bottle milestone. This past August, we hit our 300,000 bottle milestone in record time—JUST 10 months!“Small changes, like swapping out your plastic shampoo bottle for a reusable aluminum one can make a big difference when our entire community is dedicated to making one small change at a time.” Lindsey McCoy, CEO With the help of our Plaine Products community, we’ve been hitting the 100k mark faster and faster each year! As of today, we’ve diverted over 341,000 (and counting*) plastic bottles from ending up in our landfills and oceans and we’re just getting started!Thank you for joining us and here’s to our next 100,000 bottles!*Have you seen the ticker on our website banner tracking each bottle sold so that you can see the difference you are making with your purchase?!
Learn more
How to Celebrate Fall Sustainably
The leaves are changing and the weather’s cooling down, which means it's time for fall! From decorations to pumpkins to candy and more, it’s easy to create a lot of waste during the fall season. However, fall is so much better when celebrated sustainably! Read on for a few tips to celebrate Fall a bit more sustainably. Decorations Who doesn’t love celebrating a new season with decorations? This year, instead of buying plastic decorations from the store, turn to nature instead. Create a colorful fall garland with leaves you find outside, gather pine cones for a natural centerpiece, or opt to decorate with real pumpkins. The best part? Natural decorations can be composted once the season is over! If you don’t have access to these natural options, try shopping at thrift stores instead. You never know what fall-tastic items you’ll find! Outdoor Activities Fall is the perfect time to spend time outside, so one of our favorite fall activities is hiking. Enjoy the beautiful changing colors while taking in the fresh air. You can even pick up trash along the way to make the trail more beautiful for the next hikers! You can’t celebrate fall without a visit to a pumpkin patch! To make pumpkin-hunting more sustainable, visit your local pumpkin patch instead of big-box grocery stores. Bonus points if they are grown organically! Self-Care Fall is a great time to slow down and practice some self-care. For some people, that means hot bubble baths or indulging in luxurious products. We suggest running a bath with our plastic-free conditioner and body wash, and following it up with our super moisturizing body lotion! For others, cooking and baking can be a form of self-care. This fall, treat yourself to your favorite treats by cooking them at home. Try making your own apple cider or apple pie instead of buying it pre-packaged at the store, and try to shop local whenever you can! Halloween Halloween is one of the best parts of fall, but it’s also the most wasteful. From costumes to candy, Halloween creates a huge amount of waste. Here’s how you can celebrate Halloween more sustainably: Reuse old costumes or buy them second hand. Don’t waste your pumpkin seeds! Collect your seeds while carving. Season them with spices of your choice and roast them in the oven for a tasty fall treat. Once you’re done with your jack-o-lantern, set it outside for local wildlife (as long as it hasn’t been treated with chemicals) or add it to your compost bin. Hand out plastic-free Halloween treats. Stock up on candy at the bulk section of the grocery store, and hand out the treats in paper bags instead of plastic. Thanksgiving It’s the time of year when we gather around the table with family and close friends to enjoy a large, scrumptious meal and think about what we are grateful for in our lives. Thanksgiving is a celebration of the harvest and different people coming together to share a joyful moment together. Yet, Thanksgiving can also get a bit out of control with all the decorations and trimmings. Here are some tips to make your Thanksgiving holiday a bit more sustainable without having to sacrifice tradition. For even more ideas for a sustainable, environmentally-friendly holiday season, be sure to check out this blog post! Indulging in your favorite fall traditions doesn’t have to be wasteful. How will you make your fall season more sustainable? Send us your pictures or tag us on social media at @PlaineProducts!
Learn more
Plastic-Free Self Care
There’s no getting around it: we’ve all been through some tough stuff over the last couple of years. From pandemics to climate anxiety, there always seems to be another reason to stress. Self-care has never been more important than it is right now, so we’ve come up with some sustainable, plastic-free ways to give yourself (and the planet) a little extra love. Plastic-Free Tea Some days all you really need to relax is a hot cup of tea. But did you know most tea bags are actually made of plastic and can leach harmful chemicals into your drink? Opt for plastic-free alternatives instead, like Bigelow, Numi, or Yogi. Or ditch the bag entirely and try brewing some loose leaf tea! Plastic-Free Bath Soak A warm bath is one of the best ways to relax and unwind after a stressful day. You can make your soak even more rejuvenating by adding a few pumps of our plastic-free conditioner for a deeply hydrating effect. You can also add some of our Body Wash if you’re into bubbles! Plastic-Free Deep Clean For some of us, getting organized and cleaning up can be a form of self-care. Next time you decide to do a deep clean, try making your own plastic-free cleaning supplies! Here’s one of our favorite all-purpose cleaner recipes: 1 container with a spray nozzle (can be glass, aluminum, or a reused plastic bottle) 1 funnel (makes combining ingredients into your container mess-free) 1 cup distilled water 1 cup white vinegar 2 tbsp liquid castile soap 5 drops tea tree oil Combine all ingredients into your container using your funnel. Give your container a thorough shake, mixing all ingredients evenly, and you’re ready to go! We recommend using an old rag or cut-up t-shirt to keep your cleaning routine low-waste. Plastic-Free Massage Massage can be a great way to relieve stress and tension. The best part? You don’t even have to go to a spa! You can relieve much of your pain and tension yourself with some self-massage. Take a few drops of our Beauty Oil and give these massage therapies a try. Plastic-Free Face Masks Face masks and cucumbers on your eyes: the epitome of self-care! You can create your own nourishing face masks at home without all the plastic from the store. Here’s one of our favorite recipes for a plastic-free face mask: Blend two tablespoons of honey with a half-cup of mashed papaya. Apply the mixture over your face and let sit for 15-20 minutes. Cucumber eyes optional! Wash it off and moisturize. Next time you start to feel overwhelmed by everything going on in your world, remember to take time for yourself. From tea to baths to face masks, there are so many ways to practice self-care without having to worry about the impact on the planet. Let us know some of your favorites by connecting with us on social at @plaineproducts!
Learn more
Pact Collective
We have done many things in order to make our products and packaging as low waste and plastic-free as possible. Not only can you refill and reuse our aluminum bottles many times, but those bottles can also be recycled once they have a few too many dents in them. And being aluminum, they can be recycled and reused an infinite number of times. Even our shipping boxes are reused multiple times before they are recycled at the end of their life. But there is just this one thing...our pumps. Yes, they’re plastic. And no, we haven’t found or designed a plastic-free pump, yet. (If you’ve got any ideas, we’re all ears!) Most municipal recycling programs do not accept pumps like ours in your recycling bin. And while you don’t necessarily need a pump, it definitely makes using our products easier and more convenient. It also extends the life of the products because you typically don’t use as much when using the pump. Plus, we ask that you reuse your pumps with each new refill bottle. So, what to do with your Plaine Products pumps when they are no longer reusable? Enter Pact Collective, a nonprofit that’s working to make sure as much hard-to-recycle beauty and makeup packaging is recycled as possible, and working to move companies to more sustainable recycled and reusable packaging. Plaine Products is now a proud member of the Pact Collective! Plaine Products customers can now drop off broken pumps or pumps you are no longer using into Pact bins at Credo Beauty stores in the US or Hudson’s Bay stores across Canada. Or you can mail them back to us with your empty bottles and we can mail them to Pact in bulk. Please make sure they are clean first! Only clean pumps have a chance to be recycled properly. Pact works with specialty recycling partners to sort the material by hand, breaking down mixed materials into their various components as needed. The sorted materials are then sold to end-buyers so they can achieve their highest and best use. The truth of it is, the majority of beauty products are not recycled properly, if at all. That’s over 120 billion beauty packages annually that have a massive environmental impact. Pact is working to change that, by providing a sustainable option for hard-to-recycle beauty packaging and working with beauty companies to improve the recyclability of their products. So, gather all of your clean, empty, pumps and other hard-to-recycle beauty packagings and drop them into a Pact bin near you. We’re proud to be working with Pact to increase the recycling of beauty packaging and working towards more sustainable packaging throughout the beauty industry.
Learn more
Plastic-Free July: How To Reduce Plastic On-The-Go
The easiest way to reduce plastic use is to be prepared! Here are some helpful tips to reduce your plastic on-the-go!
Learn more
Plastic Free July: How To Go Plastic-Free At Work
Whether you work from home or the office, here are some ways to go plastic-free at work.
Learn more
Plastic-Free July: Plastic Policies That Give Us Hope
With Plastic-Free July in full swing, here are five policies from around the world that give us hope for a plastic-free future.
Learn more
The 2021 Goldman Environmental Prize
We were so thrilled to learn of the Goldman Environmental Prize recipients last week! In particular, two of the award winners stood out to us with their work against plastic pollution, and we want to tell you a little bit more about them. The Goldman Environmental Prize The prestigious Goldman Environmental Prize is also known as the “Green Nobel Prize”. This prize is awarded annually to grassroots environmental activists from the world's six inhabited continents in recognition and honor of their achievements in facing the environmental issues of their communities. The award winners, past and present, are a huge inspiration to us to continue to take action and advocate to protect our planet. Sharon Lavigne, Rise St. James In 2020, we shifted our focus of Plastic-Free July away from ways to reduce single-use plastic waste every day to supporting and highlighting the work of environmental justice organizations, specifically around plastics. One of the organizations we came to learn about was the Louisiana Bucket Brigade and Rise St. James and their work to Stop Formosa Plastics . How exciting that Sharon Lavigne, founder of Rise St. James was awarded a Green Nobel! In September 2019, she successfully stopped the construction of a $1.25 billion plastics manufacturing plant alongside the Mississippi River in Louisiana. A spokesperson for the Goldman Prize said: “Lavigne’s grassroots campaign successfully defended her community from the construction of yet another toxic plant in its midst. Her activism prevented the generation of a million pounds of liquid hazardous waste each year … for her unwavering commitment and dedication to her community, Sharon Lavigne will receive the Goldman Environmental Prize.”And she does not quit! Sharon is working tirelessly to stop yet another plastic manufacturing plant, Formosa Plastics, in her ongoing campaign for environmental justice and her community of St. James Parish. Congratulations Sharon! We stand with you in your fight against plastic pollution! Gloria Majiga-Kamoto, Malawi Plastic pollution is a huge problem all over the world. Gloria Majiga-Kamoto fights the plastic industry in her country of Malawi and successfully led a grassroots movement in support of a national ban on thin plastics, a typical single-use plastic used for plastic bags.80% of the plastics produced in Malawi are single-use plastics. Gloria recognized the devastating effects that plastic pollution, and single-use plastics in particular, has on Malawi's environment. On her own time, she has volunteered her time and energy to work toward a plastic ban. After several years of organizing, Gloria and the coalition of NGOs and activists she formed convinced the High Court of Malawi to rule in favor of enforcing a ban on the production, importation, distribution, and use of thin plastics.Please join us in congratulating all of this year's Green Nobel prize winners. You can learn more about the additional winners here .Thank you for inspiring us to protect our planet and all who live on it. Our dedication to a better environment is a dedication to a better environment for everyone. The Plaine Products Team
Learn more
DO YOU NEED A RETURN LABEL?