Eco Nana

I try to do the right thing — recycle, reuse, and make choices that are better for the planet. But I’m learning something new every day. Recently, thanks to my friend, Kathleen, I found out that those “eco-friendly” laundry pods and detergent sheets I thought were a smart switch weren’t so green after all. The thin film that makes them “dissolve” in water is actually made of plastic — hidden plastic that doesn’t really disappear. Pods and laundry sheets marketed as eco-friendly aren’t at all! Although that film, called PVA, may look harmless, but it actually adds more microplastics to our waterways—and even our bodies. What Exactly is PVA? PVA,…

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic—no bigger than 5 millimeters, about the size of a pencil eraser. They’re everywhere. Each year, people release an estimated 10 to 40 million metric tons into the environment, and if we don’t change our habits, that amount could double by 2040. Most microplastics come from bigger plastic items that slowly break apart, but some are actually made on purpose and added to everyday products like paint, cleaning supplies, toothpaste, plastic-wrapped food, and even baby bottles and shampoo. Plastic may be convenient, but it’s more than just trash on beaches and roads. It can sneak into bodies — especially young ones — in surprising ways.…

Do you ever wonder what the numbers inside the triangle on the bottom of plastic containers mean? Those numbers show that not all plastics are the same. In fact, there are 7 types of plastic, and each one is used for different things—and recycled in different ways. Understanding what these numbers mean can help you make smarter choices and keep more plastic out of the ocean and landfills. When you toss plastic into the recycling bin, you probably think it’s being turned into something new—like another bottle or a piece of clothing. But in reality, that’s not usually what happens. Most plastic doesn’t get recycled. In fact, only about 9%…

Fish are acting strange—and human medicines might be to blame! Find out how drugs from our bathrooms are ending up in rivers and messing with fish brains.

When we think of plastic recycling, we usually imagine helping the planet—turning old stuff into something new instead of throwing it away. But did you know that recycling plastic might actually be more harmful than helpful in some cases? We’ve grown up being told that recycling is the best way to help the planet. It became a badge of honor: rinse the yogurt cup, separate the caps, fill the blue bin. It felt like the right thing—and for a long time, it was one of the best tools we had. But now, the story’s getting more complicated. I’ve decided to dig deeper and ask myself, “Am I really helping?” I…

Did you know that World Cleanup Day is March 31, 2025? It’s a day when people around the world come together to clean up trash, including plastic and fashion waste, and help protect the environment.  We often hear about plastic pollution and food waste, but what about fashion? Believe it or not, the fashion industry is a huge polluter. And Fast fashion is the worst of all. The Shocking Truth About Fast Fashion Every year, manufacturers produce over 100 BILLION pieces of low-cost clothing. Many of these clothes contain harmful chemicals and harm the environment. The Environmental Cost of Fast Fashion Fast fashion is a major problem for our planet.…

Introduction Did you know that every piece of plastic ever made still exists somewhere on Earth? Unlike food or paper—it just breaks down into tinier and tinier pieces (microplastics). That means every plastic bag, bottle, plastic cup, or straw ever created is still out there, whether it’s in a landfill, the ocean, or even tiny pieces floating in the air. Now we’ve learned that microplastics are harming birds–and us! In just the first ten years of the 2000s, people made more plastic than in all of history before the year 2000. Now, scientists estimate that there are between 15 and 51 trillion pieces of plastic floating in the ocean—that’s more…

Have you ever thrown away food at home—maybe an apple with a bruise or leftovers you didn’t feel like eating? If so, you’re not alone! I’ve done it, too! People all over the world waste tons of food every single day. But did you know that food waste is a big problem for our planet? Let’s dive into what food waste is, why it matters, and how we can help fix it! What is Food Waste? Food waste occurs when people throw away perfectly good food instead of eating it. This waste happens at home, in restaurants, at grocery stores, and even on farms. Some common reasons food gets wasted…

Every living thing needs water to survive! Water is super important for staying healthy, but should you drink bottled water or tap water? The answer depends on things like cost, health, convenience, and the environment. Let’s break it down! Which One Costs More? If you want to save money, the choice between bottled water or tap water is clear. Tap water is the better choice. In the U.S., tap water costs less than a penny per gallon, while bottled water can be hundreds or even thousands of times more expensive. If you buy bottled water often, the cost adds up fast! Instead, using a reusable water bottle and a home…

Sewer sludge, a leftover material from cleaning wastewater, might expose farmers and people living nearby to toxic chemicals known as “forever chemicals,” according to a report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Where is Sewer Sludge Used? Farmers sometimes fertilize their fields with sewer sludge. This sludge can hold high levels of harmful chemicals called per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). By using this sludge year after year, farmers risk being exposed to unsafe amounts of PFAS. The EPA also warns that PFAS can end up in food products like milk or eggs. The EPA says farmers use biosolids on less than 1% of U.S. farmland, but the National Biosolids…

Nearly half of the nation’s tap water is thought to contain one or more kinds of chemicals called PFAS, which stands for per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances. This finding comes from a recent study by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). Believe it or not, there are over 12,000 different types of toxic PFAS, but we can’t detect all of them with the tests we have now. In this study, the USGS looked for 32 specific types of PFAS. What exactly are PFAS? Toxic PFAS chemicals are used in a lot of everyday products, like nonstick cookware, food packaging, stain-resistant fabrics, firefighting foams, and even cosmetics. There are over 14,000 of…

Plastic pollution is a big problem for our planet. From tiny plastic bits to large, large pieces floating in the ocean, plastic waste is everywhere—and it’s causing a lot of harm to our health, wildlife, and ecosystems. The vast majority of plastic is made from fossil fuels—crude oil, coal, and natural gas. What is Plastic Pollution? Plastic pollution happens when people don’t throw away plastic items like bottles, bags, wrappers, and straws properly, and these items end up in the environment. Unlike organic materials, plastic doesn’t break down naturally. Instead, it breaks into smaller pieces, called microplastics, which remain in the environment for hundreds or even thousands of years. How…