Is Tap Water Widely Contaminated By Plastic?

How often do you drink tap water?

Do you drink it all the time?

Or just occasionally? 

Studies show that more people are drinking tap water for a number of reasons. These reasons include:

(1) It costs less than buying a 24 pack of plastic water bottles each week

(2) People have realized that the plastic bottles are wasteful

(3) It actually tastes pretty good!

We have this ongoing luxury of water that some people in the world don’t have at all. We can drink the water directly out of the sink and not feel sick like other countries struggle with every day. Or so we thought at least...  

Maybe in the past, before we started this large production of plastic, we had access to clean and healthy water that came directly out of our tap. But in recent years, studies have shown that there have been plastic fibers in our tap water. An investigation was done and it showed that of the samples of tap water they took, 84% of the water was contaminated with plastic. A whopping 94% of those water samples were from the US!

 

Below is an infographic to show the tap water contamination in each country:

The ongoing question is how these plastics got into our water system. The big suspicion to this question is the plastics that we carelessly misuse and neglect to dispose of are somehow finding a way into the water.  

There is always a solution, we just need to work together to find a way to stop this ongoing problem, to build a cleaner and healthier world for all.

Studies done by: Orb Media

HOW TO MAKE 2018 YOUR GREENEST YEAR YET

How do you want to start your New Year?

Do you want to get a gym membership and make this your year to be your best and healthiest self? Do you want to make this your year to find a job that you are passionate about? Or maybe you want to do something as simple as appreciating the people in your life more. We all know how hard it is to stick with a New Year’s Resolution, and how easy it is to give up, so this new year, we’d like to encourage you to stick with them!

Maybe this year, you don’t have a particular New Year’s Resolution in mind, so we’d like to propose a suggestion. Here at Yumi, our New Year’s resolution is to share our knowledge of creating a more sustainable world with you! In this day and age, we are constantly in growing demand, and we don’t stop to think about the natural resources that we use on a daily basis to fuel our society. We neglect to think about these precious resources that seem to be growing a few steps behind us and never stop to make a few small changes to fix this problem.

There are many different solutions to the ongoing issue of plastic use, but where do we start? Here are a few suggestions to jumpstart your plastic free lifestyle for 2018:

Skip the plastic bags and turn to reusable bags

The toughest part of this task is to actually remember them. A suggestion to avoid forgetting your bags is to store them in the back seat of your car.

Invest in 1 or 2 reusable water bottles

Rather than buying single-use plastic water bottles, buy one or two reusable bottles. This will not only limit plastic use, but it will also save you money in the long run!

Cook more

How many times a week do you order takeout? Cooking more will save us from using plastic boxes and bags, AND it’s typically healthier for you!

Use real utensils 

Instead of buying plastic utensils, wash your non-plastic utensils by hand, or just throw them in the dishwasher. In fact, did you know that our Return compostable products are dishwasher safe?

Switch to glassware rather than plastic containers

Although you can reuse the plastic containers, it doesn’t last as long as the glassware. Plus, every time you use and reuse these containers, the chemicals that are used to make them can start to infect the food that you put into them.  

We hope that this has inspired you to make a difference to preserve our natural resources and our beautiful world for you, me and future generations, and we hope that you have a happy and healthy new year!  

Does Plastic Affect Us As Humans?

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What do you think? Does all this plastic pollution just physically damage our marine mammals, or do you think that the plastic could possibly be affecting our health as well?

The answer to this question is YES, MOST DEFINITELY! Plastic is everywhere. It’s in our cars, electronic devices, toothbrushes and even clothing! It is wrapped around the food we eat, and in most products we purchase and consume weekly, or even daily. The plastic that we see however, is not just around us, but also in our bodies. It consumes our bloodstream and digestive system, and continues to negatively affect our overall health.

Now you might be asking yourself, how the heck is there plastic inside of me, I don’t go around eating plastic bottles and containers! And sure enough, our answer would be of course you don’t, but the food and water you are consuming could contain traces of plastic in them. For example, if you are an avid seafood eater, chances are you have consumed some form of plastic. This is due to the fact that sea mammals, like fish, mistakenly ingest plastic that has polluted the ocean.

So, what does this mean for us, as humans? What is going to happen to us if we keep ingesting all of this plastic, year after year? The plastic that we ingest is extremely toxic and can cause disease such as cancer and many others! This ongoing issue of plastic pollution and disease will continue unless we as humans (1) figure out an alternative to plastic and (2) in the mean time, stop polluting our seas with waste such as plastic.

So what do you value more, your plastic bottles and containers, or you and your loved one’s health?

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What Are You Thankful For This Thanksgiving?

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We all know what holiday is coming up... Thanksgiving! A time to relax and focus on the things that matter most to you. A time to forget about work JUST for a few short hours, and to maybe even do some Black Friday shopping! A time to enjoy the crisp air and lovely fall scenery before we are hit with the winter chill. A time to sit back and really think about what you are most thankful for in your life. 

Here at Yumi we are thankful for a lot of things. We are thankful for our friends and family, and all the memories we share with one another. For the wonderful meals we are given on Thanksgiving and every day, for that matter. We are thankful for our customers joining us to create a healthier planet. We are thankful for the opportunities that we have been given in the past few years, and for many more to come.

We are particularly thankful for nature, and our remarkable eco system that we have worked so hard to maintain all of these years. For the oceans that provide us with food and water, and are home to some of the most beautiful aquatic species on planet earth. For the plants and trees that produce oxygen for us to live, and to filter our air so that our ecosystem is cleaner and healthier for all. For the radiant flowers that provide us with a certain kind of happiness and serenity, so that we can be at peace with the earth. The list could go on and on; so we would like to ask you what your favorite part of nature is and what you are most thankful for this Thanksgiving?

Here at Yumi, we have a lot of our own traditions that we like to do around Thanksgiving. We especially love this time of the year to enjoy all of the family festivities. This year, we want to share our festivities with you! Below are a few of our favorite Thanksgiving recipes and table setting ideas that your guests will love: 

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Delicious Sausage Stuffing

Yield: Serves 7-10 People

Prep time: 30 Minutes

Total time: 60 Minutes

Ingredients­­­

Unsalted Butter | 8 Tablespoons (1 Stick)

Medium-Diced Yellow Onion | 2 Cups (About 2 Onions)

Garlic | 2 Cloves

Medium-Diced Celery | 1 Cup (About 2 Stalks)

Granny Smith Apples (Peeled, Cored, Diced) | 2 Apples

Red Apple (Peeled, Cored, Diced) | 1 Apple

Kosher Salt | 1 Tablespoon

Freshly Ground Black Pepper | 1 Teaspoon

Sweet Italian Sausage (Remove From Casings) | 3/4 Pound

Chicken Stock | 1 Cup

Dried Cranberries | 1 Cup

Directions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F.

Step 2: Place the bread cubes in a single layer on a sheet pan and bake for 9 minutes. In another pan, melt the butter and add the onions, celery, apples, parsley, salt and pepper. Sauté over medium heat for 10 minutes, until the vegetables are softened. Add to the bread cubes.

Step 3: In that same sauté pan, cook the sausage over medium heat for about 10 minutes, until browned and cooked through, breaking up the sausage with a fork while cooking. Add to the bread cubes and vegetables.

Step 4: Add the chicken stock and cranberries to the mixture, mix well, and pour into a 9 by 12-inch baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes, then ENJOY!

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Roasted Brussel Sprouts

Yield: Serves 8 People

Prep time: 10 Minutes

Total time: 30 Minutes

Ingredients

Brussel Sprouts | 2 Pounds

Cashews | 1 Cup

Olive Oil | 2 Tablespoons

Garlic | 2-3 Cloves

Kosher Salt | To Taste

Freshly Ground Black Pepper | To Taste

Directions

Step 1: Heat oven to 425° F. On a large rimmed baking sheet, toss the Brussels sprouts, cashews, oil, garlic, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Turn the Brussels sprouts cut-side down.

Step 2: Roast until golden and tender, 18-20 minutes.

Step 3 (optional): If crispier/browned sprouts are preferred, turn on broiler for 1-2 minutes.

Step 4: Enjoy!

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Table Settings that your guests will love!

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The Throw Away That Goes Away®

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Do you have any idea what happens to the plastic ware that you purchase and then throw out? If not, It’s okay, most people don’t! We are here to tell you that most of the plastic plates, bowls, cups and utensils that are thrown away end up in landfills or in our waterways. Because plastic takes decades to degrade, animals in our oceans could end up in a great deal of danger. For example, most fish in the sea enjoy eating plastic, but often times they do not know it is deadly for them to eat.

So how do we fix this problem without giving up the luxury of disposable products?

We get it, some days you just don’t feel like washing dishes. It’s much easier to just throw away your plates after pizza or taco night. But what if we told you that you could still have the luxury of throwing your plates, bowls, cups and utensils out without hurting those fish in the sea? That would be pretty awesome wouldn’t it!

Your in luck, because our team has a solution for you. Our Return products are premium utensils, cups, bowls, and plates, made solely out of natural starch. These products are

Biodegradable, Compostable, Renewable and Sustainable!

They even come in different colors for your occasional barbeques and picnics. Our attractive products are durable for use with hot food, sauces and oils, and are suitable for entertaining and also everyday use!

Let’s stop hurting our planet and start here, by getting rid of plastic bit by bit!

To learn more about our Return products, go to our website at:

 www.yumieco.com or call us at 203.803.1880

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WELCOME

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WELCOME TO OUR YUMI BLOG!

We are excited to share our stories with you and to enlighten our dedicated and passionate eco conscious consumers and eco friendly community about our journey in becoming a plastic free society. Our goal is to make everyone fully aware of the importance of keeping our environment healthy and clean. This is why we started this company, to make sure that the world around us is safe from harm. 

Our Yumi products are durable, non-toxic AND melamine free… But they are far more than just that. Our Creations are beautiful and elegant pieces worthy of being showcased in any kitchen, home party or summer picnic. They are also perfect for entertaining, dining and food preparation! We feature a line of products that are made out of repurposed bamboo, which include an assortment of bowls, trays, serving dishes, and even ice-cream scoopers. 

As a society, we have to commit to a healthier and cleaner world now and for all of the future generations. So let’s start today!

To learn more about our business and products, go to our website at:

 www.yumieco.com or call us at 203.803.1880

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