Got into a discussion (Argument) with my parents the other night.

They're fans of just using paper and plastic dinnerware.

Me, I actually like using actual dinnerware (ceramic/porcelain/etc.), and washing it clean after I'm done with it.

I know more and more people these days are becoming more environmentally conscious, so let me ask you:

Which is more wasteful, and which is more healthier for the environment?

Is it better to use paper and plastic dinnerware, or are you really better off using, washing, and re-using dinnerware that you don't need to throw out?

On the one hand, paper is biodegradeable, but plastic isn't; you have to sacrifice trees for paper, and petroleum for plastic, but soap, these days, is full of chemicals that might seep into the environment, and prove harmful to it...

What's your take on this little environmental conundrum?

I'm definitely into environmentally-friendly living. Keep in mind, this isn't entirely altruistic, since this lifestyle is also healthier for you!

First of all, why use paper dinnerware? In the long run it's more expensive, and definitely far more wasteful! Furthermore, plastic (as you said) is made of very toxic substances. You can easily look up about the harmful effects of bisphenol-A. However, even BPA free plastic is harmful. Yes, we use plastic in numerous products every day. However, it should never be ingested. Over time, plastic breaks down. You're basically ingesting petroleum. I use only ceramics and glass. No need to use plastic. In fact, you probably get plastic in many of the things you eat (canned foods are coated in plastic, for example).

As for soap being harmful... yes. Most soap people use is harmful (to an extent), and has harmful ingredients in it. Same thing with shampoo and deodorant. Fortunately, there are simple and healthy alternatives. For my soap and shampoo needs I use Dr Woods. Here are the ingredients:

water, saponified coconut, hemp & olive oils with retained glycerin, organic shea butter (butyrospermum parkii), vitamin E oil (tocopheryl acetate), peppermint oil, sea salt, citric acid, rosemary (rosmarinus officinalis) extract.

Did you see anything in the list you didn't recognize? Did anything strike you as sounding particularly artificial? Nope, no SLS or other man-made chemicals that have been known to be harmful to your skin! 

So, why isn't everyone using these products? First of all, my experience with the general human populace is that they are not particularly bright. They also tend to be lazy and cheap (not all, but most). Secondly, they watch lots of TV, and on TV you see tons of advertisement for soap, but none of it is natural. Soap such as Dr. Woods is quite a bit more expensive than normal soap, and they don't advertise nearly as much as other brands. They are a far smaller company than these mega-corporations. Therefore far fewer people are inclined to purchase it. If you're looking for an alternative to chemically-enriched soap, I would go with Dr. Woods or some other similar product. There are in fact similar products which are quite a bit more expensive than Dr. Woods, and I'm sure they're just as good. If you can't find any of these locally, amazon does sell them at reasonable prices.

I hope you follow this trend of yours to purchase less paper and plastic, and also go all-natural. Sure it's better for the environment, but do it for your health first!