Summer life has gotten busy and I have not taken my next steps very quickly. But I am continuing to bring my own bags to the store, use string bags for produce, bring my own mug to the coffee shop and select other types of containers over plastic containers. I have plateaued.
I recently read an article that has partly put my at a standstill.
https://earth911.com/living-well-being/recycled-beverage-containers/
and
https://sciencing.com/plastic-bottle-vs-aluminum-can-13636298.html
and
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2018/11/are-bioplastics-made-from-plants-better-for-environment-ocean-plastic/
The take away is that switching to other forms of packaging isn't necessarily better for the environment. Cardboard and glass have an impact on the environment in other ways. They are heavier, they take more energy to recycle, they require resources etc. That means a new goal for me. What can I buy that doesn't use packaging - or uses less packaging? I love body wash. It just seems more sanitary - but I should probably go back to natural bar soap. It certainly seems better for the environment than a plastic bottle of body wash.
There are also new products on the market for bar shampoo and conditioners.
https://www.lushusa.com/article_how-to-use-shampoo-bars-conditioners.html
(this is not a product endorsement, but my daughter uses Lush products and many are light packaging bar varieties.)
So no container is the best. What else can I buy without a container or bringing my own container?
Again, that means seeking out bulk options. That means changing my shopping routine which means more time. So I have to ask myself if it is worth the extra time. Can my one mission make a difference? The answer has to be yes because I care. I have to make the commitment to change for my own peace of mind and the hope that we can all make a difference if everyone does a small part.
Thursday, July 11, 2019
Tuesday, June 25, 2019
A journey to rid my life of plastic - One step at a time/ Week 4
My journey has been on hold due to a trip to England and Scotland. There are many reasons to love going to other countries, but I made a note to pay attention to - you guessed it - plastic bags. The Europeans always seem to be ahead of the United States when it comes to making the world a better place. I have never understood why this is, but in general Europe is more liberal and therefore tends to be more thoughtful about important social issues such as health care, education and the environment. The last one depends a lot on where you are. We were visiting friends who live in the North Yorshire Moors National Park and they confirmed that free plastic bags had long been a thing of the past. If you want a bag, you pay for it, which of course prompts people to bring their own. It is that simple. Some people carry on paying for bags, but most people like to save a little whenever possible. In New York State we have just passed a plastic bag ban which I am thrilled to see. Now that I am back, I will refocus my efforts to find alternative packaging for those everyday things we buy for the household. Stay tuned.
Edinburgh, Scotland, Victoria Lane
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
A journey to rid my life of plastic - One step at a time/ Week 3
Selective Shopping - Week 3
This week I made a concerted effort to avoid products packaged in plastic. Some things were easy and others will take some research.
First, I was happy to see the IF YOU CARE brand has a number of products in my Hannaford market. This product line seems to be a great option for household items such as kitchen gloves, baggies, paper towels and parchment. I made sure to reach for olive oil in a glass container instead of plastic. I purchased orange juice in cardboard as well as creamers. I selected cranberry juice in glass bottles too. As I was deciding on these products, I also tried to consider how big a container would make sense for our household. It makes sense to try to buy as big a container as possible, to create less waste in the end. I assume one large container of something is less waste than numerous small containers.
My husband likes deli turkey and at the meat counter I asked them to wrap just in the brown paper. They doubled the brown paper and that worked just fine for the short trip home. At home I used some wax paper as a liner so that the moisture wouldn't leak.
I was stumped by yogurt. All yogurts seem to be packaged in plastic. I also struggled with cookies and crackers. Though their outer package is cardboard, most have a plastic liner. I am going to take a trip to our local food co-op to see if they have more options. I am also stumped by seltzer or sparkling waters - or any bottled water for that matter. Even Perrier seems to be packaged in plastic now. I will do some homework on these things items because they are all part of our regular shopping.
Next week I will report on what I find at the local food co-op and whether there is more variety and also within budget.
This week I made a concerted effort to avoid products packaged in plastic. Some things were easy and others will take some research.
First, I was happy to see the IF YOU CARE brand has a number of products in my Hannaford market. This product line seems to be a great option for household items such as kitchen gloves, baggies, paper towels and parchment. I made sure to reach for olive oil in a glass container instead of plastic. I purchased orange juice in cardboard as well as creamers. I selected cranberry juice in glass bottles too. As I was deciding on these products, I also tried to consider how big a container would make sense for our household. It makes sense to try to buy as big a container as possible, to create less waste in the end. I assume one large container of something is less waste than numerous small containers.
My husband likes deli turkey and at the meat counter I asked them to wrap just in the brown paper. They doubled the brown paper and that worked just fine for the short trip home. At home I used some wax paper as a liner so that the moisture wouldn't leak.
I was stumped by yogurt. All yogurts seem to be packaged in plastic. I also struggled with cookies and crackers. Though their outer package is cardboard, most have a plastic liner. I am going to take a trip to our local food co-op to see if they have more options. I am also stumped by seltzer or sparkling waters - or any bottled water for that matter. Even Perrier seems to be packaged in plastic now. I will do some homework on these things items because they are all part of our regular shopping.
Next week I will report on what I find at the local food co-op and whether there is more variety and also within budget.
NOTE: My father (who can be handy) made us a drying bobble. For those plastic bags we still have hanging around, this is a perfect way to wash, dry and reuse. He bought some dowels, a small piece of 1" pine as a base and wooden balls from the hardware store. He used a hand drill to make some holes in both the base and the balls on top. A little wood glue and paint finished up the project.
Terrific!
Monday, May 20, 2019
A journey to rid my life of plastic - One step at a time/ Week 2
WEEK 2 - Change the dog bag and more.
UPDATE: Last week I committed to bringing my own bags to shop. I have been very diligent about this promise to change. It just takes some getting used to - getting into the habit. I am proud to say I have not picked up a plastic bag the entire week.
This week I have been focusing on replacing plastic in my home.' This is another pretty easy one.
I went to our local food co-op and found the products show above. There were a number of options and now I have even seen some environmentally friendly plastic replacements in chain grocery stores. I was also pleasantly surprised to find these items were not expensive. Are these the best products out there? I don't know, but it is a start. So I will live and learn. I did take the time to read the labeling and the right ideas are in place.
If you think about what you are doing with plastic bags, they have a such a short time use and then are tossed away. That has to stop. Start with the idea that you can't throw another plastic bag away - that was my starting point. You can't add another plastic bag to the garbage problem. That forces you to make changes. Convenience can't rule our lives and this in not a big sacrifice.
Next week I have to start getting rid of plastic packaging - this is a big one! Stay tuned.
UPDATE: Last week I committed to bringing my own bags to shop. I have been very diligent about this promise to change. It just takes some getting used to - getting into the habit. I am proud to say I have not picked up a plastic bag the entire week.
This week I have been focusing on replacing plastic in my home.' This is another pretty easy one.
I went to our local food co-op and found the products show above. There were a number of options and now I have even seen some environmentally friendly plastic replacements in chain grocery stores. I was also pleasantly surprised to find these items were not expensive. Are these the best products out there? I don't know, but it is a start. So I will live and learn. I did take the time to read the labeling and the right ideas are in place.
If you think about what you are doing with plastic bags, they have a such a short time use and then are tossed away. That has to stop. Start with the idea that you can't throw another plastic bag away - that was my starting point. You can't add another plastic bag to the garbage problem. That forces you to make changes. Convenience can't rule our lives and this in not a big sacrifice.
Next week I have to start getting rid of plastic packaging - this is a big one! Stay tuned.
Sunday, May 12, 2019
A journey to rid my life of plastic - One step at a time
PLASTIC BE GONE - DAY 1
Spring is here, my classes have ended and this time of year gives me endless energy and vision of getting lots of stuff done. My time is my own and I relish the opportunity to use it wisely.
My greatest concern at the moment is the future of our planet and our environment. The challenges can feel overwhelming, but the rule of thumb is to take small steps. So my baby step for the summer is to see how much plastic I can take out of my life. I hope to reduce my use of plastic by at least one item each week.
Reducing our use of plastic bags does not feel daunting, but we do buy a lot of products packaged in plastic. That will be the real challenge, but I am going to start easy.
For this week, I am heading to the grocery store with 2 goals:
1. Bring my own grocery bags.
2. Use nylon produce bags (which I bought at Hannaford Supermarket)
Let's see how it goes.....
Here are my findings:
1. Canvas Grocery Bags: I highly recommend bags with flat bottoms. Since Americans in general are all about convenience, this small variant can make all the difference while packing a bag. The canvas bags are sloppy and hard to keep open. The flat bottom bags are just asking to be packed. NOTE: I also picked up a 6 pocket bottle bag from Trader Joes. That has been incredibly helpful for water bottles etc.
2. String Bag. Pick up a set of string bags either on-line or at your grocery store - they were terrific. I just store them in the bottom of my grocery bags - ready to go for the next store visit. Easy and convenient. The check out gal didn't even blink. They are washable and light weight. You can put anything in them.
BONUS: I went above and beyond my goal this week and picked up a little nylon pocket bag from the drug store. This folds down into something so small, I can easily keep it in my every day bag. The hard part is to remember I have it. Check out attendants are so quick to throw things into a plastic bag, you really have to get into the habit of telling them "no thank you". They aren't always happy to unpack an already loaded plastic bag, but don't give in. It is important.
Like everything, I realize using these bags is just a habit I have to get into and I will - because, again, it is important. Just like brushing my teeth or putting on a seat belt, I will make myself remember.
WEEK 2 - Change the dog bag and more.
UPDATE: I have been very diligent to carry my own bags with me every day. It just takes some getting used to - getting into the habit. I am proud to say I have not picked up a plastic bag the entire week.
This week I have been focusing on replacing plastic in my home. I went to our local food co-op and found these products. There are many other options and I have even seen some environmentally friendly plastic replacements in chain grocery stores. I was also pleasantly surprised to find these items were not expensive. If you think about what you are doing with plastic bags, they have a such a short time use and then we throw them away. That has to stop. If you really start to think about it, you can ditch them. Convenience can't rule our lives and this in not a big sacrifice.
Spring is here, my classes have ended and this time of year gives me endless energy and vision of getting lots of stuff done. My time is my own and I relish the opportunity to use it wisely.
My greatest concern at the moment is the future of our planet and our environment. The challenges can feel overwhelming, but the rule of thumb is to take small steps. So my baby step for the summer is to see how much plastic I can take out of my life. I hope to reduce my use of plastic by at least one item each week.
Reducing our use of plastic bags does not feel daunting, but we do buy a lot of products packaged in plastic. That will be the real challenge, but I am going to start easy.
For this week, I am heading to the grocery store with 2 goals:
1. Bring my own grocery bags.
2. Use nylon produce bags (which I bought at Hannaford Supermarket)
Let's see how it goes.....
Here are my findings:
1. Canvas Grocery Bags: I highly recommend bags with flat bottoms. Since Americans in general are all about convenience, this small variant can make all the difference while packing a bag. The canvas bags are sloppy and hard to keep open. The flat bottom bags are just asking to be packed. NOTE: I also picked up a 6 pocket bottle bag from Trader Joes. That has been incredibly helpful for water bottles etc.
2. String Bag. Pick up a set of string bags either on-line or at your grocery store - they were terrific. I just store them in the bottom of my grocery bags - ready to go for the next store visit. Easy and convenient. The check out gal didn't even blink. They are washable and light weight. You can put anything in them.
BONUS: I went above and beyond my goal this week and picked up a little nylon pocket bag from the drug store. This folds down into something so small, I can easily keep it in my every day bag. The hard part is to remember I have it. Check out attendants are so quick to throw things into a plastic bag, you really have to get into the habit of telling them "no thank you". They aren't always happy to unpack an already loaded plastic bag, but don't give in. It is important.
Like everything, I realize using these bags is just a habit I have to get into and I will - because, again, it is important. Just like brushing my teeth or putting on a seat belt, I will make myself remember.
WEEK 2 - Change the dog bag and more.
UPDATE: I have been very diligent to carry my own bags with me every day. It just takes some getting used to - getting into the habit. I am proud to say I have not picked up a plastic bag the entire week.
This week I have been focusing on replacing plastic in my home. I went to our local food co-op and found these products. There are many other options and I have even seen some environmentally friendly plastic replacements in chain grocery stores. I was also pleasantly surprised to find these items were not expensive. If you think about what you are doing with plastic bags, they have a such a short time use and then we throw them away. That has to stop. If you really start to think about it, you can ditch them. Convenience can't rule our lives and this in not a big sacrifice.
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