stop using plastic

I’m going to try and start this next week (after I hand in my dissertation)for a time limited period of 3 months. Hopefully then it will be the impetus to massively reduce the amount of plastic i use in day to day life and to have changed some of my habits. I think I am going to try and make a list of things that I really can’t do without (eg medicines, toothpaste….hmm there is more I’m sure but I can’t think of it at the moment).

My friend has also set up a UK based website with tips on how to cut out plastic: http://www.notoplastic.org.uk/ which I plan to post lots of questions on-What do people do about binbags for example?

It is VERY hard to do this considering how much society and manufacturers have turned to plastic. I am trying, though. And more and more I hear how bad plastic is for our health.

-I’m collecting glass food storage when I find some on sale.
-I bought a stainless steel mug (recyclable), but I’ve decided I need another one for when I go out to get coffee. I’ve found that it’s great that my water now tastes like water and not like plastic water.
-I have canvas bags for shopping…but I often forget them and I need a couple more.
-I’m going to stop using liquid soaps and go back to bar soap.
Lush has great hair products that you can get without plastic packaging, but it’s pretty expensive.
-I’m trying to buy less food that in plastic packaging, but this has proven hardest of all. When I can, I buy in bulk and I don’t buy the convenient single-serving packages.

But I will keep trying and the more I get used to things, the more successful I will be. :)

Food storage- pyrex and ball jars, wax paper
Cleaning supplies, soap, shampoo- learned how to make my own
Water bottle- glass jug with a cushy slipcover
Food packaging- no processed foods. Though it is extremely time consuming to make EVERYTHING! This is probably the hardest part. I can’t find sour cream that is sold in glass or paperboard lol.
I rarely eat out, but carrying silverware is a great idea Patty! I am considering foldable camping silverware to take up less space.
Plastic bags- not anymore!

The more I get into this, the more I realize how much plastic has infiltrated our lives. Not too long ago, this did not exist. I look to the past for inspriation, antique stores have great solutions!

Ok, so I am using/buying plastic for things where I can use the plastic forever, like my Nalgene. But I would say I am there because I buy my soda in glass and the bottles get refilled and sent pack out, so no water bottles or soda bottles. Also, I use plastic bags when necessary but I am pretty good about keeping them clean or washing them and using them over. Obviously, I don’t buy coffee in disposible cups.

Also, since I almost never buy packaged food that’s not an issue anymore. If I can keep this us a couple more weeks, I would say its complete!

I would LOVE to cut all plastic out of my daily habits. The more I try to find ways the more I find out full of plastic everyday life is. But I am going to try….

i have been bringing bags everywhere and saving on those. reusing old ones, bringing my lunch to work more often (and thereby decreasing the number of disposable containers used). and I bought the stainless steal coffee mug after finally finding a good price! yay! less paper cups!

Damn, dude. This is probably the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Eating at home mostly helps. Only eating in restaurants that use china and silverware helps. Not purchasing soda, juice, canned soup, etc. helps. But then I buy new clothes for interviews and it all sucks.

NEW COMMITMENTS:
1. Carry chopsticks and silverware with me.
2. Carry a coffee cup with a top with me.
3. Carry shopping bags with me.

SO HARD SO HARD SO HARD. But remember my wallet and cell phone and chapstick 90% of the time….

RESEARCH:
1. How can I stop buying products in packages? We switched to Lush brand shampoo and conditioner…

Ok I have been thinking more about rejecting plastic bags at the stores, but I always forget my canvas ones. I also forget my coffee mug. I also learned that ceramic and metal coffee cups need to be used about a billion times to make up for their environmental damage as opposed to paper cups, which need only be used like 5 times or somthing. (this month’s wired). so that makes me feel like the world’s hold on disposable paper and plastic is impenetrable! but i will figure out how to cut my personal consumption down…. i will i will i will.

I think I’m making progress, atleast psychologically. I’ve started to save all shopping bags instead of sending the to the recycling center as well as refuse them as oftem as possible. Still trying to remember to bring my cloth bags with me everywhere. Planning on making a rug out of the plastic bags (once of thse for scratching yuck off your feet when you come in the house). The other day I was at Trader Joe’s getting ready to buy my weekely hummus when I realized, if I make this myself, I can save purchasing more plastic! I went home and made hummus. I made 3 lbs of it for less than $4 So not only am I freed from the round robbin of purchasing an item packaged in plastic regularly, but not I get it cheaper and with no artificual additives

Let me preface this goal by saying: I in no way believe that it is 100% attainable. I should say, “use less plastic,” but that isn’t what I really want to do. “Stop using disposable plastic unless it is absolutely unavoidable.” Yes. It doesn’t have the same ring to it as stopping altogether, but I think it is more realistic.