What I'm Doing to Be Mostly Plastic-Free
I think it's time to provide a list of stuff I'm doing to be mostly plastic-free. Here it is:
1. Bringing my own cloth bags to the store and not accepting any plastic shopping bags.
2. Buying food from bulk bins to avoid plastic packaging. Some of the foods I regularly buy include cereal, granola, rice, nuts, beans, and quick oats. I've also purchased couscous, steal cut outs, rolled oats, Bulgar wheat, barley, and nutritional yeast.
3. Eating more fresh produce since it has no packaging (and is super good for you).
4. Using cloth bags instead of plastic produce bags for my fruits and veggies. I also bring along old plastic grocery bags just in case I'm buying a lot of stuff.
5. Giving up the plastic-packaged convenience foods that I so love, including ramen noodles and frozen pizza.
6. Using vinegar rinse instead of conditioner. Right now I'm alternating between the vinegar rinse and the conditioner I still have and it's working quite nicely.
7. Making my own bread. BTW, why do fresh bakery breads in stores always have a plastic window in the bag? It's so pointless!
8. Making my own yogurt to avoid plastic yogurt tubs. Note: making yogurt is SUPER easy--you should try it!
9. Cleaning with baking soda and vinegar instead of harsh household chemicals that come in plastic bottles.
10. Washing my dishes with Dr. Bronner's bar soap. It works! I'm not kidding!
11. Bringing my own stainless steel coffee mug to the coffee shop. This is important because paper cups are lined with plastic.
12. Bringing along a reusable water bottle or mug for water, and NEVER drinking bottled water.
13. Bringing my own takeout containers to restaurants in case I have leftovers. This sounds embarrassing, but no one has ever even noticed that I've brought my own container except for the people I'm with.
14. Not buying aluminum food cans, excluding canned tomatoes and vegetable broth, which I haven't been able to give up yet. Hopefully, I can/jar some tomatoes this summer and do away with this plastic use, though.
15. Not drinking soda from aluminum cans, although I'll admit that I've probably had about 10 cans of soda since I started trying to go plastic-free. This is a real improvement over my old habit of drinking soda every day, though, so that's good. (Update 3.19.09 - I've been drinking too many cans of soda lately. Arg!)
16. Composting in order to use fewer plastic garbage bags (and because it's awesome). Note that I use 7th Generation bags from a minimum of 55% recycled plastic right now.
17. Bringing my own tupperware container to the store for buying cheese at the deli. Note: One commenter pointed out that tupperware is plastic. Totally true, but I don't want to go out and buy replacements for these containers until they wear out since I think it would be wasteful. Just thought I'd mention it.
18. Having meat wrapped in paper at the meat counter. Sometimes they give me little plastic sheets, though, without my noticing, which is unfortunate.
19. Getting more serious about gardening so that I start canning locally-grown vegetables for use during the winter. This will help me avoid aluminum cans for tomatoes for sure.
20. Buying toilet paper that doesn't come in a giant plastic bag, but instead comes individually wrapped in paper.
21. Eliminating use of paper towels for wiping hands and cleaning. It's all cloth towels and rags for me these days.
22. Eating finger food if real silverware isn't available. It's sounds silly but it's perfectly do-able. One of these days, I'm going to start carrying around my own silverware.
23. Not eating off of plastic plates. Sometimes this requires me to a bit rude and take a ceramic plate from someones cupboard and then wash it when I'm done, but not one has seemed to mind this yet.
24. Always telling the waitress or bartender, "no straw please."
What I Haven't Given Up
1. Aluminum cans of tomatoes and vegetable broth, as I mentioned earlier.
2. Trash bags, which I also mentioned earlier.
3. Organic milk from Nature Valley, which comes in a paper carton lined with plastic. I figure it's way more important to buy organic when it comes to dairy and I can't get organic milk in a returnable glass jar.
4. Medicine, including my beloved ibuprofen.
5. Toothpaste. I tried using homemade toothpaste for a while, but I quit recently because I haven't had a chance to ask my dentist if she thought it was an okay thing to do. I'm using Tom's of Maine now, but I'd like to try homemade toothpaste again when I run out of the tube I have.
6. The occasional box of pasta with a plastic window. It's very hard to find bulk pasta in Chicago, and right now the only two stores I know that sell it are about a 25-minute drive away.
7. The plastic on the underside of metal lids and the occasional plastic seal on the outside of jars.
8. Plastic lids on jars of food. I've gotten pretty good at avoiding these, but I have purchased a few food items with plastic lids when it was my only option.
Future Challenges
1. Running out of makeup. It's gonna be sad.
2. Using the last of my shampoo. I have a Burt's Bees shampoo bar that I haven't tried yet. I hope it works!
2. Using my last disposable razor. I suppose I'll have to buy a safety razor, which scares me.
3. Running out of deodorant. I'll have to experiment with Lush deodorant more.
In Closing
Well, that's a pretty good summary of how my project has been going so far. If you're a regular reader, you know I'm not perfect, and sometimes I fail, fail again, and then fail again, and then fail some more, but in general, I'm definitely pleased with the amount of plastic I've been able to rid from my life since I started this project. Yep. It's been a good thing, and it really hasn't been that difficult. Of course there have been a few challenges here and there, but ever since I initially identified the big changes that I had to make and then figured out how to make them, Life Less Plastic has felt pretty good.
1. Bringing my own cloth bags to the store and not accepting any plastic shopping bags.
2. Buying food from bulk bins to avoid plastic packaging. Some of the foods I regularly buy include cereal, granola, rice, nuts, beans, and quick oats. I've also purchased couscous, steal cut outs, rolled oats, Bulgar wheat, barley, and nutritional yeast.
3. Eating more fresh produce since it has no packaging (and is super good for you).
4. Using cloth bags instead of plastic produce bags for my fruits and veggies. I also bring along old plastic grocery bags just in case I'm buying a lot of stuff.
5. Giving up the plastic-packaged convenience foods that I so love, including ramen noodles and frozen pizza.
6. Using vinegar rinse instead of conditioner. Right now I'm alternating between the vinegar rinse and the conditioner I still have and it's working quite nicely.
7. Making my own bread. BTW, why do fresh bakery breads in stores always have a plastic window in the bag? It's so pointless!
8. Making my own yogurt to avoid plastic yogurt tubs. Note: making yogurt is SUPER easy--you should try it!
9. Cleaning with baking soda and vinegar instead of harsh household chemicals that come in plastic bottles.
10. Washing my dishes with Dr. Bronner's bar soap. It works! I'm not kidding!
11. Bringing my own stainless steel coffee mug to the coffee shop. This is important because paper cups are lined with plastic.
12. Bringing along a reusable water bottle or mug for water, and NEVER drinking bottled water.
13. Bringing my own takeout containers to restaurants in case I have leftovers. This sounds embarrassing, but no one has ever even noticed that I've brought my own container except for the people I'm with.
14. Not buying aluminum food cans, excluding canned tomatoes and vegetable broth, which I haven't been able to give up yet. Hopefully, I can/jar some tomatoes this summer and do away with this plastic use, though.
15. Not drinking soda from aluminum cans, although I'll admit that I've probably had about 10 cans of soda since I started trying to go plastic-free. This is a real improvement over my old habit of drinking soda every day, though, so that's good. (Update 3.19.09 - I've been drinking too many cans of soda lately. Arg!)
16. Composting in order to use fewer plastic garbage bags (and because it's awesome). Note that I use 7th Generation bags from a minimum of 55% recycled plastic right now.
17. Bringing my own tupperware container to the store for buying cheese at the deli. Note: One commenter pointed out that tupperware is plastic. Totally true, but I don't want to go out and buy replacements for these containers until they wear out since I think it would be wasteful. Just thought I'd mention it.
18. Having meat wrapped in paper at the meat counter. Sometimes they give me little plastic sheets, though, without my noticing, which is unfortunate.
19. Getting more serious about gardening so that I start canning locally-grown vegetables for use during the winter. This will help me avoid aluminum cans for tomatoes for sure.
20. Buying toilet paper that doesn't come in a giant plastic bag, but instead comes individually wrapped in paper.
21. Eliminating use of paper towels for wiping hands and cleaning. It's all cloth towels and rags for me these days.
22. Eating finger food if real silverware isn't available. It's sounds silly but it's perfectly do-able. One of these days, I'm going to start carrying around my own silverware.
23. Not eating off of plastic plates. Sometimes this requires me to a bit rude and take a ceramic plate from someones cupboard and then wash it when I'm done, but not one has seemed to mind this yet.
24. Always telling the waitress or bartender, "no straw please."
What I Haven't Given Up
1. Aluminum cans of tomatoes and vegetable broth, as I mentioned earlier.
2. Trash bags, which I also mentioned earlier.
3. Organic milk from Nature Valley, which comes in a paper carton lined with plastic. I figure it's way more important to buy organic when it comes to dairy and I can't get organic milk in a returnable glass jar.
4. Medicine, including my beloved ibuprofen.
5. Toothpaste. I tried using homemade toothpaste for a while, but I quit recently because I haven't had a chance to ask my dentist if she thought it was an okay thing to do. I'm using Tom's of Maine now, but I'd like to try homemade toothpaste again when I run out of the tube I have.
6. The occasional box of pasta with a plastic window. It's very hard to find bulk pasta in Chicago, and right now the only two stores I know that sell it are about a 25-minute drive away.
7. The plastic on the underside of metal lids and the occasional plastic seal on the outside of jars.
8. Plastic lids on jars of food. I've gotten pretty good at avoiding these, but I have purchased a few food items with plastic lids when it was my only option.
Future Challenges
1. Running out of makeup. It's gonna be sad.
2. Using the last of my shampoo. I have a Burt's Bees shampoo bar that I haven't tried yet. I hope it works!
2. Using my last disposable razor. I suppose I'll have to buy a safety razor, which scares me.
3. Running out of deodorant. I'll have to experiment with Lush deodorant more.
In Closing
Well, that's a pretty good summary of how my project has been going so far. If you're a regular reader, you know I'm not perfect, and sometimes I fail, fail again, and then fail again, and then fail some more, but in general, I'm definitely pleased with the amount of plastic I've been able to rid from my life since I started this project. Yep. It's been a good thing, and it really hasn't been that difficult. Of course there have been a few challenges here and there, but ever since I initially identified the big changes that I had to make and then figured out how to make them, Life Less Plastic has felt pretty good.
Comments
I have the shampoo bar - totally awesome! I too wish for more choices in bulk. I can't find much more than basic staples (flour, beans, rice, oats and one kind of cereal) by me.
Anyway, thanks for sharing. I need to double check again to make sure there isn't anything more I could be doing. :)
Hey, are you still using Ecover laundry detergent? We just got some today. Had to special order it from Whole Foods because I guess they're not regularly stocking it anymore. Anyway, my husband went to pick it up, and when he got home, he told me they brought out 4 boxes that were shrink-wrapped together in plastic.
So that's how Ecover laundry detergent is shipped I guess. But I think that's probably how most things are shipped, including the stuff we buy from our bulk bins. We can't eliminate all the plastic from our purchases... the plastic wraps and packages before the products hit the shelves. But I just thought I'd share that with you so I would have a partner to cringe with me.
:-)
Beth
My wife has tried both the Burts Bees and Lush bar shampoos and prefers the Lush brand. If you have a store nearby you should give it a shot.
We also found out yesterday that it's not too hard to get plastic free bread. Our luck at baking our own bread hasn't been too great, so we resorted to store bought Safeway bread during our weekly shopping trip yesterday. The woman at the bakery counter was all too happy to give us a farm loaf wrapped in a paper bag normally used for buying a dozen bagels. Then we put the bread into a large airtight bin when we got home. Easy peasy and no plastic.
http://www.recycline.com/products/preserverazortriple.html
Safety razors are not scary. I used one back when I first started shaving my legs as a teenager. Buy the blades from the guy on eBay that I recommended in my post, if he's still selling them. Somehow, they last a long time, don't rust, and you can buy a cardboard box of 100 with no plastic.
http://www.fakeplasticfish.com/2007/08/plastic-free-shaving-part-1.html
Yep, I'm not suprised that Ecover comes in shrink wrap. It always makes me sad to think that tons of the stuff I buy was actually shipped in plastic. I guess that's why I'm glad I'm doing a CSA this summer. At least I will have some idea of how much plastic my farmers use and whether they ship veggies around in plastic, which is obviously a stark contrast to the grocery store where you usually have absolutely no way to find out.
But then, advertising convinced me that I needed my own "women's" razor, which was the Personal Touch razor billed as the first razor specifically for women. After that, I wouldn't touch my dad's razor. Not because it didn't work but because marketing convinced me that it was wrong.
Oooo. I'm getting worked up. I think I'm gonna have to write a post about it tonight! Thanks for the inspiration.
:-)
Beth
You should definitely write a post about your success with your safety razor! I'd love to read it!
I personally hated the Burts Bees shampoo bar. I now get my shampoos from chagrinvalleysoapandcraft.com her soaps don't last long enough for me to buy them from her, but her shampoo bars are great. She doesn't use plastic & doesn't even send a packing slip to save paper! Now if I could just find a solid conditioner!
This means
Shorter showers= less water. and
Less shampoo. and
My hair actually looks better, although it took a couple days for my hair to adjust (but only 3 or 4)
I personally have been trying to take fewer showers all together and am down to about 5 per week most weeks (note that I don't sweat or smell too much so this works for me...at least I think it does...um, I hope it does). It's taken a while to get used to going to work without a morning shower, but I usually just put my hair up really securely and completely can't tell that I didn't shower that day. I guess I'm just used to it now...
I have linked to you in my new blog on environmental issues, Wild Orchids for Trotsky (named for an essay by Richard Rorty - the blog is here: http://trostomaten.blogspot.com)
I linked to your composting posts in the resource section of my soil science/Gaia theory post, and also I made a general link to your blog in my most recent post on plastic pollution and the Laysan albatross. So, thanks for a great blog!
I also use baking soda for shampoo too. You've probably heard of this. But I'm intrigued by the shampoo bar!
Keep up the good work! Seriously, you rock!
Based on your comments, I'll adjust how my post is worded, I think...
vermontcountrystore.com
Thanks so much for your blog, it is so inspiring. Keep it up!
Very interesting blog :), i wish that everyone can do like you do(at least: Trying ^_^)...
by the way... Why there is still no "Automatic Filler" for our daily foods, drinks etc... ??
Hope to see one day an Eco-SuperMarket :)
- Tom's of Maine toothpaste comes in aluminum packing. The cap is plastic #5, which is recyclable. They say just cut off the threading and throw the tube in the aluminum bin.
- Preserve makes razors from 100% recycled plastic. It also sells refills. I don't know what you are using as shave lather, but you may want to consider shaving oil (e.g. Pacific Shaving Company). Although it comes in plastic, one only needs several drops as opposed to handfuls of cream, as it is very concentrated and does not foam. Because its packaging is so small, it is likely more eco-friendly than all-metal shave lather containers.javascript:void(0)
How do you replace ink cartridges?
Another thing: if you need binders, consider Rebinders, which are made from recycled cardboard and whose covers can be replaced without throwing out the rings.
Side note: You are doing a very admirable thing and you have inspired me to cut a lot of the unneeded plastic out of my life.
Someone mentioned the Physician's Formula line of makeup that is organic and packaged in cardboard. I thought it would be a great alternative to the what seems like hundreds of makeup containers that i am going through every year. BUT when i tried to foundation and bronzer, they had a very funny smell. They made my face smell so funny that my boyfriend noticed.
It wasn't necessarily a bad smell, just sort of weird. I bought mine at Walgreens and since i had a receipt, they were happy to take them back even though they were already used.
I thought that was too bad and hopefully some more options for organic/reduced plastic makeup emerge.
Be careful the aluminium sulfate is sometimes called alum: it is not natural.
Also, not for any particular topic, I'd like to suggest that those who follow your blog might also be interested in a site about living simply (living simply and spending less, usually translates into being greener): http://www.simpleliving.net/main/
I don't think you should worry too much about your doctor's opinion when it comes to switching into homemade toothpaste, after all your practitioner probably thinks adding fluoride to your drinking water is a great idea. It falls into same category as consuming diet products that contain aspartame, which both are poisonous to human body if swallowed(digested). Ever tried equal parts of spearmint, peppermint and oils? Or baking soda mixed with powdered cloves, thickened with peppermint oil? Just saying, doctors are there to treat the problem, not the cause. Maybe you should start treating the cause.
Also, I don't buy any plastic bags: use wax paper sandwich bags for my kids' lunches, plus line my trash can with newspaper at the bottom like my grandmother used to do (and then wash the trash can every once in awhile) which is helped by my composting.
cars, trucks, buses, planes, bicycles,etc all contain large amounts of plastic.
Your houses contain plastics - PVC and polyethylene pipes, vinyl windows and screening material, carpet (even wool carpet has plastic backing) Wood floors are covered in polyurethane (plastic). Appliances all have plastic in them. Wiring is coated in plastic, clothing contains a lot of plastic (polyester, nylon, PET) and the list goes on...
I bring all this up, not to refute your lifestyle choices, but to give you more to think about. The conscientious use of plastic makes life better.
Thanks for your comment. I just wanted to affirm that after a year of reading about plastic and its uses, I know where plastic lurks, and I definitely know that there is lots of plastic in my life that I will never get rid of.
I think the spirit of this project is the idea of not buying NEW plastic whenever possible and being, as you put it, a conscientious user.
Thanks again for you comment!
Crystal
Someday i may break them of that habit but i don't know when. But i do know that when i move out in two years i will try to do your list, so keep up the good work!
some tips:
shampoo bars are great. the ones from Lush are expensive but great, and you can buy them unpackaged - zero plastic!
physician's formula has a green line of cosmetics with minimal if not zero plastic in the packaging.
In regards to finding an alternative to razor, have you thought of waxing? It is resuable, biodegradable and you won't have to do it everyday!
I don't use any plastic/garbage liners. Instead, I wipe the inside's with paper towel once a week (which is compostable).
For shampoo, soaps and other liquids, we have a great store in Seattle called PCC and I buy those from the bulk section.
Thanks for sharing. I am happy that there are lot of us out there who are thinking of reducing plastics!
Just thought I would throw that out there.
On bringing your own silverware - Don't laugh or get grossed out, but in college I used to always have my hair up in a bun. I used "hair chopsticks" (a little shorter than eating chopsticks). There were many times that I found myself eating with my hair sticks...
What do you do about feminine products? I've been toying with the idea of buying a Diva Cup, but no one in my area carries them. Of course, since it's a buy it once, use it forever kind of thing, I could justify the shipping. Have you tried the reusable cotton pads/liners (like Glad Rags)? I'd be interested in hearing what anyone has to say on that topic.
Thanks so much!
I'm a guy and I shave with straight razors and DE (double edge) razors. Another option is to purchace a double edge razor, which is safer than you might think, and spend somewhere around 0.50 a week on a blade, which you can recycle.
Additionally, by using shaving soap instead of cream (you'll need a shave brush), you'll use way less plastic (a small plastic wrapper, some even come in paper). Put the Shave Soap in a metal bowl. It'll last you 3-6 months depending how much you shave. Most shaving brushes come with a plastic base, but i think it's ok considering you'll only replace it every 8-10 years of so.
I suggest you give it a try...
I've been using Lush for about 6 years now...I love the Karma Komba shampoo bar! We don't live in an area where they make the bar or near a store, so I purchase online for about a year's worth. It's nice to have a stash of these...I also occasionally give them as a gift (to someone who is open to the idea, of course!)
One idea that may not have been mentioned that I do occasionally (it's not a habit yet, like shopping bags)is to bring a Rubbermaid containers or a couple with you when you eat out. There always seem to be leftovers from at least one of us (family of 4)and then now styrofoam to fret over afterwards.
In regards to Rubbermaid containers...while they are plastic, they offer you an easy way to freeze foods. I double batch an awful lot when I cook or bake. They go into the containers and then in the freezer, and next week or month, I don't have to cook dinner (using more energy). Same with baking...double batch muffins, eat some now, some next week. Same with blueberries bought or picked cheap in the summer, other summer produce is a joy in the winter. Some of my Rubbermaid I've used for 20 years, and it still is fine.
You don't have kids, I presume, but there are so many things to think about with children, so here are a few:
BREASTFEED!
Cloth diapers
Teach them the taste of water when they are 5-6 months old. If you start them on juice...it's hard to make the switch to just water. We buy water in 5 gallon jugs and it pours out of a crock. The jugs and bottles can be used for years and years, so that the water is purer than tap.
Packing lunches...a good quality lunch bag with drink containers from either Rubbermaid or other group can literally used for years...both of my girls have very limited trash, unlike their school counterparts.
We use wax paper to wrap sandwiches, rather than plastic baggies. IT's good, too because they have a little placemat when they open their sandwich up, too!
Teach them to walk. If you are in the market to buy a house, one of my considerations was where can we walk to from our house. We bought a house 1/2 mile from our elementary school, and throughout their elementary years, we walked 90% of the time, in all kinds of weather. This isn't a plastics reduction, but oil and air pollution issue. And they learn they CAN walk or ride their bike...they don't need to be driven as many neighbor kids are (sigh!).
As for soap, bar soap is an obvious choice (if you like small bars for handwashing, cut a bigger one in half!). I used to use liquid soap, but too much plastic.
We have cats...litter is purchased in cardboard boxes only.
Laundry soap and dishwasher soap is only in cardboard...thanks for the bar soap tip for handwashing dishes...I'll try that!
I use the baking soda for deo, as does my teen daughter...works fine for us.
I'm a Girl Scout leader, and at the beginning of our troop in 1st grade (they are almost done with 5th now) I purchased plastic cups that we have used for every meeting. I lug in a gallon pure water and they usually drink that up. We did a calculation at the last meeting, and found that we (by using the cups instead of juice boxes)saved about 700 juice boxes from the trash! They were pleased with themselves! (and hopefully learned a green lesson!)
At mine and a few other church goers request, we stopped using styrofoam cups at the coffee hour after church. We have a combo of ceramic mugs and paper cups for people to enjoy their beverages with.
Good luck to you, it is really interesting on garbage day when you see how less full your trash bin is than your neighbors, it is kinda satisfying, except you wish more would follow suit.
#18 - What about taking containers for them to put your meat straight into. They would have to "Tare" the scales but that shouldn't be too hard.
#20 - This might sound weird, but we use cloth baby wipes for our children and wash them with the cloth diapers, so someone suggested cloth family wipes rather than toilet paper. So now when the girls in our house do a pee we use cloth that has been cut into rectangles and throw that into the wash after. We reuse old t-shirts and underwear that way also.
#22 - Army disposal or camping stores usually have cutlery that clicks together. It's very handy to take with you.
#2 on your not given up list - i've heard of people just lining their bin with newspaper rather than plastic, but check with your trash collectors to make sure the trash is compacted and contained after collection so you don't have things flying around the garbage tip.
#2a on future list - what about waxing rather than shaving? or even better, laser hair removal - it's more expensive initially, but once you've completed the treatments then you don't have to worry about any more hair removal.
And FTR my Tupperware is all inherited from Grandma, and probably is all from the 50s, 60s and 70s.
I use reusable bags for everything from the bulk bin, too. Even sugar- I pour it into a glass jar when I get home and wash out the bag.
cloth wipes on the toilet eliminates half your use of T. P.
Make your own laundry detergent with bar soap, washing soda and borax.
I love Burt's Bees shampoo bars but can't find it anymore.
Great Blog! Keep it up. There are a lot of great bar soaps out there for shampoo, dishes and dog shampoo too!
I also use cloth bags in the grocery and struggle with my endless desire for soda. I recently discovered Mexican Coca Cola, which comes in recyclable glass bottles, and is made with cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup. Still, it's not exactly a health food, so I try to limit myself to one a week.
Great blog and lots of food for thought!
Planet Fat Cat
I come from India and we use a lot of natural stuff for hair conditioners: hibiscus leaves soaked in hot water and the juice squeezed out works to be a great conditioner; yogurt; egg - Yech! I know but hair looks gorgeous! egg and yogurt has to be washed away with shampoo.
we also use mung bean and shikakai as shampoo
I live in Norway, and here the pads come with a plastic-coat on the underside. It is also wrapped in plastic.
Two suggestions:
First, regarding platic eating utensils: Try carrying wooden chopsticks in a small cloth drawstring bag. They are smaller than a set of silverware, and work on mot things except soup (and you can always drink that).
As for toothpaste, some people use bar soap. I personally use plain baking soda that I keep in a glass jar, and then rinse with plain hydrogen peroxide, which really has no flavor. Do this for a week and I promise your teeth will be whiter and regular toothepaste will taste overly sweet and gross to you.
I always use reused paper bags for my trash and it works fine.
Thumbs up to your efforts in going the anti-plastic way. I too do most of the thingns mentioned here and I am big in composting too ....
Way to go,
Anuradha
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=fktlqEFDW1aNgZgWodfrRA_3d_3d
Thanks.
Max
http://www.ensobottles.com
As for toothpaste, ever since I was a kid, I didn't like the strong minty fake flavoring, so I used to brush my teeth with just water every so often and a thorough job faked out the parents well enough. I switch back and forth brushing now with toothpaste and baking soda. Good luck in your continued efforts to de-plasticize your life!!
I, too, am glad to see I'm not the only one trying to cut back and eliminate so much plastic in my life. I have to try the Dr. Bronner's on dishes - never thought to do that. Great tip!
Right now I need dishwasher soap, but trying to find a natural one with a neutral ph that doesn't come in plastic.
And also you can brush your teeth effectively with soap. Bar soap only. Been doing it for years. You can even get a mint natural soap - I like that best. Supposed to clean better than toothpaste and be better for your gums, also.
Your tips & ideas are great. I would have never thought to bring my own container for deli cheese!
Can't wait to read more!
Should be something similar in america as well . . ?
Lizliterarius
http://makinglifeup.blogspot.com
Jacqueline Milner, Earth Matters
http://cornwallfreenews.com/category/opinion-editorial-letters-to-the-editor-op-ed/jacqueline-milner-earth-matters-environmentalist/
I also make my own bulk soap with hemp seed oil to cut down on packaging. I don't see why this can't be done with things like make up, though I don't know the logistics of it.
I confess Im crazy about pop though and I've been buying glass bottle pop and recycling the bottles for charity refund, but I think the lid has a sealer liner in plastic.
I second LUSH shampoo bars. I've been using them for years. And I clean EVERYTHING (my hands, the toilet, dishes...) with Dr. Brommers—I love it!
-Melanie www.givebacktoday.blogspot.com
A few tips if you haven't already heard: be careful to wash your cloth bags between grocery store trips. I have read that bacteria from raw food can spread easily on the surface and contaminate your future purchases.
I have seen makeup from Physician's Formula that is cased in a bamboo container.
Thanks again for your ideas! I love it.
There's appletise and J20. I'm all for reducing plastics but I like my juice.
Great blog, will be following. I'm just starting out reducing plastics so I'll learn from you.
1 cup grated soap (I make soap, so I use my own, but fels napa works well)
1 cup Washing Soda (not baking soda, should be available in most grocery stores)
1 cup Borax
Low sudsing, so great for front loading machines. I have a top loader and I use 3 Tbl. For front loading machines use 1 -2 Tbl. This stuff really works, I use it exclusivly. We live on a cattle ranch and my husbands clothes get really dirty. Good luck :)
you have spurned me into action.
I had been thinking just today about the plastic bags in the produce section. I've used cloth bags for some time now without thinking about the produce bags. I'll stick some of the bags I have into the cloth bags to use for apples, etc.
I also have been making my deodorant. I searched for so long for one that had ingredients that I was happy with and that didn't have a plastic container... I gave up and just started making my own. I was really skeptical at first but honestly I love it. It works better than the store bought kind. I just mix equal parts of baking soda and corn starch (or arrow root powder). It is not an antiperspirant but it does stop you from stinking. I can be sweating and not smell a thing. It is wonderful!