Blog Contest: It's Life Less Plastic's Year Anniversary
It's hard to believe, but it's been a year since the day I composed the first Life Less Plastic post and started this blog. It's been a hard road, but it's also been extremely rewarding, in part because of the support so many of you have given me.As a bit of a thank you and to get new people involved, I've decided to have a blog contest! Everyone is invited to participate.
The prize: A set of five produce bags from Ecobags
How to Enter: Just submit a comment that shares one thing people can do to cut their plastic use. And don't be afraid to be creative. Oh, and don't worry if you submit a repeat. That's okay, too.
To decide the winner, I'll do a random drawing from all those who enter.
The entry deadline will be October 3, and I'll post the winner the following day.
Good luck everyone!
Comments
We been making little changes over a long time to ease the transition. I've been phasing out plastic plates and cups, bags and baggies, disposable wipes and cleaning products that are packaged in plastic, and just really thinking about what I am buying and why.
We also use reusable shopping bags, some of which are homemade, or just carry our purchases.
Those are a few things, but there are more. And there are still so many more things to be done.
I've tried to cut my plastic consumption lately by -
- purchasing baking soda in bulk and using it for laundry, household cleaning and hair wash.
- using a stainless steel tiffin instead of plastic for food storage
- keeping a plate, cloth napkin and coffee mug at work, so I'm not tempted to use disposables.
- If you buy lunch out at work from a canteen or cart, take your own plate or bowl - I've found most places are so happy to use your own rather than their disposable container
- In the same vein - carry around in your purse a compact knife and fork (or bamboo spork like I do!) so you don't have to use plastic cutlery if you are out eating.
- Reusable bags - my favorite are Envirosax - though an expensive outlay at first (though you can get cheaper, these are compact) I bought a bunch and leave some in my purse, backpack, car and at work - so I am never without!
Carrie
rhubarbsky@gmail.com
I've found a beeswax-based moisturiser in a glass bottle at my local health shop; and lip colour and mascara in metal containers on Etsy - these did unfortunately arrive in plastic packets, which I've saved, but when I re-order I'll ask the seller to ship without plastic. And I'm keeping my eyes open for similar products that I can buy locally.
Like so many others, I've been making small changes. We have eliminated all of the tupperware from our kitchen and only use pyrex or empty glass jars for food storage.
Thank you for the giveaway. I've been eyeing those produce bags...
hune37(at)yahoo(dot)com
I use Wal-Mart bags for my smaller trash cans.
If you have a baby, it's hard to avoid plastic. Have you ever seen a carseat or stroller without any plastic parts? You can reduce the amount of new plastic you use by borrowing or buying used.
Another tip is to buy frozen concentrated juice- make it up a in a pitcher at home and avoid the plastic bottle.
-cloth diapers (OMG fantastic!)
-cloth zippered bags for items that go in the kids lunch boxes. They hold a sandwich, pretzels, anything really. Much better than Ziplock baggies.
-steel water bottle
I buy nuts and dried fruits from bulk bins, and eat those when I want a snack. I also talk to store managers about what could be done to induce me to buy more food from bulk bins, e.g., putting ingredient lists on the bins that hold breakfast cereal and other processed foods.
I keep my eyes to the ground while out walking. Mostly I do that so I can pick up recyclables and take them home for recycling, but I also find so many plastic bags that I never have to purchase trash bags. Sometimes I find pens, and recently I found a big roll of packing tape. The packing tape's cardboard core had disintegrated in the rain, but the tape itself was still usable. I realize that the plastic bags, plastic pens, and plastic packing tape I've found are (duh) plastic, but the point is that I'm not going out and buying new plastic.
I always, always carry multiple cloth bags with me, no matter where I go. That way, I'm ready if I do any impulse shopping.
I always bring a sealable container with me to restaurants in case I have leftovers.
When I needed to buy a new flashlight, I chose a model that would accept the rechargeable batteries I already owned. The model I had originally planned to buy required batteries of a kind that can't be recharged, and there's no way to buy them except in packages with lots of unnecessary cardboard and plastic. I still feel like an eco-sinner for buying any flashlight, but at least I don't have to buy a package of batteries every few months. Honestly, I was more concerned about the environmental impact of the batteries themselves than I was about their packaging, but the plastic and cardboard packaging were a factor in my decision to avoid new batteries.
***
I think the contest you're holding is great! However, I already own plenty of produce bags so please don't include me in the drawing.
- I try to buy only wooden toys for the guys.
-I only get plastic toys if they are used so I don't promote "NEW" plastic.
- We only eat out (rarely anyway) that use real silverware and plastes.
- Look at food packaging choices.
Have fun! Shannon
One interesting change for me was to start buying real maple syrup. Not only is it better tasting, without all the gunk, but it comes in glass containers!
Thanks for spending a year on this project... Hopefully it doesn't take me that long to catch up on all that you are doing!
http://conchacastaneda.blogspot.com
Also using reusable menstral products cuts down on packaging.
Maria
The amount of packaging and plastics in each IV kit, epidural kit, amnio hook, etc is staggering and that is before all that stuff causes mom to have a csection which produced even more. A standard hospital birth can fill several trash cans with plastic packaging and used supplies.
Maria, a doula ;-)
We use cloth shopping bags, metal water bottles, we used cloth diapers (mostly), I take my own travel mug when I go out, try to buy in bulk, sometimes get produce from an organic delivery (everything comes in a cardboard box), diva cup, cloth pads... but we have a long way to go. I have to take one small step at a time or else the sheer enormity of the undertaking makes me want to lay on the floor and weep :o)
Great blog--just what I was looking for!
-pyrex glass storage instead of tupperware
-canvas grocery bags
-recycled glass jars to store bulk goods in
The one thing that I do to reduce my use of plastic is actually an idea that I got from your site – I use wax-paper bags for food storage instead of resealable plastic. The cool part, though, is that for our family – two full-time working parents and one snack-hungry toddler – it serves multiple purposes. First off, Boo’s snacks go into these bags, so we have stopped using the plastic ones. But there are multiple additional benefits to using these types of bags:
o They are easier for little hands to get into. If I put snacks into plastic bags, they tend to fold back onto themselves once you open them. Plus, they are clear, so it’s often hard for a hungry toddler, who just wants to jam their little paws into the grub to find the right “entrance” into the bag.
o They make great toys! They crinkle, they fold, they bend, they keep their shape, their texture changes….all things toddlers love! Done with the snacks in the bag? Bam, roll it up into a ball! Get some crayons and draw! Make puppets out of them!
So, all you parents out there – get out and find yourself some wax-paper bags! You will be so glad you did.
Beth
Happy Anniversary!
* I use the canvas bags when shopping, and if I forget and get plastic bags, I make sure to reuse them as many times as I can!
* I went "wipeless"--a former diehard fan of clorox wipes and swiffer, I am no longer going to be using these products.
* Making the clorox hard surface cleaner myself (b/c its basically diluted clorox) and eventually as my supplies dwindle, look into using vinegar as a cleaning agent.
x. Buying a Klean Kanteen, which I love and use all the time!
x. Taking my own bags to the co-op.
x. Using a stainless steel coffee mug.
x. Bring my own silverware to school, so I don't have to use the plastic kind.
x. Bring my own plates and bowls, so I don't have to use the styrofoam kind.
Beth
I (male) do not buy shaving creme any longer.
I maintain a bar of soap and a plastic bottle (with push nozzle) of the cheapest hair conditioner I could find).
So to shave...
(a) wet face with warm water.
(b) apply hand soap to face (Do not rinse off!)
(c) one pump of the conditioner bottle gets me some conditioner, which I apply over the soap.
(d) shave with razor.
(e) when complete, rinse face.
Cheap! Works! Easy!