I wanted to write about reducing plastic today because tomorrow is #NoPlasticThursday sponsored on Instagram by Blue Haus. It’s a fantastic idea.
While I don’t believe that the problem will be solved simply by reducing, reusing, and recycling, I do believe that if we demand differently, remove the consumer demand, change will happen.
So, are you up for it? Are you willing to spend each and every Thursday without single use plastic?
The Zero Waste Chef has some excellent suggestions. You can read them here. But here’s a breakdown of how to get started.
Top three ways to breakup with plastic (according to the Zero Waste Chef)
- Eat real food, not food wrapped in plastic. Processed food, convenience food and to-go food almost always come in plastic wrappers and containers. Real food you cook yourself does not.
- Refuse single-use plastic. Say no to plastic shopping bags; plastic straws and stir sticks; plastic utensils, plates and cups; and other disposable plastic items.
- Ban the bottle. Stop buying water, soda, energy drinks, juice and other beverages packaged in plastic bottles.
The Zero Waste Chef goes on to give 50 ways to be plastic free. Here’s a link to her post again. Yes, it’s that good. You should read it.
On a personal level, I try to do my part. I very seldom eat out, especially fast food. I counted the pieces of trash from one meal one day – it was 11. And that was just for one person. Not all of it was plastic, but at least half was. Between the plastic lid, the plastic straw, usually a plastic cup, plastic utensil, plastic ketchup holder, etc, it adds up quickly.
We like to walk for exercise and one day I accepted a challenge to pick up five pieces of trash. Within the length of a football field from our front door, we had picked up 15 pieces of garbage. Perhaps you live in an area that is fairly clean. Do you? If so, can you help clean up another neighborhood?
We went walking again the next day and decided to pick up more trash. Because frankly, it felt tragic how much trash was just thrown out of people’s car windows! My guess is that 98% of trash we picked up was either food wrappers or drink containers.
I had to wonder, why is so much complete junk being sold – and bought?!?! It hurts my heart. This planet is our home. We should treat it better.
Another thing I’m doing to help reduce our demand for single use plastic is to help people stop drinking soda. From the picture above, you can tell how much plastic is used with just this one habit. If you want help to quit drinking soda, comment below or email me for more info.
Suzanne Horrocks 