Green Trend: Going Without Plastic

You're probably seeing this everywhere. I know I am. Writers are experimenting by going without plastic for a specified amount of time and then documenting their experiences.

Most recently was the summary from Chicago Trib reporter Trine Tsouderos. All in all, she and her family indeed changed their habits for a week. But beforehand, she engaged in that favorite American pastime: over consumption. I will be starving for plastic, so first, let me get extra bags and hangers from big box stores while I guzzle drinks in plastic bottles. Kind of missing the point, if you ask me. Add to that the reporter did little research on plastic waste, chemicals in plastic (the too-familiar bisphenol-A and phthalates), or recycling, and overall, this plastic-free test drive was a dud.


There are better plastic-free experiments to turn to for inspiration. At Enviroblog, Lisa Frack started her week "without" as a well-informed consumer. She did her research. She knows, as we all do, about the "plastic soup" in the Pacific, and it helped push her to do the experiment. Frack came away with a much more realistic focus on minimizing plastic consumption: shop fresh, bring your own reusable produce and grocery bags, make your own food, give up some favorites.


A more long-term and in-depth experiment was by BBC writer Christine Jeavans. She catalogued her experience going one month without plastic. Like Frack, she was well versed in the problems with plastic. To start the challenge, her rule was that she could not buy more plastic, but could reuse the stuff she already had. Pretty reasonable.
Jeavans had to shop at butcher and cheese shops, where they are more likely to wrap purchases in wax or paper. She carried her own bags and eating gear. She switched to cloth nappies, but resorted to corn starch plastic diapers when she admitted planning poorly for laundering.
In the end, her plastic tally was just a fraction of what her family had used the previous month, and in that tally, she not only counted the disposable diapers, but even the plastic widgets in draught style beer! All in all, with her careful consuming, she reduced her family's plastic intake by 80 percent. Quite the change, and while not all changes would be permanent for Jeavans, she has changed her view of disposable items, no matter what they're made of. After all, it takes energy to produce every item, so it doesn't make sense to use once and then toss.


I bring you this roundup because earlier this month, I challenged you to follow the Crunchy Domestic Goddess's lead and go plastic-free for the holidays. So here's my own tally:

• I caved and bought the boys Chubbies. (Stop laughing at the name.) I heard about these vrooming BPA- and phthalate-free vehicles from a friend, and stuffed stockings with them because I was so tired of my 3-year-old's lovely wooden trains getting left outside, MIA for weeks, and weathered.
• I used tape on some packages, though we went without ribbon, as we had no cloth ribbons.
• We bought one stepdaughter an I-Dog and the other a cell phone. Both are plastic.
• Parental stockings were stuffed with some Gillian Welch, Saul Williams, and Cake CDs. Stupid packaging.
• The bulk cayenne I ordered for the chickens' "present" came tucked in a boatload of Styrofoam, though I did reuse it for other gifts.
• A couple of the books ordered were sent in (the same) bubble padded envelope.
• I haven't been successful in arm-twisting Daddy to bring reusable bags with him everywhere, so when he stops for groceries on the way home from work, he's lugging those white plastic yuckies.
• We eat meat, which is rarely wrapped in anything but plastic.
  

So we weren't and aren't perfect. But we also changed certain patterns overall, not only this holiday season.

• Mark got an IPod--yes, also plastic--from his brother (who loaded it with an awesome playlist), so the CD consumption can slow or stop. But the important question is, will Daddy let me add Ani to his player?
• Santa refreshed the kids' safe drinking gear with stainless steel bottles.
• We're more careful to buy loose produce (potatoes, garlic, carrots) rather than bagged. Plus, that way you get your choice of the cream of the crop.
  
• I'm more annoying than ever to the cashiers at the nearest grocery store because I don't use produce bags. (I know! God forbid they have to touch fresh vegetables!) Whenever I can, I go to stores that are reusable bag-friendly if only to avoid the hairy eye I get out here on my rural island. Just biding my time until I can pick up my own reusable produce bags.

I've also become more aware of my consumption. Although we cannot completely cut out our plastic use (using a keyboard, anyone?), it is important to examine all buying patterns, not only for plastic. I could head to Charlottesville and find meat and cheese wrapped in wax or paper, but I'd be burning a fair amount of gas on the 40-mile hike. Doesn't really balance out, considering plastic is also made of petroleum!
Plus, plastic is not only recyclable, it is actually used for "new" products. Same goes for cardboard. But glass is a more difficult material to reuse just yet, unless you're crazy crafty and can do this:


So like I said, it simply takes awareness. Overall, it seems these experiments were successful in pushing the plastic-free consumer to examine and change behaviors into what may be good for us all:

• Shop local (butcher, cheese shop, boxes of fresh produce).
• Cook at home instead of takeout.
• Bring your own dishes and utensils. It may even be as simple as the coffee mug at work, like the personalized ones Kristen chose for us at Nature's Child.
• Reuse the plastic you do have, such as bringing produce bags back to the store and stuffing them again.
• Recycle every bit you can.

These changes may not only reduce your throwaway buying habits, it may also help you lose weight and feel healthier, both physically and mentally. You'll be buying fresh goods and spending more time at home, elbow deep in family time and favorite recipes.
And after all, isn't Ben & Jerry's sealed with plastic?!


For way more inspiration than I can give you:
Fake Plastic Fish has many ideas on how to minimize all toss-out consumption.
365 Days of Trash, which is close to ending. Blogger Dave collected and reused or "dealt with" his waste for almost a year now. He's inviting us to try the challenge for a week or two, if we're up to it!