Getting plastic out of your life

[flowerseverywhere]

I met a woman last week who has been on a years long quest to eliminate plastic in her life. I didn’t get long to quiz her for hints, but I’ll be seeing her Sunday so hopefully will be able to then. Every bit of plastic will be burnt or buried releasing more toxins into the environment.

my quest has been to eliminate plastic in food first. Luckily I have year round access to farmers markets and stands. I would buy extra to freeze but I can’t figure out what to put them in. I have glass containers but most have plastic lids, so I don’t fill them all the way. Mason jars fill some of the need. Steel drinking bottles can be found but lids are plastic.
Most food is packed or stored in plastic before it gets to my house.
I’m starting to make my own Yogurt in glass jars. I use Dr Bronners soap and bar shampoo that don’t come in plastic.

I crush my own chia and flax seeds with a glass mortar and pestle. People suggested a coffee grinder but more plastic.

it is almost impossible to find 100% natural fiber clothes so I think I am going to have to sew clothes when I need something. I can find natural undyed linen and cottons. Then experimenting with natural dyes like people have done forever. Jeans and cotton clothes can be found in 100% cotton, but almost all clothes are not made in the US. The few I have found cost hundreds of dollars, which is why cheap imported clothes flood our landfills.

any hints how to do better?

[happystuff]

Congrats to you, flowers! I am also trying to eliminate plastics and it is so hard! I've stopped buying laundry soap and make my own (ingredients in cardboard and paper packaging), have bar soap on the sinks for hand washing (no more plastic pumps), I take my own netted bags to the grocery store for fruits and veggies, cloth bags for purchases, trying to find recycled/recyclable bags for picking up dog waste (not as easy as I thought it would be), try to watch packaging on purchases - again this is a hard one.

As for any plastics that are in the house or end up coming into the house, we make sure to use, reuse and reuse as mush as possible before recycling or passing on. It's sad to say, but I'm not sure that plastics can totally be eliminated in this day and age, but I'm trying. Hopefully in the future they will be!

Continued good luck in your endeavors!

[Tybee]

I have been meaning to try this but honestly have not done it, for lids for glass jars, and that is to take oil cloth and elastic and sew a little cover with elastic so that it fits over the top and stays there. That would be a good summer project for me to try.

[early morning]

trying to find recycled/recyclable bags for picking up dog waste recycled doggie poop bags here: https://us.whogivesacrap.org/products/recycled-dog-poo-bags
I don't use them, we have cats! But maybe worth a look. I do buy their bamboo TP. I use metal lids on canning jars for lots of food/beverage storage. Foil is also an option as a lid, depending on what's in the jar. I'm not trying to eliminate plastic usage - I don't have the stamina for that! but try to be aware and cut out as much as we can. I do use baggies, but we wash and reuse them. I have some silicon container/bags but don't like them, mostly because of the size of the ones I have. And they are expensive! I've also tried the waxed wraps for cheese, etc., but don't really find them all that helpful. We do reuse-recycle all plastic that we can here.

[catherine]

I was thinking about this topic when I was channel-surfing and found myself on a show dedicated to the plastic problem. Of course, I know about it, but this was a powerful reminder of how pervasive and ingrained plastics are in our lives--and how we really can't escape it entirely... microplastics in our bodies at this point. I can't remember where I saw the show, but I do remember one segment was about a guy who creates art using plastic detritus. His work is now in demand. It was cool stuff. He makes fish out of plastic pieces of stuff found on beaches, for instance.

So, good for you, flowers, for your personal efforts at reducing/eliminating plastic from your life. I have been more aware of my plastic use and am at the moment trying to problem-solve on alternatives where I find possibilities for them. My biggest uses of plastic I think are plastic baggies, which I use almost every day for one thing or another. I also buy dairy products like yogurt and sour cream and I don't know how you get around not buying those if you are a frequent consumer of them. I'm interested in knowing how you make your yogurt.

[early morning]

catherine, yogurt comes in glass containers - but as they don't have them at Aldi or TJ's, I've not gotten any. :~) Local dairies sometimes sell sour cream, often in glass bottles, and my second child tells me it's available in glass at a lot of bodegas (crema agria). And there are lots of quick and easy sour cream recipes online - which I'll try next time we're out!

[pinkytoe]

It is incredibly hard to avoid plastic completely but we are making an effort. Now I read it might be in many tea bags. I always wonder why oil/chemical companies aren't being held accountable in some way.

[early morning]

I always wonder why oil/chemical companies aren't being held accountable in some way. Money, power, and influence? >:(

[happystuff]

Maybe I'm wrong, but I'm thinking if they just collect and reuse/recycle all the existing plastic, I don't believe they would need to produce any more new.

[Tradd]

It is incredibly hard to avoid plastic completely but we are making an effort. Now I read it might be in many tea bags. I always wonder why oil/chemical companies aren't being held accountable in some way.

Republic of Tea sells tea in unbleached paper teab bags that have the added advantage of no tags and strings. It’s more expensive but tastes fabulous. I drink so much of it I buy it in 250 bags bulk packs. Runs about $50

[rosarugosa]

I haven't done too much; I honestly kind of despair at being able to make a difference with this one. That's not really like me though; I usually feel like I should do what I can in my small bit of the world and perhaps make a teeny, tiny bit of difference.
I am horrified at the idea of microplastics in our bodies, especially in our brains!
I've switched from plastic soap pump bottles in the bathroom to bar soap, and I've replaced plastic cooking utensils with silicone. That's about all so far, but I would like to eventually replace our plastic food storage containers. Does anyone know if they make glass ones (quart size) that will nest for storage?
We reuse plastic bags from produce for cleaning the litter boxes.

[ButterflyWings]

I also try to eliminate plastic out of our lives, but God, this is not easy. It is more of a challenge. Plastic is attached to almost everything that we use in our lives. But we, as a family, try to avoid it as much as we can. Replaced a lot of products that come in plastic packaging or plastic containers with glass or paper packaging. It is overwhelming, but my husband suggested we should take little steps at a time. This guide is helpful in this regard, myplasticfreelife.com/plasticfreeguide/ (https://myplasticfreelife.com/plasticfreeguide/)

We are trying our best but it is still alarming that plastic has entered our food chain.

[rosarugosa]

I also try to eliminate plastic out of our lives, but God, this is not easy. It is more of a challenge. Plastic is attached to almost everything that we use in our lives. But we, as a family, try to avoid it as much as we can. Replaced a lot of products that come in plastic packaging or plastic containers with glass or paper packaging. It is overwhelming, but my husband suggested we should take little steps at a time. This guide is helpful in this regard, myplasticfreelife.com/plasticfreeguide/ (https://myplasticfreelife.com/plasticfreeguide/)

We are trying our best but it is still alarming that plastic has entered our food chain.

Thanks for the link! I will have to check it out.