Photo by Natalie Rhea Riggs
I recently saw a video on Buzzfeed about going without plastic and the struggles they faced during it. I thought to myself, could it really be that hard? So, I decided to take on the challenge and try to go the entirety of last week without plastic. I will be honest and start off by saying how much of a challenge it was. Over the past few days with many trials, I have realized some great tips I wanted to share if you are wanting to take the steps to live a plastic-free lifestyle!
- Grocery Shopping
After many recommendations, I decided that Whole Foods would be my best option. Be sure to take your own glass jars (I found mason jars work the best), and you can typically buy rice, pasta, nuts, etc. right out of canisters on the wall. Bring some reusable cloth bags for your fruits or meats. Go to the deli and ask for your meat there, and be sure to ask them to wrap it in paper for you.
- Coffee Breaks
I will be honest here and truly say I broke the first day. I bought the glass Starbucks bottles of coffee from the grocery, then I realized the seal is in plastic! Get your coffee out of the grinders in store in your mason jar, and just make from home and store in a reusable thermos.
- Eating Out
The most important thing to remember is to take your cutlery with you. Most fast food places only serve with plastic utensils. Packing your own lunch in reusable containers is a great option too and will definitely save you money in the long run.
- Unavoidable Plastics
Whether we like it or not, plastic is a part of everyday life. There are just some things we cannot prevent. It could be tags on clothes, straws, or even Starbucks seals. I found it fun and handy to keep my leftovers in a Ball mason jar and keep it as a reminder of how well I’m doing.
It has been a difficult, yet fun week. While I do not think I am going to be able to go 100% plastic free, this experience has taught me the value in conservation, and I will be cutting way back.
Happy Conserving!