Plastic Free Eco Challenge
Plastic is incredibly damaging to the environment, especially single use, not only does it break down into tiny fragments that kills creatures and plants, but it's all stacking up in the sea and on land, harming animals and people all over the world. This year I'm doing my best to change my habits and use less and less plastic where I can. I would love it if you would join me! I'm a big believer in change and how little things can accumulate to make a huge difference. Please join in and see what you can do to reduce your plastic use. Each month I'll be posting ideas to reduce plastic use and will share my experiences of changing my habits. I'm so excited for this challenge, I really think even one less piece of unnecessary plastic out there will make a difference to our world.
It's all about progress not perfection and I know that it's not always affordable or easy making some of these steps, it's just whatever you can do with what you have. I'm always open to ideas as well, so do reach out if you have more suggestions!
It's all about progress not perfection and I know that it's not always affordable or easy making some of these steps, it's just whatever you can do with what you have. I'm always open to ideas as well, so do reach out if you have more suggestions!
January - Refillables
I'm all about the refillables this month! I'd love to hear about what your favourite on the go tuppaware, cups and water bottles are! I've been working on making sure I carry my refillable with me whether it's my water bottle, Tupperware lunches or snack boxes. It's amazing how many take out cups and packaging just gets chucked as soon as it's used which is horribly ineffective when it comes to sustainability. Just keeping a small keep cup with you when grabbing coffee is a great way to cut down on single use packaging. I've also been trying to figure out tasty, healthy things to take with me in Tupperware rather than buying things while out. You can get bamboo cutlery to carry with you as well, that way you don't need to use extra one use cutlery that will just end up in landfill. Plastic in particular takes so long to biodegrade, that most of it will probably outlive us all! Not only in its full form but also as it breaks down into smaller pieces into the environment. Taking just a few staples of your favorite reusables could make such a difference to the environment and to your plastic footprint. I'd love it so much if we all really saw how much it would change things if we all tried to do it.
February - Sustainable bathrooms
February has been all about sustainable bathroom stuff. It's all about reducing packaging. It's so easy to load up on plastic containers when it comes to everything bathroom related. Here are. some great ways I've found to reduce my plastic use, shampoo (LUSH is a great go to) and deodorant bars, hand soap and face block soap, refillable containers for pretty much anything. My favorite places for eco refillables are joyfill, Homefill and Zero Market in Denver. These shops are great for all natural products and mean you can keep refilling the products you like to your hearts content. It's amazing how much of a difference we could all make by just cancelling out some of the plastic we use. With this challenge I'm finding more ways to avoid plastic and it helps to think 'do I need this?' or 'is there anther way?' when something is plastic heavy. Another low plastic bathroom item is to use coconut oil for face moisturizer, it's all I use in the evenings, you can get giant containers of it and it lasts for ages.
March - Rewear! Thrift it
March is all about clothing!! There are so many ways we can reduce harmful plastic getting into the environment which are released with washing clothes made of plastic synthetic fabrics and huge factories producing clothes for large cheaper shops where harmful dyes and synthetics flow into local water sources. The plastics then seep into ground water and eventually into the sea effecting so many different species and environments. Organic fabrics are often the first call but these can be pricey! I'm all about second hand clothes this month! I've found so many bargains on eBay, Etsy and at thrift stores (charity shops if you're in the UK) and find I can always mix up an outfit with new styles and patterns. Another thing to be mindful of is being open to wearing outfits more than once! It's amazing how many of us, me included, will buy a whole new outfit especially for events like weddings and large gatherings and then it's forgotten about in the wardrobe. If you do want to mix it up there are so many ways to find second hand clothes. Or if you're feeling crafty, why not make your own with organic fabrics from the shop, most thrift stores will have fabrics too, it's amazing what you can do with an old curtain. I've never been very patient with sewing in the practical sense, but I know loads of people who are great at it and find it super satisfying. I know that it's not always easy to opt for second hand or organic fabrics when there are so many cheap synthetic options out there and its not about being perfect, it's just about prioritizing giving second hand and more eco friendly materials a go! Also when thinking about more ethical choices being more pricey it helps to think about investing in clothes you really love that will last a long time, like wool products or organic cotton, also thinking about the cost you're taking out of the situation to the environment, people and wildlife who are negatively effected when we pick unethical choices..
April - All about Food
For April I've been thinking a lot about food. I always find it overwhelming how much plastic packaging there is in grocery stores and pretty much any shop, store or when ordering online. So I've been looking up a lot of recipes for cooking at home, like soups where you can get a bundle of fresh veg and mix it up for so many options. Being at home a lot lately has helped me to experiment with more cooking, which often means less packaging. Especially making things from scratch. I've found learning how things are made has been interesting and surprisingly doable. I know that often it's tricky to squeeze in cooking time, especially if you have little ones or a job that demands so much of your attention. I love buying things like nuts, dried fruit and rice in bulk. Our favorite for bulk is Sprouts in Denver, but I know there's so many options out there. I often notice as well that there is so much unnecessary packaging on fruit and veg especially and how it's just making that choice between the loose veg over the bagged veg. I think even if it's a little more it's so worth it and the more we buy the loose veg over the plastic, the more we encourage companies to lessen packaging. Sending love in tough times for many <3
May - Reduce!
In May I've been all about reducing plastic wherever possible. Us all being in quarantine has given nature some breathing space in many places, but our plastic consumption has gone through the roof! It's massively important to support local businesses right now, but where I can I've been using my reusable keep cups still, tupperware and saying no thanks as always to plastic bags. Picking groceries with less packaging and being mindful of checking with companies before ordering things online whether they can send me things as plastic free as possible. Etsy sellers especially are so great at adapting their products so that less plastic is used in packaging, if you just send them a little message asking nicely. I even had one mini business in the UK, the awesome, two chubbas add a 'plastic free' option when you order their cards now. I've also been double checking with businesses whether they'll let me use my keep cup before I go for pickup, which can help not having to take home extra plastic on the spot and if they don't let me use them right now I've been ordering other things from my favorite coffee shops and places like cake, coupons, t shirts or mugs. Just FYI there have been studies that show that using keep cups right now is totally ok! So if a shop says no you can ask why. One way is to ask if they will pour the drink into their own metal, ceramic etc container, give it to you and then pour it into your own keep cup without touching it. I know it's been tough and trying times for many right now with the financial and personal impact of coronavirus and social distancing. Sending so much love to you all and hang in there!
June - Get Political
I can't believe its June. Like most, and I'm hoping everyone, I've been totally absorbed in listening to lived experiences and amplifying voices around racism, brutality and injustice from the BIPOC community. It's been hard to think about anything else and has been an overdue flood of listening, sharing, actions and empathy. I see change starting! And I'm here for it! This month I, like many, have been finding ways of taking small and big actions in the fight for change. I know this is a very separate issue to the overuse of plastic (although I do believe that everything is interconnected), but it's been making me think about the smaller and wider actions that are possible and how we need change on all levels, within ourselves on an individual level, systemic within companies, law, government and wider belief systems.. This month I'm thinking about ways to take action in the fight against plastic as well. Signing petitions, pushing local government to address the issue of plastic use and how to spread the word. I'll keep you updated on what I find.
For now, I've been taking time this month to self educate. For resources towards racial justice, awareness of history, current and past events here's a list of watches, reads and listens:
Books
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
Watches
13th Ava DuVerney
When they See Us, Ava Duverney
I am Not Your Negro, Raoul Peck
The Hate U Give, George Tillman
Listen
1619, Nikole Hannah-Jones, New York Times Podcast
To Donate
Equal Justice Initiative
NAACP Defense Fund
For now, I've been taking time this month to self educate. For resources towards racial justice, awareness of history, current and past events here's a list of watches, reads and listens:
Books
White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo
So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
Watches
13th Ava DuVerney
When they See Us, Ava Duverney
I am Not Your Negro, Raoul Peck
The Hate U Give, George Tillman
Listen
1619, Nikole Hannah-Jones, New York Times Podcast
To Donate
Equal Justice Initiative
NAACP Defense Fund
July - Refuse Plastic Bottles
I've been thinking a lot about the amount of plastic water bottles out there and how this is one of the main issues. We have to refuse single use plastic bottles, opt for recyclable cartons instead for juices or try making your own! It's amazing how much you can reduce on plastic just by making your own juices, smoothies and refilling your own water bottle rather than buying plastic bottles while out and about. If you forget your own water bottle there are so many ways you can still have access to water! Use water fountains, ask wait staff for a glass of water (ideally not in a plastic cup!). Also more airports are now offering refill stations, where you can top up your water bottle! If you don't see one in an airport or public space where there should be access to water, send an email! Also I always ask at cafes in the airport and they will usually happily refill water bottles for free.
August - Use a Tote or Reusable Bags
I was so excited when they banned plastic bags in super markets in the UK, it's amazing how much plastic bags fill the ocean, landfill, parks and even the skies on windy days. This month I've been all about the tote or reusable bag and for a long time I've used totes rather than asking for plastic bags in shops. Each time you take a plastic bag imagine where it will go when you chuck it, it will take hundreds of years to biodegrade each time and fill land, the oceans and most likely cause harm to our water systems, wildlife and negatively impact the health and wellbeing of future generations. It's amazing how simple it is to just have a couple tote bags in your car or in your handbag, back pack or even pocket, so that even when it's a last minute shop you can avoid adding unnecessary plastic to the world. It can be easy to underestimate our impact on the planet in our day to day habits and now more than ever it's so vital to change our ways! When finding a tote remember that it's all about having a handful of favorites that you reuse for life rather than loads that you never use or buying a new one too often. With everything we use there is always a cost to our planet, even tote bag manufacturing uses fossil fuels and contributes to pollution. So it's important to weigh up whether you need new ones and use old ones until they literally fall apart! Also when finding or buying your favourite totes, aim for organic and ethically sourced totes, there are so many awesome ones out there. To find these try searching eco, environmentally friendly, organic totes when searching on Etsy. Check the labels of totes in shops, most totes will say if they are ethically and organically sourced.
September - Say No to (and question) Give Aways (that involve plastic products)
I was thinking about this after me and my husband were offered a bag of free stuff when we signed up for a dentist full of plastic tooth brushes, plastic floss, a plastic water bottle, all in a synthetic bag. Although it is tempting to accept free stuff it's also key to question how giveaways impact the plastic waste level as well. Especially when you imagine the hundreds, thousands or even millions of these given away by different companies. More often than not I've found that I'll accept a giveaway and actually never use it and end up thrifting or throwing it, I know horribly wasteful! And I keep thinking about how if I'd just said no thanks to it, or even asked them if they'd thought about not including plastic items it could have made a difference.
October - Buy Local and Support Small Businesses
When buying local its so much easier to buy things plastic free. As an example if you go to a local bakery you can ask to have the bread without the plastic. Also I was thinking about when I buy fabric and how I can ask for it without the plastic bag and have it straight from the main bolt. When buying from small and local businesses its so much easier to ask the shop person directly to skip the plastic packaging with so many things. And you can bring your own bag which cuts down on plastic that way too. I've found with big businesses, unless they have an eco policy, it's really hard to avoid several layers of plastic, but with small businesses you are often buying directly from the person who makes the product, making it so much easier to be specific about not wanting any extra or unnecessary plastic. Also right now it's such a great time to source and support your local businesses! Obviously take precautions to protect others while out and about, wear a mask, antibac your hands and keep your distance :)
November - Take out
This is an area I've been having a conundrum with, as everything has been shut down for so long we like to support local businesses where we can, ordering take out once every few weeks, but we are finding that most places deliver with plastic. I'm still working on how to tackle this, but I. have found that one great food for less plastic waste is pizza. I've also been reusing Tupperware. I need to experiment with seeing if restaurants will reuse Tupperware or let me bring my own to pick up the food. It's incredibly challenging times and I know there's times where it's a struggle between trying to live sustainably as well as supporting local businesses and keeping each other safe. I'm still working on this one! I'll keep you updated.
December - Go plastic free for the holidays
This time of year is so much fun for so many reasons, but it's also a time when plastic and paper waste rockets! I wanted to share some super simple ways I try to reduce and reuse. I use fabric for wrapping presents and twill tape to hold them together. Fabric is way easier than paper to wrap things and it means that wrapping is plastic and tree free! I've been looking into vegetable dyed organic fabrics that have less of a polluting effect to the environment and often ask friends to return fabric so I can use it to wrap again. Also as an easy plastic and shipping free gift, try coupons to your friends and families favourite places, often these are electronic so need for extra wrapping of the footprint from shipping or plastic wrapping. Also that way they can choose the gifts they'd love best. It's also a great time to support local and small businesses on Etsy and ask the shops directly for less packaging and plastic free postage. Most small shops are happy to adapt or help.