I have a very special treat for you today, which is a chance to win a copy of Susan Freinkel’s Plastic: A Toxic Love Story. I just received this in the mail yesterday, and am excited to start reading it. I will share my extra copy with one lucky Non-Consumer Advocate reader.
“[Freinkel] tells her story through eight familiar plastic objects: the comb, chair, Frisbee, IV bag, disposable lighter, grocery bag, soda bottle, and credit card. Each one illuminates a different facet of our synthetic world, and together they give us a new way of thinking about a substance that has become the defining medium—and metaphor—of our age.”
To enter to win this book, write something in the comments section about a change you’re willing to make to decrease the use of plastic in your home. I will randomly choose one winner on Sunday, May 1st at 9:00 P.M. Pacific time. One entry per person, U.S. residents only.
Good luck!
Katy Wolk-Stanley
“Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without”
{ 96 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m willing to drink less soda- its one of the few ways we use plastic- plus it will be healthier to give it up. We don’t drink it a bunch, but when we do its always in plastic bottles.
Ooh, I’d love this book!
I’m going to order (or make) some bags to use for produce at the store. I leave most of my produce just loose, but this is sort of a pain for the cashiers (picture mushrooms and tomatoes rolling around on the belt).
Like you, Katy, I am trying to eliminate the plastic food storage containers. Also, when having a family get-together, I try to use “real” plates, cups and utensils, although my family thinks I’m crazy!
I’d like this book, too!
I plan to be more diligent about not bringing more plastic into my house: remembering to take reusable shopping and produce bags, refusing bags when I forget to take my own, and remembering to take refillable/reusable cups instead of buying drinks in plastic or styrofoam.
Thanks for the opportunity to enter!
Wow, this sounds like a great book. I would love to give it a read. I have spent the past year focusing on not using plastic bags from the grocery store. We have decreased our number of them a significant amount. We will continue to do this as well as reusing plastic containers before buying new ones.
I have been using reusable shopping bags for a couple of years now but I do forget sometimes…I need to remember ALWAYS. But my NEW plastic reducing plan is to stop sending parts of my sons lunches in ziploc bags but to use reusable containers for things like his dried fruit and crackers. I am already using sandwich containers. I also am not buying (as many) single serve fruit cups but the larger containers and sending them in my reusable containers.
We are about to have a baby and are trying to keep plastic consumption/purchases to a minimum by cloth diapering, buying at consignment shops and utilizing Craigslist.
W’ve been trying to purchase food with an eye to packaging: crackers that don’t come in plastic trays, no single serving anything, reducing produce bags.
My next goals: make my own yogurt and make some re-usable produce bags.
I’m going to make some mesh bags for my produce. I’ve been trying to reuse the plastic bags, but they always end up getting wet and then I can’t use them again.
Oh wow, what a great topic. Since my city began separating trash and recycling, I’ve been more and more interested on what I can do to reduce my consumption of non recyclble items. My biggest criticsm? Plastic water bottles! Plastic is everywhere – and in places you’d never imagine. I’ve got a temporary bridge in my mouth while healing after surgery – and the fake teeth are made of PLASTIC! Who knew? I guess I’m not even sure what I can do to reduce my plastic consumption – maybe that’s why I need to read this book. I try hard to use my fabric grocery bags… but the plastic ones are the only reasonable source for discarding used cat litter. Other than that, I use reusable drink mugs for when I’m away from the house, and I try to buy bigger sized household products instead of a lot of small ones, I choose cans over bottles for soda when I buy them. I stopped using Ziplocs almost entirely a year ago and use Tupperware for everything instead (still plastic, but not disposable). And I recycle as much as I can.
I just switched to glass bottle milk. My next step is bulk cereal, snacks, and baking supplies (in my freshly sewn bags).
Ooh, I’d love to read this. I’ve been working hard to reduce plastic in our home, but it’s so hard when it comes to food packaging (not many bulk options where we live). Summer’s coming, though, so that means more fresh food from the garden and farmer’s market and less packaged anything.
I try to find items without plastic packaging (glass or paper) but also try to find items without any packaging too! My new favorite thing is to bring little mesh laundry bags to the grocery store to carry fruits and veggies instead of taking a plastic one off the roll. I keep them in my canvas bags so they are always accessible. 🙂
I’m going to follow the Frugal Girl’s example and make homemade yogurt in glass containers. We eat a lot of yogurt and I’m tired of tossing the plastic. I could choose to reuse the containers, but A) I just couldn’t reuse that much and B) they are not quality containers, so couldn’t reuse for long. Thanks for the chance to win this!
It was no biggie to eliminate water bottles and food storage bags in lunchboxes. But now I’m working on getting rid of plastic food storage containers and trying not to buy individual sized anything. Baby steps!
I am trying very hard to stop using plastic sandwich bags. I want to switch to all reusable bags!
Looks like a great book! The film “No Impact Man”, while not perfect, is also worthwhile in that it shows many, many ways we can lead a more environmentally friendly life. I’ve already made many changes through the years, but am going to try and buy less food that uses plastic packaging (esp. processed/frozen meals).
I’m willing to phase out both ziplocs and plastic storage containers. i’m hoping to be primarily glass for storage by the end of the calander year.
I too have aquired some mesh bags to use for produce.
Our biggest source of plastic waste is from our milk. We purchase milk in plastic bags. I do reuse the bags when possible but we have about 10 – 12 per week. I am looking for a place to purchase milk in glass bottles.
No longer use plastic bags for fruit and veggies at market, will get my own mesh bags to reuse!
I start all my garden plants from seed in plastic yogurt containers, with holes drilled in the bottom, that I reuse from year to year, rather than buying plastic seed-starting containers. I also save all my plastic jar lids from peanut butter, Nutella, salad dressing in jars, etc., to place under each yogurt container and catch drainage.
I’ve made a lot of changes recently to eliminate as much plastic as I can from my life (using glass storage containers in the kitchen and not accepting any plastic bags when shopping) . But my new effort is taking a reusable mug when I go to Starbucks to avoid drinking from their #6 plastic lids (not recyclable in most places and potentially leaking toxins). I’d love to know more about plastic and gain more tips on how to eliminate from our lives (as much as possible).
I’ve started using mesh bags for produce. They’re easy to clean (just toss them in the washer inside a lingerie bag) and hold a lot more than some of the plastic produce bags.
One of the few ways that plastic still enters our house is through those flimsy little plastic produce bags. Usually we have at least one reusable grocery bag for the assorted produce (our food coop is pretty understanding about having apples rolling around and swiss chard sprinkling water on the checkout counter counter). But we still end up with some because we buy things in bulk (cereal, sugar, rice, beans, pasta, ….) and either haven’t dedicated a reusable container for these items or simply forget to bring the appointed container along.
We have stopped buying bottled water. We saw “Tapped” about a month ago and have not bought a plastic water bottle since. It’s silly how easy it is to mindlessly consume plastic.
For mothers day I have purchased myself a set of reusable produce bags. No produce purchase is important enough to warrant a single use plastic bag. One that will be around For. Ev. Er.
I’ve been stocking up on glass storage containers, now I need to get some for the freezer to eliminate plastic freezer bags, I am also buying more loose produce (like loose carrots) as opposed to pre-bagged.
Since moving in together, my boyfriend and I have begun using mason jars of all shapes and sizes as food storage containers. We do not buy soft drinks in plastic, and I have given up purchasing yogurt in plastic cups, and instead make my own in glass containers (milk still comes in plastic though, boo). I bring my lunch to work each day is reusable containers, using actual silverware, and I never have garbage to throw away at lunch. We use reusable grocery bags at the supermarket (and other places too). I think it is a success to go a few days at a time without having to put plastic trash in the recycling bin. This year, we turned a dozen gallon water bottles into a container her garden.
I heard her interview on NPR and it was so enlightening! I have started using mesh bags for produce and muslin bags for bulk grains/beans etc. I love not having to throw away pointless plastic bags.
I have made the switch from plastic bags, to reusable or paper bags. The next time I need food storage containers, I’m willing to buy glass.
I’ve made the switch from plastic to re-usable shopping bags, but now I’m hoping to buy more in bulk with cloth bags, or glass jars- that’s the dream!
I also heard her interview and was going to look for the book today. The one thing I am willing to do is finally purchase reusable bags for produce and bulk bins. I’ve been hauling around bags for over 10 years, one would think I’d have done this by now.
I would like to swear off take-out and fast food forever. There is SO MUCH waste there. I have been successful in taking glass containers in to get take out but just yesterday ordered a fast food salad, all plastic wrapped in plastic. Even when I take in my eco-cup mug for coffee they want to put it in the throw away cup first and then my mug. It’s ridiculous.
Heavens, thank you Amber!! for suggesting muslin bags – I have a bunch of muslin that used to be in bag format from one of my great-aunts. I think I’ll stitch them back up and put on ties. Wow! I feel like a puzzle piece just clicked into place – there’s the solution for the bulk shoppers whose stores won’t tare the glass! The reusable, all-cotton, biodegradable, washable dry goods container that weighs almost NADA!
I’m sure this has come up before, but I hadn’t yet gone to the trouble to look it up in the archives, so this is a fresh brand-new idea for me!!
So, like Amber, the answer for me is to use the mesh and cotton bags (wow!) and not use plastic bags for produce or dry goods anymore.
My husband and I are brainstorming viable alternatives to lunch and leftover storage. Glass can be so cumbersome to carry to work, and the lids are still plastic and rubber. Disposable plastic leftover boxes inevitably get stained or punctured or just flimsy over time, meaning you have to replace. I want to try one of those nifty bento-style lunch boxes, but they’re still plastic, and I worry I’m just buying into another trend that’ll sit in the cupboard. I’d love to read this book for further research and motivation.
Always love your blog. Keep up the great work!
I bought a set of flatware at the thrift store to use when I bring my lunch to work. No more disposable flatware!
I’ve been hoarding paper and plastic grocery bags for the past 5 years. Yes, I have a reusable bag, but I didn’t always remember to use it. Of course I’d feel guilty, and then I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of the offending bags I’d brought into our home.
Luckily, they all went to great use when packing this past weekend. My husband and I just downsized – majorly. Plastic bags and crumpled paper bags worked in place of bubble wrap. I also discovered that I am actually the proud owner of 3 reusable bags – 2 I had no idea I had about, which were buried in the mound of other bags.
Thanks to the downsizing and our limited storage for bulk shopping, these 3 bags will suit my new grocery shopping habits perfectly. No more plastic bags!
I already buy in bulk and use mason jars for those items like beans, rice, spices, etc form the bulk store. Whatever plastic containers do make it into my house end up in my classroom as paint cups, supply containers, and art supplies. We sutened those flimsy grocery bags other teachers brought in into resuseable bags by turning them into strips and weaving them.
The next step is to avoid purchasing things that have any kind of excessive packaging which is easier said than done! I also want to eventually replace my plastic food containers (BPA free) with glass as they wear out (so not to waste those needlessly either).
I am trying to get into the habit of keeping a “to-go” container on me at all times. For restaurant left-overs.
I’ve weened out our plastic bowls/plates in the kitchen and will now on only use glass/ceramic/metal. I also am trying to take my filled metal water bottle with me while I go out and about, so I don’t stop somewhere for a plastic filled cup’o’beverage. Hopefully, it will save us money, too!
I’ve already got some bags for bulk goods–I made the bags out of a bleach-accident sheet that I got for practically nothing at Goodwill–but I need to make more, because I sometimes still run out and have to use plastic.
Also, my tendonitis has been so flared up in the past several months that I haven’t been cooking. Like, at all. So I have to do my PT exercises so I can get back into the kitchen.
I have been using reusable grocery bags for years, but will make or get some reusable produce bags. I will also refill my hubands Zippo lighter in order to not bring anymore plastic Bic lihgters into our home.
I will use more reusable bags and also stop buying plastic toys for my daughter and get recycled ones instead.
One area I focused on the reduce plastic use is the bathroom. We switched to solid bar products for soaps, shampoo and conditioner. No more bottled body wash, hair care products and bubble bath. Many bar soaps are sold in paper packaging and the ones from artisans at farmers markets usually just have a simple paper wrapper. Lush carries a nice selection of solid shampoos and conditioners and our local health food store recently starting stocking some solid shampoo options. My husband now uses a shaving brush, bar and mug instead of canned shaving cream. And even though our razors and toothbrushes are plastic, we switched to the ones made by Preserve. When it is time to replace the toothbrush or razor, we can ship them back to the company who will use them to make park benches and play equipment.
Or, even better. Find a local recycler for your toothbrushes. 🙂
Katy
I am trying to use less plastics for food storage. I’ve been canning a lot more lately (and henceforth have a lot more jars) and even if they’re just holding rice or another dry good in the cabinet I’ve realized that they look much nicer (as well as being safer) than plastic tubs or bags.
I’m willing to use glass instead of plastic for food storage.
I have been buying shampoo and lotion in bulk and I know that my bottles are the same ones I have been using since the 80s! Also, we wash and reuse our plastic bags and I absolutely refuse to drink bottled water. I try to take containers with me whenever I eat out so I dont have to bring home those styro clamshell things (I know its not plastic but maybe worse than plastic!) We still store food in plastic but they are all old salsa and yogurt containers…
I’d love to read the book!
This book sounds amazing! We have become great at bringing our own bags to the grocery store, the drug store, and any other store where bags are generally used – or we decline one all-together; however, we are becoming more conscious about the other aspects of our lives in which we consume plastics and are actively working to reduce its place in our lives. For example, we are making more food from scratch so we use less plastic packaging; we are bring our own reusable water bottles with us on trips so we don’t have to buy water in plastic bottles; we buy garden materials (like soil, mulch, and compost) in bulk so there is no plastic wrapping; etc. Of course, there is always more to do and we are actively looking for other ways to reduce our use of plastics.
I already don’t drink soda or water from bottles! I re-use produce bags at the food coop, and use cloth bags. I use an aluminum water bottle, and glass cups.
My newest thing is buying most items from the bulk section, no packaging!
My next step is to shop the bulk section with my own containers. And after that it’s figuring out how to make my own yogurt.
I stopped using plastic bags from the grocery store a couple of years ago and stopped buying bottled water this past year. Next, I need to get rid of yougurt cups and K-cups for my coffee maker. Also, stopped using ziplocks and am beginning to work on replacing plastic storage containers.
As always, thanks for the give-a-way.
My biggest plastic sin? Individual servings (eg: 6 pack of yogurt or applesauce, individually-wrapped string cheese.) It is easier with 2 kids, and it eliminates the “she has more than I do” arguments, but oy, the packaging. So that is what I’ll work on. Not only is it more earth friendly, but it’s usually cheaper in the long run to buy in bulk and dish out individual servings.
I would LOVE to win this book. Reducing plastic and the ill-effects of plastic use is part of what I teach high-schoolers in Environmental Science.
What I am willing to do is to store food only in glass containers. This means that bringing my lunch to work is a little heavier, but healthier. Plus I need to set an example for my students – they learn more by what you do than by what you say!
We use a seltzer maker and no longer buy seltzer in disposable bottles. Less cost , less work, less plastic. A triple win.
I’m in the process of switching out plastic Ziploc food storage containers for glass containers. We are lucky to live in a place where we can easily get milk in glass bottles that we turn back in (and the dairy reuses). Next change to make — eating oranges and grapefruit (or making my own juice) rather than buying Odwalla orange juice and grapefruit juice in half-gallon plastic jugs!
I reduce my use my of plastics by bringing along my reusable thermos to work, and finding more ways to reuse containers
I’m getting better at remembering my non-plastic shopping bags, and I’m shifting to glass food storage. I keep wishing for some big earthshaking change I can make, but it’s every little one that counts.
I’d love to be able to share this book with my students, too. They have such a disposable mindset, I’m afraid.
I really need to use it less. I scored a bunch of canning jars at an auction last fall and could start using those to store my left overs in. Plus jars have some much more aesthetic appeal than yucky ol’ plastic!
Hmmm… this is a tough one. Two little boys seem to be magnets for plastic! I plan to eliminate the ever-present plastic toys that overwhelm us. I’m trying to find alternatives like wood, wool and metal for their toys.
I would love to win this!! I avoid plastic bags when i go shopping, trying to switch over to glass containers, use a steel water bottle and am trying to avoid buying excessively packaged and processed foods.
Your blog has literally changed my life. Thank you for what you do.
Recently there has been a change in my home resulting in a reorganization of responsibilities. My brother is now doing the grocery shopping and being more conscious of the amount of preservatives in the food he brings home. I was helping him make the grocery list for the week and requested he add cloth shopping bags, pointing out the large number of plastic bags we use that end up in the landfill, foreeeeever.
I’ve also stopped using shampoo, going no ‘poo and using baking soda instead. It’s been eight months since I’ve bought a bottle of shampoo.
These changes are due largely to your writing, which continually reminds me that the things I throw out and buy new and waste have an impact on the future. Just this evening I made soup stock from a turkey for the first time, and decided to use the scraps to make barbecue, making four or five meals where there used to be two and a lot of waste. Keep up the good work!
Aw, shucks.
Katy
I would not use straws when I go out to eat.
As a new parent, I’ve been lucky to have lots of hand me downs, consignment sale deals, and friends who lent us large items like swings. But the more I hear about artificial estrogen and plastics, the more I want my daughters toys and teethers to be made of renewable, safe, natural materials. It’s hard to say no to inexpensive plastic but I want a healthier future for her1
I think our family is doing really great at reduce, reuse & recycle. We are always looking out for ways to cut down on the amount of trash we put out each week. Recent changes have been:
* We started dumping all the table scraps in to the compost bin, and it reduced our garbage can contents by about half! I was shocked! I’m spreading the word to everyone in the neighborhood. The city picks up the bin, so it isn’t really any extra work for us. One or two fewer trash bags a week doesn’t seem like much, but they add up!
* We’re slowly replacing our tupperware-type containers with glass & BPA-free lids. I
* I am begrudgingly learning to cook more, and to make our own “Frozen Dinners” by packing leftovers into glass containers and freezing them.
* I bought about 8 new heavy-duty BPA-free water bottles at BB&Beyond this week on sale for $2/ea. There is now no excuse for anyone to leave the house without a bottle of water, and no need to buy any while out.
*Bought biodegradable doggy-doo bags for picking up messes while on walks!
*Even our foster bunnies help by forgoing hard-plastic chew toys for newspapers and phone books. And their litter pan also goes right into the compost bin!
Thanks for the opportunity to win what looks to be an amazing book!
And thanks for the blog – I’m a newcomer, but love the inspiration!
🙂
i am going to buy reusable water bottles and a water filter and stop buying cases of filtered water ……will save lots of plastic that way!
will bring my reusable shopping bags with me to every store and skip the plastic bags………
I am an aspiring freegan greenie who would love to win this book. I use a stainless steel jug for my water, use cloth shopping bags, and have stopped using prepackaged food. My biggest victory to date happened last night when my 16 yo told me she needed a new blank book with seven pages to make a pop up book for math class. I was able to convince her (without too much work) to repurpose an old board book that we no longer need.
BTW, I just found your site this week and have it bookmarked. Consider yourself a mentor.
I always bring cloth bags like most people, though admittedly we have too damn many of the things; make my own yogurt (which goes in canning jars); have eschewed shampoo for months now and make my own conditioner in a reusable, though regrettably plastic, bottle; and for the past few months have really gotten into making bento lunches for myself and my fiancé, thereby dramatically cutting down on fast food purchases and ziplock usage for sandwiches and the like. Unfortunately I have been using plastic containers as obento, but that’s because we already had them (perfectly usable free containers from Chinese takeout) and I’m not ready to spend the money necessary (yet!) for wood or metal obento. I’ll get there, though.
However, the question isn’t about my current lifestyle, it’s about a change I’m willing to make. I’m going to start saving up for those obento, so that we don’t have to eat lunch out of low-quality plastic that’s probably leaching all sorts of toxics into our food. As far as food storage goes, we only have a few Pyrex right now, but hopefully someone buys us the set on our wedding registry, allowing us to throw out all the plastic crap!
I bought a quarter of a locally raised beef this year and although it was vacuum packed in plastic, it didn’t have any of the styrofoam trays. I also buy locally raised eggs and return my cartons so they can continue to be re-used. And my favorite – because it’s just better – tasting – is to make my own yogurt in quart canning jars and flavor with my home made jams. Yummy.
We have been using canvas shopping bags (even DH uses them…. most of the time), buying yogurt in larger containers (less plastic per serving), have stopped buying bottled water (at home and away), and are generally trying to avoid most packaging containing heavy amounts of plastics.
Thanks for all your work – – I really enjoy reading your blogposts! 🙂
Plastic bags – oy I hate to admit this simple problem, with such an obvious solution, simply gets me everytime. I have reusable bags. But seem to forget to bring them into the store more often than not! For small purchases I have learned to say “Please don’t bag that, I’ll carry it” and ignore the confused look of the sales clerk that inevitably follows. For grocery shopping…when I forget my bags (again) I ask that the cahsier “put as much as possible in each bag” which usually means they double bag the groceries – grrrrr. All this to say, despite my intentions, every month my little recycle pile of plastic bags grows. It’s embarrassing! Must. Redouble. Efforts.
I have been slowly switching our plastic ‘lunch-type’ containers over to glass (when I can afford to or, on the rare occasion that I find decent ones at goodwill). The only problem is; I can’t really send my sons lunch in glass…just in case he drops something.
I do use ss bottles for water, a glass at work for water (instead of using the plastic water cups we have) and a reuseable ss coffee mug for travel.
There is usually so much in our recycle bin (64 gallon size) that we can’t close the cover, yet, there is typically 1 bag of trash in the trash bin (same size.) either we are really good at recycling or we buy too much with packaging! (even though I cook mainly from scratch.)
Katy, my plan is to spend more time looking for used glass containers at Goodwill to replace my old plastic Tupperware. Thanks for this opportunity! Robin
The hardest thing for me to get rid of is Ziploc bags. I use them a lot for getting out, and for storing items that are otherwise difficult to store. I do wash and reuse them, but still…
I have worked hard on other areas of giving up plastic, but this is one spot I am having trouble with.
Our main issue now is baby stuff. I did buy plastic bottles, but they are very heavy for baby girl to hold. But we have not bought very few plastic toys, which I am proud of.
I have switched to the lovely pyrex containers for leftovers, although they have plastic lids. I have been bringing my own bags to the grocery store for a couple of years now. I remind myself of the huge amounts of money the oil companies are making from our many uses of oil, including plastic; that in itself motivates me to reduce. I don’t want to line their pockets any more and I don’t want it floating in the oceans. Every little bit helps. Thanks for the opportunity to win the book and your great blog. It’s always inspiring.
I’m pregnant with our first child, and I’m determined not to bring all sorts of plastic baby crap into our home. Already bought a gorgeous vintage wooden high chair. Been looking at wood teethers on Etsy. Of course, all the mommies are scoffing at me because I’ve already stated that there will be no ugly, bubbly, plastic Little Tykes junk in my home. (How I despise the look of those fat little playsets!) Because, of course, when baby comes, I’ll buy all that ugliness and have all the latest plastic doodads. No, I don’t know what’s in store for me in motherhood, but I do believe I still get a say in what comes into my house!
I know it’s a small change, but I’m planning to start buying things in bulk and storing them in glass containers. Also, I’m trying to not use anything that is not easily reusable when I take lunch to work (i.e. sandwich bags or plastic wrap). This book would be a fantastic read 🙂
Well, it’s a tough call, but how about saying no to plastic for popsicles? We go through a ton of popsicles in the summer. I’ve been wondering about ordering Stainless Steel Popsicle Molds, at $39.95 for the set, that’s pretty steep. But, no plastic, no trash, and you can control the ingredients (less sugar). A season would eventually pay for itself, right? Convince me I’m right!
Thanks for the chance to win!
I’d love to read this book.
A new grocery store near me has a phenomenal bulk section (even laundry detergent!). My goal is to start bringing my own reusable containers–mostly glass jars–instead of buying things in the plastic bags. I already bring cloth shopping bags, so this is the next step for me.
I have long been in the habit of taking canvas shopping bags to the grocery store. Where I want to improve is by replacing plastic bags available in the produce and bulk bin sections with my own reusable bags. I’m getting there!
Yay! I found you 🙂
So, it’s kind of something I’m already doing (or should say I just started doing) but I have a take-out “bag” that I keep in my car that has durable to-go containers in it (glass). Anytime we eat in a restaurant, I’ll bring the bag in with me so I can kindly refuse plastic (or other non-recyclable) containers for any leftovers. I’ve already seen a HUGE decrease in the amount of plastic we have and people take notice. Maybe it’ll start to catch on and be the next bring-your-own-bag movement!
I think I am ready to give up plastic water bottles, even though I recycle. I can’t get into the car without water, so I need to fill up my Bobble more often. When I am out, sometimes I need to buy water. I need to find a better solution. I’d love to read this book. Ann
We went paper-free in our kitchen about a year ago, and I’m determined to go plastic free as well. I am slowly ditching the plastic storage containers, and replacing them with glass ones I find at yard sales, thrift stores, antique malls, etc. I’ve also stopped by plastic, clingy wrap (which is annoying anyway) and learning to live without it (also trying to ditch the microwave). I’m becoming more aware of the plastic I bring home, too, and am trying to shop in bulk more often or opt for making my own condiments, etc. It’s a long, slow road, but we’re getting there!! Thanks for the opportunity to win this book!
The change I’m willing to make is to keep my mouth shut and smile sweetly while my husband makes a wooden baby swing for our new granddaughter. He had made severl pieces of wooden furniture over the decades — always with much swearing, complaining, grumbling, etc. But wooden baby swings are VERY expensive, and our grandddaughter is going to be raised as plastic-free as posssible. So daughter and I convinced Grandpa to make the baby a swing. He’ll be grouchy the entire time he’s making it. And THIS time I will maintain a calm and supportive demeanor.
Bring a mesh bag to the grocery store instead of using their plastic ones!
We have been reducing and working on eliminating plastic from our house. I started with water bottles and then drinking cups. It is a process at our house and the more I learn the more I am eager to find replacements for our plastic
I am going to look to make some reusable bags for produce and bulk food purchases. Already using my own shopping bags. Time to take the next step!
I’m trying to give up my big plastic tea mug in favor of something else. The regular size mugs just aren’t working though and I haven’t had time for thrifting lately.
Would love to read this book (and expect it will be quite a while before it lands in our local library…). We make frequent use of our soda stream machine, which yes, is itself plastic, but also satisfies our craving for fizzy things without the need to buy even more plastic bottles. Plus, whenever I leave an interesting book sitting around, my husband tends to pick it up and read it, too!
Next step for us is to reduce the number of health/beauty aids that come in plastic containers and over packaging. This will probably be the hardest step. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
I am trying to use less frozen prepackaged foods, mainly frozen veggies. Most of the packaging is plastic. I want to start buying more fresh veggies & forgo the plastic bag & use mesh reusable produce bags.
Thank you for your blog!!
sounds like one to read….thanks for the chance…one way i have cut back on plastic here at home is using empty feed bags (paper) for trash, recycle items etc rather than buying garbage bags. i realize not everyone lives on a farm and has access to feed bags, but i guess the point is to use what you DO have available, and think a little.
We entertain a lot and I finally bought enough plates and forks from goodwill for the neighborhood BBQs, chili cook-offs, kid parties and other events. Apart from no longer buying plastic forks, I have to see my many unmatched forks look pretty cool.
We are pretty good about reusable shopping bags and less-packaging food, although I expect we can get much better.
I have gotten into making my own yogurt in reusable glass containers. My starter yogurt comes in a plastic, but I only need one 6oz cup to make fourteen individual servings in my glass cups. So not completely plastic free, but significantly plastic-reduced!
I am part of an eco book club and this is the book of the month for June, so I would love to win this and be able to share it with others. I have already significantly reduced the plastic in my house by bringing my own shopping bags, avoiding water bottles and other disposables, and using only pyrex containers for food. I think the next step for me is to challenge myself to not buy things that are prepackaged in plastic, which will pretty much mean just buying less, buying in bulk more, and trying to make more fresh food instead of packaged food.