Thursday, September 10, 2015

What's Your Plastic Footprint?

The amount of plastic in my life has been hitting me hard this summer for some reason. It just seems to be everywhere. I don't suppose it's an easy thing to live in this modern world and to not have any plastic at all--gosh, even our computers and cell phones have plastic--but I know there are things I could do to reduce my plastic use.

One thing I did was to purchase some glass water bottles for myself and my kids.


Lifefactory 22-Ounce Glass Bottle with Flip Cap and Silicone Sleeve, Carbon

I found mine at Bed, Bath and Beyond. I didn't even bother to look anywhere else because it had been on my mind so much that I wanted some and there they were! We've done the metal water bottle thing, only to have it corrode or just have the water taste funny after a day in it. The plastic water bottles got rejected by my kids years ago due to how they affect the taste, even the more expensive water bottles. So, this was one definite step.

I've been remembering to bring my own shopping bags with me more and more. And even purchased a reusable Gap one: did you know that (in Canada, at least) if you bring their bag with you when purchasing items, they will give you 10% off? Even at an outlet store where things are already discounted? That's a pretty sweet deal. And I've been doing little things like not using a straw for smoothies I've been drinking and started using mason jars to store food rather than plastic storage containers.

And now a friend has posted on Facebook a video from the Plastic Pollution Coatlition. Here it is and it's worth watching. It's short, but still enough to get you thinking about the plastic in your life and how you might reduce it.
Plastic Pollution Coalition
As a member of the Plastic Pollution Coalition, I'm excited to share the launch of their new website! Check out www.plasticpollutioncoalition.org for information about #plasticpollution and it's toxic impacts as well as what YOU can do to reduce your #plasticfootprint.
Posted by Jeff Bridges on Thursday, 3 September 2015

I look now at my kichen and pantry and I just see so much plastic. Gluten-free products in plastic. Pasta in plastic. Vitamins in plastic. When you buy fruits and vegetables at the grocery store, plastic bags are the only things available. Unless you just let it all float around and touch everything. Detergents come in plastic. Shampoo. Conditioner. Make-up. Lotions. I have gluten-free doughnuts I made from the Cooking for Your Gluten-Free Teen cookbook. They are wrapped in plastic wrap. Why? How else are you going to keep them from going rock hard?

We survived in the past without plastic. Is there a way to live in this modern world without constantly having plastic--and without essentially living on a farm or completely off your own land without any modern technology involving plastic?

I don't know if there is a positive answer to that question. But I do know that there are things we can all do to improve our plastic footprint. I've already decided since watching the video to stop buying the cheap pasta and buy the ones that come in a box. And I might even stop purchasing disposable drinks--except in situations like the other day where I was at a mall that didn't appear to have a single water fountain. (How is that possible?? I came fully unprepared because I'd expected there to be a water fountain!)

What steps do you think you might take?