My Rodale Month Without Plastic

I have always been mindful of my plastic consumption, but when Rodale.com challenged its readers to go plastic-free for a month, I decided to make an extra effort. I am realistic about the fact that it is virtually impossible to live without plastic because of everyday products such as phones, computers, televisions, but what I find most disturbing is all the plastic food packaging. And when we want to cook from fresh ingredients to avoid plastic packaged processed food, imported food produce also comes packaged in plastic in northern climates like ours. Even organic produce and food products are packaged in plastic. So I decided to observe our habits. We live in the rural village of Wakefield, Quebec, about 30 kilometres from the City of Ottawa, Canada's capital. While we want to live plastic-free as much as possible, we have to be mindful of the extra gas we would incur to get all of our food needs without plastic packaging.

After our one-month experience, which revealed frequent disposal of single use plastic, Jay and I decided to create the following rules for our family:

1. If a product is available locally in a non-plastic packaging, even if it is not our favorite brand, we will favour it.
2. If there is a bulk version of a product available locally, we will bring our own plastic-free food containers and get it in bulk.
3. If a product is not available in a non plastic container nor is it available in a bulk format, we will contact the manufacturer and let them know we are not happy with their packaging and urge them to change it to a non-plastic format and/or offer it in bulk format.

I recommend that everyone actually make the extra effort to go plastic-free for a month in order to realize how much disposable plastic we are consuming every single day. There are some exceptional plastic-free heros such as Beth Terry who consume very little plastic every year, but for most of us, the extra effort is so great, espe cially when one lives in a rural community, that it is very difficult to achieve. However, it is possible to help change things by getting the companies that make our favorite products to change their packaging to make them more eco-friendly and plastic-free.

  For now, I have given up my favorite brand of yogourt (Liberté) for the Pinehedge Farm brand which comes in a glass jar. If Liberté wants to have me back, they will have to change their packaging.

Chantal Plamondon, Co-Owner
LifeWithoutPlastic.com

Comments

[Isabelle Carbonell]

THIS COMMENT WAS RECEIVED BY EMAIL - RE-POSTING

As for giving up products in favor of other ones, the same "path" can be had in your kitchen. Give up buying things in favor of making them yourself. I know it's hard to START, but making yogurt, for example, is incredibly easy! Just give it a try at home. Then you'll get rid of any packaging whatsoever that is specifically for yogurt... although you will go up in your milk consumption.

I go crazy for the basic stuff that I want to get that I can't make at home - like fruits, veggies, milk - that aren't available.

I also go nuts with some other basic stuff - toothbrushes, the brush I wash dishes with (or sponge), my clothes (most have some polymer base mixed in), etc. Things we just don't even think about.

My 2 cents. Following you via RSS feed. Keep going.

-Isabelle
Fellow Plastic Activist
and Filmmaker

[Amy @ Six Flower Mom]

I was just thinking about this challenge and I love challenges ... not sure we are ready to go completely plastic free (as much as I would like to) BUT I think we are going to start with taking note of EVERYTHING we use that is plastic and see what things we can cross off!

I do make my own yogurt, get milk in glass jars, and buy in bulk. Unfortunately our local grocery only sells organic bananas in plastic bags (note to self: send letter to company!).

But I was thinking of toothbrushes and such also ... what are the alternatives?

I have not been on any blogs in a long time but have missed your a lot and am glad to be back! I always enjoy your information, it challenges my thinking!

[Chantal Plamondon]

Dear Amy,

Thank you for your comment. I like your approach of starting to pay attention to every little bit of plastic you bring into your home and then taking steps to reduce. You are already doing a lot by making your own yogurt, buying milk in glass jars in buying in bulk.

As for toothbrushes, we offer 100% natural and 100% biodegradable and compostable toothbrushes made of wood with natural sterilized pig bristles. They may not be as aerodynamic and comfortable as their plastic counterparts but they do the job. Check them out here: http://lifewithoutplastic.com/boutique/plasticfree-wooden-toothbrush-adult-p-400.html

Thank you for your encouraging comments about our blog. We are trying to publish it more often...

- Chantal Plamondon, co-owner, LifeWithoutPlastic.com

[Vishal Gajjar]

We have no alternate option for plastic products.

That television, freeze, air condition and etc.. products is impossible without plastic.

thanks for posting