The Difficult Trek to Using Less Plastic
Written by Lori Danielson
More than two years ago, I wrote about my journey to reduce plastics in my life. I want to reduce my contribution to the problem of plastics in the environment that kill birds and sea life, pollute land and oceans. I’ve learned that it’s probably impossible to avoid all plastic and it’s difficult to even reduce it, so there’s still a lot of plastic in my life. The pandemic made it even harder. But I thought I’d share a few of the changes I’ve made to stop buying plastic.
Early on, I learned the best way to avoid plastic around food is to buy at farmer’s markets, locally-owned bakeries, butchers and seafood shops, bringing your own clean cloth or glass containers. They are the vendors most likely to sell unpackaged food and willing to put it into your container. So I have located my favorite local shops and buy as much as possible from them.
Finding a grocery store near you that sells food in bulk is also a good way to avoid plastic. The pandemic stopped most self-serve bulk food, but stores are starting to resume now. My own clean glass jars (with the tare weight recorded on the outside by a store clerk) or paper bags are how I transport the bulk food home, where I store it in glass containers.
I avoid single-use produce bags by bringing reusable nylon mesh or cloth bags for store-bought vegetables and fruit, and washing the bags after use. I look for things like peanut butter, mayonnaise and salad dressing packaged in glass jars or bottles. My glass jars take on a second life at home by storing many of the bulk food products or else they get recycled. I also store food in beeswax-coated cloth wraps and bags in the fridge and freezer to avoid plastic wrap and zip lock bags.
You may have deduced that I cook a lot from scratch to avoid plastic-wrapped food, and you’re right. Nearly all ready-to-eat and prepared food comes in plastic, so I made a commitment to cook more like my grandparents and great-grandparents did. It’s an important part of the effort.
Besides food, lots of plastic enters my life from products used in the bathroom, such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste, floss and cosmetics, and this plastic is even more difficult to avoid. But bar soap and shampoo bars have become my new habits, as well as using silk floss and brushing my teeth without toothpaste. I know that sounds a little radical. Each of us needs to decide what is acceptable for ourselves.
An internet search for “plastic free” or “zero waste” will result in many online stores, articles and blogs about how to reduce plastic use. I’ve found the products at etee.com and zerowastecartel.com have helped me in my journey. I’d love to hear your tips and favorites too. Write me at president@eastsideaudubon.org.