I’m trying to cut down the amount of plastic in my life, and it’s proving to be difficult! (File that under, “no duh, Alden.”) Here’s what I’ve learned so far:
- Even the most eco-friendly, organic companies still use plastic. I had to put back my bottle of kombucha the other day – it had a plastic lid.
- Plastic makes dispensing of your beauty products much easier. Can you imagine trying to get the last of your lotion out of a glass bottle with a tin lid? Ugh. It would be like trying to get ketchup out, every single morning.
- Saying it’s “compostable” doesn’t make it much better. Lots of companies use compostable plastic, which is great because it’s usually made of corn instead of oil, but that doesn’t mean it can go in your backyard. It is meant to be composted in a commercial facility, which are few and far between. So I had to put back my favorite raw food macaroons too.
- The best way to avoid plastic is to make your own food. And I’m not just talking about cooking up some potatoes. I’m talking about things like yogurt, cheese, and yes, kombucha. None of which I have done yet, because frankly, that scares me. Almond milk is one thing that is fairly easy to make, however.
- Aches and pains take some plastic. I needed Motrin the other day – don’t ask – and it comes in a plastic bottle. I bought it. Don’t judge.
- Avoiding plastic requires a toolkit. And it’s filled with things like a reusable water bottle, a fold-up reusable bag, a bamboo fork, and produce bags made from netting. I also use Abeego instead of plastic wrap in the home, and glass food storage.
- The easiest way to buy less plastic is to just buy less stuff. In a world where organic baby socks come with a plastic lid, where sponges have a plastic wrapping around them, and cleaning supplies are houses in plastic spray containers, the best thing you can do is to just give serious thought to what you really need. But you knew that already, right?
Also, check out this video set to “Empire State of Mind.” It’s the anthem of the month!
