Day 31, The final day

31 days of plastic

This is it folks, 31 days of plastic consumption. It's been quite a journey: from carelessly churning through a mountain of disposable plastic, to mindfully choosing product packaging that has a lighter impact on the Earth. I've changed my habits from outsourcing convenience, to taking responsibility for the logistics of my own consumption. Taking empty containers with me to re-fill, always carrying shopping bags and finding retailers who provide the goods I need, the way I need them, thinking of the whole product, 'goods and packaging'. Admittedly, things haven’t turned around in just a month, I have been concerned with my plastic use for years. This month however, I spent the time required to investigate how to take it to whole new level.

I have learned that the plastics revolution, started in the 1950's, has become a looming global catastrophe, an environmental flood of toxic waste that now permeates every ecosystem on our planet. It is estimated that by 2050 our oceans will contain more plastic than fish.

A great shock it was to discover that the entire recycling system is a myth. I now know only a tiny fraction of the plastic we consume, less than 5%, is recycled and even then into materials of a lesser grade, and of marginal ongoing reprocessing value. Putting plastic into your recycling bin merely delays it’s journey into the waste stream or the environment.

Recently, I watched an episode of Catalyst on the ABC, that examined the abundance of micro plastic in the oceans. Synthetic textiles come from the same base materials as plastics, hydrocarbons (oil), these textiles are broken down by wear and laundering into tiny particles that pass directly through the water treatment process, and out into the oceans. Therefore our campaign to reduce plastic should apply to choosing natural fibers for our wardrobe too.

It seems that we have become perhaps a little complacent at the true cost of these materials, and as we have seen with the Tragedy of the Commons, each person finds it difficult to see the impact of their individual contribution when applied at a global scale. Accepting a new paradigm and making these changes can appear difficult from the outset, but I have found much easier in practice.

There are great benefits too: many of the lost arts of household economy, the simple habits that our parents and grandparents used to perform are very practical, as well as opening up opportunities for a more engaged, perhaps meaningful connection with family and community. 

There was much interest and support with my unusual requests among the retailers I used, and it was very satisfying to overcome the small hurdles along the way. Sometimes my attempts to avoid plastic were difficult however, these were the moments that gave me the most satisfaction.

Thank you to my dear friends that had to endure my rants and obsessions this month. Now the month is over, I’m not going back to plastic as usual. I think the number I’m going to aim for is 90% (reduction). I strongly encourage you to come up with your number.

O

Day 26, How far would you go to avoid plastic?

Wooden Lego anyone?

What's your number? ...50% ... 75% ...99%?

The choice to reduce plastic is a deeply personal one however, it seems to impact on those around us as I've said already. Before you start, it may be good to consider what is feasible given your circumstances, kids, work, time, opportunity.

This is the final week of Plastic Free July so its a time for some reflection. Well before this experiment, I had already reduced by about half the plastic I would regularly consume a couple of years ago. Now I've taken it further, up from around 90% at the start of the month to somewhere close to 98%. Some plastic is inevitable, like the seal under the lid of a glass jar, a window faced envelope, the occasional tea bag (it's a paper / plastic composite - true!) and other little surprises along the way. I think focusing on the finer details means losing sight of the big picture, so I don't sweat the small stuff.

For me, it's more than just doing my bit for the environment, of course I know that I by myself will have no effect and I don't know anyone else doing this, so I guess I'm out to show that It's far easier than one may think, and perhaps start the conversation.

Along the way there have been many hurdles to overcome, each with it's unique set of thorny issues to consider: toothbrush, drinking straws, take away food containers, cleaning products, deli and meats. Most of these have been solved now, with each day a new challenge.

There are however, some foods I cannot have any more because there's no non-plastic alternative: rice crackers, tim-tams, flavoured yoghurt, udon noodles, tofu!.. the list is large, and growing.


Wins for today:

My vacuum cleaner uses proprietary, synthetic cloth bags with a plastic molded insert. I have found an all-cardboard / paper replacement, much cheaper too $1.50 vs $6 each :)

Fails:

I bought a drill bit and it came in a very solid plastic housing.
I worked out that the 25 vacuum bags I bought will probably last me 14 years. #overbuying

Day 24, Thai is back on!

The container comes to the table.

Tonight being Sunday, is the most likely night for me to order take away food. Taking it easy in front of a movie, mentally preparing for a busy day tomorrow, who really wants to cook?

Take-out has been off the radar this month, as I mentioned this time last week, the plastic toll that gets carried home with the food has always made me squirm as the multitude of containers go into the recycling bin at the end. However that all changes tonight! I'm very happy to say that I have the perfect solution and it went down better than I could have imagined at my local, Ing Doi Thai.

I packed my trusty insulated bag I got from the Vic Market years ago with three pyrex containers (yes, with plastic lids), and handed them over as I made my order. There was barely a blink as they took my bag away into the kitchen and handed back to me ten minutes later, ready to go. In fact It was such a smooth transaction, I detected an almost familial, warm smile as she handed it to me, as if to say, 'yeah this is what we all do'. Maybe i'm reading too much in to it but it felt bloody satisfying. I wish I started doing this years ago. I forget about the little sauce containers, so I did receive a little plastic, but i'll wash and re-use next time.

The dishes I used were approximately the same size and shape as the plastic ones they usually give out. I got mine from David Jones however, I've seen them in many places. Best of all, the food was hotter than when carried home in plastic and we ate from the glass instead of transferring to plates.

Please do this, you will only wonder why you never did before.

Plastic take-out... never again!

Day 19, Am I an alternative lifestyler?

As I have said before, one of the trickiest aspects of going plastic free is at the interface of other people's actions / lifestyle / values. For example: buying groceries, having lunch with a work colleague, hanging out with certain family members. To remain consistent with my my no-plastic mission I have to either expose myself as a bit of a radical or try and remain under cover. Obviously I'm trying to make a difference in the world but not looking to smash people over the head. Also, I've noticed that people can get very self-conscious when their values are challenged, even passively.*

As I said in my post on the 10th, transitioning communities to low-impact living should involve no shame or guilt, otherwise it builds resistance and becomes a culture war like we've seen with climate change.

I'm here to offer some ideas and be an example to others who may be on the cusp of such thinking, not to be the flag bearer to a revolution.

Random fails over the past week:

   • Parking ticket - the plastic ticket hurt almost as much as the fine.
   • Unsolicited mail or on-line orders wrapped in plastic / tape.
   • Items given to me.
   • Packaging at work - have you noticed how at work we're expected to leave our values at home?
     (This is a super important issue that needs to addressed).




* I'm amazed at how riding a bicycle can trigger a strong, even aggressive reaction from some motorists. Every day when I ride my bike, some idiot tries to teach me a lesson in car dominance. It's scary.

Day 17, 90% Thai plus 10% trash

"Hey ... let's throw this stuff out", said no-one.

Imagine a banquet where the entire table setting was tossed out afterwards.

That’s how I feel about the take-away food sector. All that plastic dumped, after we consume its contents in ten minutes flat, which will last in landfill for 500 years plus. Also, i've explained the myth of recycling plastic.


This crazy relationship we seem to have with plastic, is representative of the worst aspects of consumer culture. Nearly everything we buy has an associated plastic component in its manufacture, processing, storage or delivery. Take food for example, think of anything you eat, what plastic is used to bringing that food to your mouth?

Is this the end of Sunday night Thai?

The other evening my friend Vicky told me about the elder members of her family who used to collect their Chinese takeaway in containers brought from home. I love this. I might try this next week, stay tuned.

I’ve found an alternative to the plastic Slurpee straw. Sounds silly, but these icy delights from 7-Eleven are something that Gia and I consume occasionally and are not about to give up. I’m now putting together a little pouch with chopsticks, metal fork and tiny spoon to carry in my bag when I go out and covers most takeaway utensils that would otherwise be single-use plastic.

This is a 5% measure and, as I’ve said previously, the last 5% of plastic reduction is the hardest, but brings the sweetest satisfaction.

Day 16, Re-fill it

Look!.. the La Latteria ladies re-fill your bottles.

It’s getting hard to write anything new about the no-plastic thing. Routine has set in and it’s starting to feel unremarkable.

Today I made the usual round of, The Source, Babka and La Latteria. I now own five milk bottles as it has become apparent that La Latteria does not in fact swap over empty bottles for full ones: rather, they re-fill your washed empties. Strange to see this happening, it feels very old fashioned.

Day 15, The problem with plastic outside the home

Notice the bin liner?

In the controlled environment of one’s home it is relatively easy to manage plastic consumption but when out and about, especially with children, it can be near impossible.

Gia got herself worked in to a medium-sized, dehydration-fuelled, emotional meltdown after kindy this afternoon. The best cure is calmness on my part, a gentle hug if she’ll take it, and a Slurpee on the ride home (or water if it happens before we leave kindy). Now this will only mean something to those Slurpee aficionados amongst you: the fine texture and coldness of the Slurpee mush was top quality, so I poured one for me too; Gia does not like to share. Two plastic straws - BAM!

I have an idea of compiling scenes from old movies that show examples of how our parents and grandparents used to live without plastic, in ways that we can apply today. For example, in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, there’s a scene in which Audrey Hepburn is in her kitchen talking to her cat and incidentally we see her line her rubbish bin with paper, I remember my mum doing this.

If you have seen an example from the movies and can recall where, please share with me. I’ll upload a video compilation at a later date.