Week 3 (2022) #Attempt 2
Challenges
Lucy:
Even though my family is generally environmentally aware, their willingness to remain plastic free has definitely waned this week. Conditioner and crisps have snuck back into the house and although I could be cross about it I have to be realistic and recognise that if equivalent plastic free products were available then they would be using them.
Charlotte:
The main difficulty this week has been keeping momentum when the initial novelty of the challenge has worn off. The tie to a weekly high street shop doesn’t offer much flexibility if plans change as they frequently do with children and work demands. Really missing yoghurt (which together with cream seems to always come in plastic).
It has also been a mind-set change to try and enjoy food shopping as a lived experience. Generally I aim for it to take up as little time as possible, but just wondering if is giving me more respect for food and what has gone into its production to take a bit more time and effort in its purchase. There has definitely been less wastage, and it’s possible I am making more considered choices.
Ali:
I have been keeping an eye on the recycling bin – and even have photos to show! It seems to be less this fortnight than last – so less plastic entering the home. Two bins, two weeks, probably too early to call it a maintained habit.
Success
Charlotte:
Switched to a Riverford no packaging organic veg box this week to avoid compostable plastic packaging, discovered a delicious local mayonnaise (Devonnaise) which has taken the place of cream and yoghurt in savoury dishes, and filled up on oats, seeds, pasta, dried fruit, rice and sugar at the refill shop. A secret success that my youngest has stopped asking for crisps in her packed lunch, but wondering if that will start up again as soon as we get into December?
Time of the month and one of the switches I managed last year has persisted: wonderful period pants and a moon cup. Appreciate the later doesn’t suit everyone, but it is a great balm to my conscience to see an empty bathroom bin and know that is one part of my plastic legacy I’m not contributing to the world.
Lucy:
I contacted our recipe box provider about using less plastic and found that they have a policy and commitment in place to reducing plastic. This isn’t really a success though because the programme that they sponsor is about cleaning up plastic waste rather than significantly reducing what they use. More work to be done here. The positive of recipe boxes is that they reduce food waste, but the cost to the environment is still too great.
Ali:
I have researched loo rolls – no plastic, recyclable, bamboo or not to bamboo – and settled on a bulk purchase to undercut the supermarket cost. Appreciate up-front cost and storage space could be a limiting step.
Failures
Lucy:
Crisps. Conditioner. Chicken feed.
Charlotte:
Still failing to find tinned tomatoes without a white plastic lining inside. I’ve discovered the plastic used has been found to be a potential hormone-disruptor; and will three girls in the house keen to avoid anything that may upset hormones any further!
There seems to be no control over items that arrive in the post: a board game wrapped in plastic; uniform items in plastic bags (admittedly recycled which was a bonus) and some plants I had hoped would be in non-plastic pots.
Ali:
The packaging of on-line deliveries – those that are dropped at your home and the click-and-collect – are very variable in the plastic content and recyclability. This includes second-hand purchases. Is this something I should consider when making future purchasing decisions?
Costs
There appears to be little incentive to encourage the non-plastic choices in supermarkets. This week I bought three loose apples which cost £1.25 but I could have bought twice as many for £1 if I had chosen those in a plastic bag. Equally avocados were £1.78 for two with no packaging but £1.50 for two in plastic. What is the benefit of the plastic for the retailer: Is it longer shelf life; or to encourage us to buy more than we really need?
