highs & lows: project plastic overhaul update

So, I'm very behind on blogging for my personal project. I have to admit, I've been putting off writing a new blog because I don't feel like it's going very well! It seems like this project is "1 step forward, 2 steps backward." I'm going to briefly discuss some highs and lows of the past few weeks. Here we go!

Highs

• I used to buy baby carrots in a bag to give my dog as a treat. Lately, I've been buying whole carrots and cutting them up for him!
• One of my SPEA friends, whose focus is more equal rights and less environmental, traveled to DC for a baby shower. While there, she told 2 of her best friends from years ago about my efforts to decrease my plastic use. This conversation prompted them all to purchase reusable sandwich/treat bags rather than plastic ones! 
• I found tea with less plastic packaging. (Though, I want to switch to a strainer and bulk tea leaves...soon!)

The only plastic with this package were
the two little stickers "holding" the lid shut.

• I am more conscious and thoughtful of my purchasing decisions than ever before.
• I bought a metal razor to FOREVER replace the cheap, crappy, plastic ones. The new metal razor works fantastically!
• I have been attempting to cook/bake more and bring my lunch to SPEA in an effort to decrease my dependence on processed foods, which are, of course, always swathed in plastic.
• I have not purchased a SPEA cafe cookie in a few weeks. I rarely purchase drinks (my goal is to eliminate them....) but when I have, I forwent the straw. Sometimes, I forgo the lid, but that can be dangerous in a classroom full of people.

Success! No more plastic
wrapped SPEA cafe cookies!

Lows

• I'm not convinced my dog *likes* the non-packaged carrots. 
• My new razor came with unnecessary packaging.  

 

Unnecessary packaging from my razor -
why not just send that red box without the peanuts and bubble wrap?

• I have a sweet tooth + I prefer snacking over meals + I am ridiculously busy this semester. All of this adds up to me buying things on a whim or craving snacks that are notoriously known for being wrapped in plastic. (Think, gummy worms and sweedish fish. Actually, the candy might also be made of plastic too, hmmm.)  
• Certain things seem impossible to find without plastic. For instance, bread: I've checked out the local bread selections at Bloomingfoods & Kroger. The packaging still has plastic. I don't eat a ton of dairy, but I do occasionally need cheese for some dishes. Thus far, I've been unsuccessful in finding cheese that is not packaged in plastic. (Maybe I'm not looking at the right stores? Suggestions anyone??)

 

Glad to see Kraft is using less packaging...
but it's still plastic!

• I'm finding it difficult to measure my plastic use or decreases in my plastic use. I don't always go to the store on Sunday and buy groceries for the week. Sometimes, I go to the store 3 times a week and just make small purchases. (How European of me!) Or, sometimes, I don't have a chance to go grocery shopping or to cook for 4-5 days, so it might be over a week before I make it to the store. This lack of consistency in my schedule has made it difficult to measure my plastic use.

There you have it: my concerns about the project. Measuring it is proving to be hard. I'm open to suggestions!
Of course, I'm still chugging along despite the failures. Stay tuned for a blog on hunting for plastic free ingredients at the grocery store!

~Katie