Avoiding Plastic Is Hard. Here's How 9 People Aim For Progress, Not Perfection

One challenge I've had in trying to avoid single-use plastic is that some produce items I love, like grapes and berries, are nearly impossible to find not packaged in plastic. So it's just something I try to be conscious about. If it's peak raspberry season and I'm craving them, I'll buy them and then maybe find another use for the clamshell. But if there's something else that sounds just as good that doesn't come packaged in plastic, I might go for that instead. I never want to feel like I'm depriving myself by living a low-waste lifestyle—for me it's just about making decisions from a mindful place.

The biggest challenge in switching to a low-waste lifestyle was the extra effort and thought it required. Leaving the house meant I had to be prepared with my water bottle, coffee mug, napkin, silverware, and grocery bag. However, once I got used to it, it became easier. That all changed once I had my daughter because my thought and effort went to her. The few low-waste practices we are able to maintain with a baby? Buying cloth diapers and wipes. We are slowly getting back into being more mindful about our plastic usage, which is what it takes! 

Having a low-waste lifestyle in 2019 isn't easy. Not even remotely! Our society is designed for ease, which means items are usually fast, cheap, and disposable. I believe that as a community we can generate new social norms that will put pressure on corporations creating the majority of pollution/carbon emissions. By challenging our daily consumption habits, bringing reusables, and being a leader in our family/community, we can help inspire others to do the same. This is how together we can create a new normal!

My whole family is on board with low-waste living and is environmentally conscious. However, I'm definitely the strictest. I don't want to be the plastic police and constantly make those people I love the most feel bad. To remedy the plastic that inevitably creeps into our lives, I make as much food and as many snacks at home as possible, and I purchase a TerraCycle Plastic Packaging Zero Waste Box. TerraCycle is dedicated to recycling the unrecyclable. We fill the box with all the plastic we accumulate and send it to them, knowing that we're at least dealing with the plastic in a responsible way.

Going plastic-free, to me, is a journey. One of my biggest hurdles was not having to resort to plastic when I was on the go. I found myself wanting an iced coffee, needing to use the plastic forks when grabbing a salad, or being stuck with only plastic-wrapped snack options. So now I always leave home prepared with a snack in a glass jar or Stasher bag and with my zero waste tool kit: a travel coffee mug, bamboo silverware, a tote bag, a cotton produce bag, and a water bottle. Carrying these items has helped me to reduce my plastic usage drastically!

Since switching to a low-waste lifestyle, I'd say the biggest challenge has been avoiding food packaging. I try to stick to more whole foods. I also try to shop in bulk grocery stores (or stores that have bulk sections within them) to get as many of the things I need without packaging. It's also kinda fun scooping out your food and is a great way to get kids involved in the process if you have them. (I don't have kids just yet, but I've seen many parent-kid duos at the bulk section having honest, fun conversations about why they're getting their food from the bins instead of buying something that's prepackaged.)

One of the biggest challenges I've encountered since switching to a low waste lifestyle has been choosing to do without some of my favorite foods that typically come packaged in plastic. For example, I love strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries, but they typically come packaged in plastic clamshells at the grocery store. So now I mainly purchase all of my berries in season at the market with my own bags and containers, and freeze as much as possible until they come in season again the following year. The awesome benefit resulting from this change is that I'm supporting local farmers and buying berries in season, so there's less transportation and packaging. 

I'm a disorganized person and don't always properly plan ahead to bring home-packed snacks with me when I may be out for an extended period of time. But something that's really helped me is putting bulk-bought nuts and snacks in separate small containers at home on the weekends, so when I'm in a rush to head out the door, I can just easily grab a few of the containers to take with me spontaneously.

I believe plastic bags should be completely banned globally, so organic cotton tote bags are my absolute go-to carrier of choice. Unlike in the past, there are finally so many fabulous styles available, allowing one to make a true and important (eco)fashion statement!