Changing your lifestyle is not as easy as it might seem. I never really thought about how difficult it actually is cutting out plastic until recently. If you asked me 2 months ago to think about the plastic items I used daily I could only think about a couple things. It wasn’t until I created a list on how much I use in a day. Since making that list I have started cutting it down item by item. But there’s only so much I can do. It is fairly easy to stop using plastic water bottles and bags but when it comes to makeup, food, and grocery items it can be difficult. Everyday I wake up use the same hair, face, and cleaning products that are all made of plastic. It feels like you can’t ever escape!
After filling out Beth Terrys checklists I was shocked with how many items could be replaced. Things I had never even thought about before. Starting last week after I filled this out I ordered new laundry detergent and ordered bar soap. It isn’t a big impact but I needed to start small changes before I started making big ones. I also stopped using plastic bags at grocery stores and started bringing my own. This not only helps our environment but it encourages and helps me live a healthier lifestyle.
There are quite a few plastic items that are almost impossible to live without. Items such as cards, for example my credit card and driver’s license. These are things you never think about but they are used almost everyday. Nowadays we have apple pay but it still is not everywhere. Another plastic item that I could not live without is my phone and computer. I mean I couldn’t even be writing this right now! Although people may be able to live without these items I surely can’t as I use them every day. Lastly, a plastic thing I can’t replace is my car. I use my car as my main source of transportation. Being at college I haven’t had my car but even just ubers still count.
Change is certainly hard especially when I’m already experiencing many changes transitioning to college. After being in this class I am very motivated to decrease my plastic consumption to better the environment. Even though I have started small I am going to gradually make steps to make my plastic consumption less and less. I advise you to do the same and start making small changes that will help the future!
I agree I do think that once you start to look at things more closely it is harder for you to cut out plastic completely but I love that You talked about how you are making small changes slowly and going to gradually keep making changes to decrease your plastic consumption. I think many people need to start small in order to make it part of their lifestyle.
When I went to the grocer store I also stopped using plastic bags and bringing my own reusable bag. I also cannot live without my phone, laptop, and car. It really sucks that we can’t make these items without using plastic. I also use Tide in the laundry but I’m going to give Blueland laundry tablets a try! I’ve never heard of them before.
I am interested in the toothpaste tablets I have heard about them a lot and after learning that toothpaste containers just cant be recycled I have been looking for a better alternative.
I agree once I started looking at my plastic footprint I was shocked with how much plastic is around me everyday, and even more shocked with how hard it would be to cut most of it out. Although, there were many small changes that I was willing to make. I currently use tide for my laundry right now but I want to look into the Blueland tablets instead!