I have found this challenge almost impossible, every time I shop there are little bits of plastic that I hadn’t thought about such as the plastic rings between cans of drink! But there are solutions if we choose them! Read this article about biodegradable plastic rings www.treehugger.com/sustainable-product-design/edible-sixpack-ring-beerssaltwater-brewery-we-believers.html

I was annoyed with myself for forgetting my glass Flaska bottle last night at yoga, but I promise to re-use the plastic cup I had to use instead. However it brought about an interesting discussion and a fellow yogi told me about the website http://www.trashisfortossers.com check it out!

Went to the market stall to avoid the bananas in plastic bags in M and S and before I could produce my cloth bag the guy had whisked the bananas into a plastic bag! Explained to him what I was doing and why it was important to reduce plastic. He helpfully told me if I felt bad I could burn the bag when I got home!!

Bought a pizza base and a water filter jug, both in cardboard boxes, so dismayed to find they had hidden plastic inner wrappings. WHY?!

Finally bought some Malteasers as a gift (as they are Fairtrade) but they too had a plastic wrapping! Again why? The boxes are sealed, isn’t that good enough?

Without Abel and Cole would have been going very hungry this month. Delicious carrots which this week were in a bag that looked like plastic but was actually made from cornstarch and is completely compostable! 

Sadly the tomatoes come in a plastic box, luckily it will get a re-use as a compost repository on the draining board.

Popped into Marks and Spencer, you can’t take loose bananas and tomatoes through the basket only till so faced a long queue, must say very tempted to put fruit back and walk out! Why do bananas, asparagus and courgettes have to be in plastic?

In the evening went to Bruce Springsteen concert at Wembley (which was fab) but from an environmental point of view terrible every drink in plastic. as the crowds flocked out the was a sea of plastic. I do hope they recycle!

So today I needed shopping I especially went to the market to get fruit and veg in paper bags but then of course there was no organic produce! I also needed seeds and nuts ( being 90% vegan a much need protein source) there seems no alternative to plastic bags! Any suggestions? I got some lovely plants on the market but the pots they come in don’t seem to be recyclable, however I did re-use three to support tomato plants in a gro-bag  (which had been purchased pre-challenge). Finally I went to the farm shop so I could get frozen veg in bags that can be re-used.  But all of this did take a great deal more time than going to the supermarket! We need to make it easy for people to make good choices!

Yesterday was easy at home aside from running and yoga. Today a trip into the village…. I chose some biscuits in a cardboard box not thinking of the plastic inside! Similarly I bought Co-op dishwasher tablets in a cardboard box but the tablets are in plastic! I have tried Ecover but they seem to get stuck in our dispensing mechanism. Any ideas gratefully received! Finally at our lovely bakers (Ravens) we bought bread and rather than having it sliced and placed in a plastic bag we had unsliced in a paper bag. The only downside of this is we eat much thicker slices!

I thought I was doing really well, I had planned ahead: nice delivery from Abel and Cole who use lots of paper and card and no plastic with their delivery. I knew that I would have to break the challenge immediately to take my daily tamoxifen but I need it. I am guessing they are in blister packs to keep the drug stable?

However we stopped at a pub mid walk had a drink and bag of crisps…I had eaten them before I even thought of the packet! Of course although it seems like metal it isn’t! Will need to be more vigilant in future!

Nicky

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