Project Plastic Check In #1 Successes
I have had some medium successes that I wouldn't categorize as perfect solutions just yet.
- I am using Dr. Bronner's castille soap for my hands and for my dishes. Their bottles are made of 100% post-consumer products and I can easily reuse these bottles once the soap is gone. Still a plastic purchase however.
- I have started using Tom's of Maine toothpaste and deodorant because they have a great recycling take back program. I will be collecting all my bottles and shipping it out to them once I have a full box. I am also using a Preserve toothbrush because they participate in a similar program. While it's great to support companies with recycling initiatives, I can't call this a plastic free alternative by any means.
In many areas my planning has totally paid off though.
- I tested the homemade my laundry detergent and my clothes feel clean and smell great. I also am using a drying rack instead of the tumble dryers to reduce my energy use.
- Homemade lavender air freshener is still making me happy.
-
For training for my Residence Life position on campus food was served
with plastic dining ware. I instead have been bringing my reusable
container. I am using a dish cloth that can be reused to clean the
containers instead of buying a disposable sponge.
- I brought that I bought in bulk from Massachusetts with me for snacks in the dorm.
- I used my reusable produce bag when I bought fruit from Giant across the street.
- Using bar soap in the shower is going smoothly.
- I used push pins to hang up some of my wall decorations instead of buying command strips.
So
this is where I stand after a few days of moving into the dorm. I am
looking forward to adding more sustainable options to my routine, and I
will keep everyone posted as I learn what they are.
- I am using Dr. Bronner's castille soap for my hands and for my dishes. Their bottles are made of 100% post-consumer products and I can easily reuse these bottles once the soap is gone. Still a plastic purchase however.
- I have started using Tom's of Maine toothpaste and deodorant because they have a great recycling take back program. I will be collecting all my bottles and shipping it out to them once I have a full box. I am also using a Preserve toothbrush because they participate in a similar program. While it's great to support companies with recycling initiatives, I can't call this a plastic free alternative by any means.
In many areas my planning has totally paid off though.
- I tested the homemade my laundry detergent and my clothes feel clean and smell great. I also am using a drying rack instead of the tumble dryers to reduce my energy use.
- Homemade lavender air freshener is still making me happy.
- I brought that I bought in bulk from Massachusetts with me for snacks in the dorm.
- I used my reusable produce bag when I bought fruit from Giant across the street.
- Using bar soap in the shower is going smoothly.
- I used push pins to hang up some of my wall decorations instead of buying command strips.
Kudos to you guys. I stumbled across your blog via my Google alert for "plastic free" since that is the title of my book. Not to shamelessly promote it, well, okay I am shamelessly promoting it, because it has tons of ideas that might be helpful to you in your journey, as well as inspiring stories from a lot of other plastic-free activists and heroes.
ReplyDeleteI've added your blog to my blogroll at MyPlasticFreeLife.com under "Plastic-Free Bloggers": http://myplasticfreelife.com/blog-roll/
Let me know if you'd ever like to guest post on MyPlasticFreeLife.com about your experiences. you can email me at beth [at] myplasticfreelife [dot] com. I love to connect with other plastic-free people!
Beth, thank you for the recognition. I began reading your book after Ella and I started this journey and I have found it to be incredibly helpful. You are a really big inspiration and I am honored that our link is now on your blog roll. I am so happy to have more people holding us accountable as we work to go through college plastic free.
ReplyDeleteThis really means a lot to me,
Roger :)