Could You Live 'plastic Free'?

[Nameless14]

- Do you ever “refuse plastic,” perhaps by bringing your own bags to stores, avoiding takeout containers, drinking from a cup rather than using a plastic straw (or bringing your own metal one) or employing other tactics?
- Do you think the goal of using no plastic products is attainable? What about simply cutting down?
- If you tried to live totally plastic free, what would be the biggest challenge for you? Why do you say that?
- Do you try to use fewer plastic products these days? Do you try to recycle when possible? How about your family?
- Where in your life do you see the most unnecessary waste, whether it’s plastic or anything else? What, if anything, do you think can done to address the issue?

[-Talbot-]

It's a shame you don't get involved with the threads you post.

I could get really involved in a thread like this but.....

[spathiphyllum]

Yes
Yes
Shampoo
Yes
on packaging / take out.

[Calicogirl]

As much as possible my partner and I try to decline plastic but sometimes they substitute our chopping for example and what we've ordered isn't there but something wrapped in 5 tons of plastic is, so it's harder than you might think. x

[retrocop]

No. I would imagine as the world becomes more Hi-Tech the need for plastic is indesputable.

[spathiphyllum]

Nameless it goes down to everything now adays specifically textiles. So much man made fibre today.. it's all plastic. From running shoes to tshirts. Sunglasses to hair clips.

[Old_Geezer]

You can address all those issues by having fewer people on the planet.

Developing microbes that eat plastic and turn it into something environmentally friendly would help, but beware items where plastic was used because it wouldn't deteriorate.

[spathiphyllum]

One issue is people thinking, oh plastics now considered bad, lets throw all of ours out. Best thing to do is keep it forever and try to reuse it as much as possible. I have a friend, environmentally conscious yet when plastic because a global issue she threw all hers away, simply adding to the issue.

Save ur plastic, keep it all together, don't just throw it away. Try to reuse or recycle it.

She slated me for having a plastic toothbrush appose to a bamboo one.. I said well at least my plastic one isn't now floating around a land site, when i stop using it i'll clean other things with it.

[zabado]

I can never understand why they wrap turnips, broccoli and cucumber in plastic, or put cabbages and cauliflowers in open ended plastic bags, and the best way to cut back on the use of 5p plastic carrier bags is quite simply to stop making them.

[hc4361]

I use a lot of hard plastic which will last for years, I never drink out of a disposable cup mainly because I don't like them.
I use my own bags when shopping except for meat and poultry for hygiene reasons.

[hc4361]

zabado, countless tests have shown that wrapping that type of foodstuff in plastic makes it last a lot longer, which is very good for tackling food waste.
Also it means a proper label can be easily attached to the fruit and veg, essential with all the different varieties and types at different prices on offer, eg ordinary cauli and organic cauli.

[Eleena]

I reckon there wouldn't be many still use a flask as I do, not cool? I do recycle and it annoys me when people could do so much more it can't be arsed.

[Eleena]

it .. *and*

[andres]

Back in the 'Olden Days' we went into shops and the shopkeepers wrapped our items usually in brown paper bags , large paper carrier bags or cardboard boxes. Women had shopping bags,baskets etc. Everything was weighed out ,not many pre-wrapped groceries. Shopping done on a daily basis. Back home we used pottery bowls and plates,enamel , aluminium and galvanised steel buckets . Then the revolution--plastic. Welcomed as the greatest thing ever invented. No-one was far thinking enough to think or even dream of the dreadful consequences that are happening now.
I try not to use plastic bags or black bin liners but have to admit that it is a struggle to be entirely plastic free. Food items are wrapped in plastic containers with layers of plastic covers. We can't burn them because of poisonous fumes. My bin is full of food wrappers. We don't have any corner shops any more in our area where we can take our own containers.
It makes me despair when the big companies ,like Ebay,Amazon etc. now put items in thick plastic postage bags.
Not long ago there was something on the tv. regarding some chemical that would dissolve plastic but I have not heard anything about it since.

[Ken4155]

We could all probably cut down on plastic usage but no-one could live absolutely plastic free and maintain their current lifestyle. Far too many everyday objects are made from or contain a large amount of plastic. Remote controls, phones, buttons on washing machines, milk bottles, shampoo bottles, computer mouse, computer keyboard, tv casing, fridge handles, pan handles, light switches, the insulating covering of all electricity cables, etc, etc, etc.

[andres]

^^^Should have said that this is the first time that I have posted on one of Nameless' threads .Perhaps he/she would condescend to at least give us a few words.

[Eleena]

I can remember going to the greengrocer for your veg, hand picked from a large box or sack and it went in your shopping bag loose ( some newspaper in the bottom to collect the dust)

[Eleena]

I think it comes down to people haven't as much time now to cook from scrsfch, certainly those that are still working. Weekends are different. But during the week, people are buying foods that have a longer shelf life because they simply haven't the time of energy.

[Eleena]

* scratch .. or*

[jno]

OG, surely developing microbes that eat surplus people would be a better goal, then?

[hc4361]

I still buy my fruit and veg like that, Eleena