All right, it’s been a while since I’ve made a drastic change at Green as a Thistle, so here’s a big one for ya: I’m giving up plastic! Well, sort of — I won’t be giving it up entirely, but I’m not buying any new plastic until my challenge is over. This may seem totally impossible, but I figure, hey, if EnviroWoman can do it, so can the Thistle.
My prediction: This will be manageable for the next couple months, but it’s not something I’ll stick with in the long run. It’ll be easy in that I already have my own tote bags, bulk containers and other refillable bottles, plus I’m not planning on restocking my medicine cabinet anytime soon, and I’ve already given up things like tape, highlighters and glossy magazines.
However, I also realize that plastic is in EVERYTHING. I’m not sure what I’m going to do about my soy milk, which comes in a TetraPak, and I’ll definitely need to switch coffee brands because the ones I get now either have a resealable Ziploc-style closure or are lined with a plastic coating.
In terms of the rules and exceptions surrounding this, I’ll pretty much be sticking to whatever guidelines EnviroWoman has laid out (you can find them on her site). The one disclaimer I do want to make now, though, is that if I’m purchasing something and I’m given two choices and plastic somehow manages to represent the lesser evil, I’ll go with plastic.
I’m sure many problems and dilemmas will occur with regards to this, but I’ll just have to cross each bridge when I come to it and try to make the most ethical decision.
Image courtesy of this guy
Posted by gettinggreen
