Show Your Plastic Challenge - Plastic Free July Week 4

SHOW YOUR PLASTIC CHALLENGE - WEEK 4

TOTAL - TBD OUNCES

Our ugly evidence,

As I was contemplating my post for this week I realized that some of  you might be questioning my motive for undertaking this project. Why would anyone want to go to such effort to rid their life of something so pervasive & convenient as plastic? I (along with my four other siblings) lost my dear mother over three years ago to primary progressive multiple sclerosis. She died only two weeks after her 50th birthday. She was a lively, loving woman who inspired everyone around her.

WHY DO I MENTION OUR MOTHER IN THIS STORY?

She grew up during her childhood in the Love Canal subdivision in Niagra Falls, NY. For those of you who aren’t aware Love Canal was built on top of a toxic waste dump. While I cannot state that our Mother’s disease was a product of her childhood exposure to the toxic chemicals that surrounded her, I certainly question its involvement. It is obvious that we are a product of our environment. At the time of our Mother’s diagnosis, we had already been educating ourselves for some time on the benefits of healthy lifestyle choices: organic and whole foods, locavore eating, green living, homesteading, simple living. But this was the straw that broke the camel’s back. It sent me into a mode of questioning everything.

WHO SAYS THAT PLASTIC WAS SAFE?

What impact will chemicals continue to have on my family? While I realize that many factors are out of my control – plastic consumption is one factor that can be somewhat controlled. Is ANY plastic really SAFE? While there is much debate on this subject, there exists a plethora of convincing evidence that shows, in even food grade plastics, toxins leach into our food. Think of these terms: BPA (bisphenol A), Phalates. Where does most virgin plastic come from? Fossil fuels. I don’t want my children becoming a product of someones experiment. An experiment that is later found to be harmful to its subjects. A discovery that would come too late. Therefore, I have chosen to become a mindful plastic consumer and limit our plastic consumption.

PLASTIC FREE PROGRESS:

• Completed the Grocery Substitution from Beth Terry’s book Plastic Free – How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too with ideas for plastic free substitutes of my top 13 grocery items. See my completed Grocery Substitution worksheet.
• Implemented two plastic free changes from the Grocery Substitution Worksheet: bread and cereal/granola. I felt brave enough to finally go without my gluten and soy free convenience foods and attempted the different task of learning how to bake again – this time, GLUTEN FREE. As I start to build a new collection of dependable gluten-free recipes I’ll share them with you.
• We have been traveling in our Airstream RV this week in St. Louis. We managed to keep away from all plastic drink bottles. However, upon arriving at our RV location we were dismayed to discover that a water pressure regulator was required due to high pressure. We didn't have any use for one prior and therefore didn't have one with us. Since water is a necessity we acquired the two largest pieces of #3 PVC plastic packaging you see in the photo. Bummer!
• I'll have to report back with weight of plastic consumed later this week upon returning home.

GOALS:

• Write to one company and suggest positive changes to reduce or eliminate plastic in their packaging.
• Grocery Substitution Worksheet: Make homemade gluten-free crackers.  

REMEMBER WE ARE WHAT WE EAT AND SOMETIMES THAT MIGHT MEAN CHEMICAL TOXINS FROM OUR PLASTIC ENVIRONMENT.