Over the last year we have been doing our best to reduce our plastic to great mental dilemma to us both. How do we do it? Where do we start?
We have made some changes but they just didn't feel enough. It became apparent that every decision was laced with a greater dynamic of ethics, cost, and environmental factors on lots of different levels.
Last Saturday, we were fortunate enough to have wonderful friends who were kind enough to look after the children while Mike and I went to a local film festival full of environmental films.
The Forgotten Corner Film Festival. Although we learnt very little new information it hit home that now was our time to act so our children can enjoy this world too with their children.
Accepting the fact that if we want to do this we need to budget 20-30% of our income to buy sustainably sourced, local food. We spoke with the children, shared some of the films and attempted to.get them on board (mostly) but we will attempt to lead by example.
The main tools we are using to support our decision making on purchases are:
Do we NEED it?
Where will the packaging go when we finish with it?
Can we get rid of it within our footprint?
Does it already exist on the second hand market?
The answers currently to these questions are varying.
No, we do not produce all organic waste but another lovely friend has agreed to take our compost.
Plastic unfortunately still comes in but we are trying to minimise buying from local suppliers, trying to avoid big chains.
I wish we could get a Milk delivery but the boat proves difficult in that respect. But I am still trying to work around it in the meantime we are aiming to reduce our consumption.
We buy second hand wherever possible, most of what we desire already exists.
Moving back to hankerchiefs.
Muslin cloths instead of kitchen towel.
Refillable ink cartridge for a fountain pen (I go through a lot of pens at work)
Ear plugs, silicone reuseable rather than foam disposable ones (sleeping after work with the children around).
Solid bar shampoo (homemade batch currently curing)
Solid bar soap instead of liquid soap.
Vinegar mixed with lavender essential oil to clean with.
We take reuseable bottles and mugs with us.
Refuse straws
Loose leaf tea (because many teabags use plastic to help melt the seams in place! Who knew)
Eat/drink in wherever possible to reduce single use products.
On the list to change,
Deodorant.
Children's treats and biscuits (currently they are surviving on things past their best before date to avoid stuff going to landfill)
Washing powder.
Dish soap.
Foam scourers.
We are also open to suggestions and ideas. Everyone tells us we need to change but how do we make them, these are our attempts please, please lets get sharing our triumphs and failures.
My next blog I will go through and link suppliers we have used and like to make an easier starting point for you lovely lot.
Lastly I have linked an article Mike shared with me as I became all consumed and miserable. We can make a difference but it will need a change of attitude, hard work, less consuming and less convenience! And a film we watched on Saturday it is an hour and a half but poignant and worth a watch.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/sep/06/save-earth-disposable-coffee-cup-green
https://www.albatrossthefilm.com/watch-albatross