Day 14: Reflection

And the challenge is over! I'm going to wrap myself up in saran wrap and just soak in the plastic!

Just kidding. Obviously. 

I'm extremely glad that I put myself through this. It forced me to be more observant, and make changes in my lifestyle at an accelerated rate. And keeping the blog was a good way to make sure I didn't forget about the challenge. It is easy for me to give up when I just have to think about myself, but having a blog made me accountable to (all three of) my readers, and I felt a sense of responsibility to keep going, even if I made mistakes along the way. 

There are a few themes that were reoccurring during the challenge, but the one that struck me the hardest was how our convenience, processed, and fast-paced lifestyle is so intrinsically linked and embedded into plastic. It seems really obvious in retrospect, and I always superficially understood that before starting this challenge. But it wasn't until I denied myself these conveniences that I really started to notice all the links.

As soon as I denied myself plastic, all processed food was out of the question. All the cosmetics I owned were out of the question. Buying anything new was mostly out of the question as well - anything from bed sheets to even (ironically) a package of paper bags involved purchasing plastic. Buying myself a snack or lunch at the cafeteria was out of the question. 

I've been forced to become more organized.  I had to think about what I wanted to eat that afternoon, that day, or that week. I had to constantly plan ahead. I had to decide if I would be coming home in the evening, or studying all night after class at the university.  

I also found myself practicing many lost life skills in the midst of this challenge. With processed foods out of the question, I found myself cooking from scratch more often than not. I even made myself a face mask at home. This is something I regret not expanding on. I plan to make more products (like soap) for myself in the near future. Not to mention, all this has been cost effective for me as a single person. 

But was all of this time effective? Not really. 

It was difficult to get everything that was expected from me in terms of homework and school - and then on top of that make entire meals and other products from scratch. And I think this is why plastic is able to become so prevalent in our society. It gives us time.  

I wonder - time for what? I could be wrong about this, but my first thoughts went to how many more hours we work in the West compared to the rest of the world. It has become such a norm to hold more than one job.

Personally, it is hard not to get sucked into plastic's promise of time. But I hope that the self-fulfillment, healthier and more envirofriendly lifestyle I've experienced in the past two weeks will keep me going! I won't be updating as often as I have in the last two weeks, but I definitely would like to keep this project of reducing my plastic consumption going. 

Day 13: Misconceptions About Recycling Plastic

I promised myself that I would not be preachy about my goal to reduce my plastic use. I think I've been pretty good about that. It is not really my style to begin with, and not to mention how hypocritical I would feel. I feel as though I fail more often than I would like to admit - pizza cravings are the worst! But that doesn't mean I let the failures overshadow my victories.

But I often get asked, "Why bother? Plastic is everywhere." I completely understand that sentiment, and I feel the slight need to defend my actions.

I understand I can't completely escape plastic. It is in my laptop, chair, beloved cellphone, contact lenses, my clothes, and my carpet. However, I personally felt that I needed to at least start somewhere, and this 14 day challenge was that "somewhere" for me. And being a politics nerd, the seeds were planted much earlier through the exposition of misinformation and greenwashing that is extremely prevalent in our society when it comes to plastic and other environmental concerns.

For the sake of theme and time, I'm going to keep this brief and try to focus my attention on the myths and misconceptions surrounding "recycling" plastic. I think there is tons of information available online for those who are interested in exploring this further. In the mean time, I have a math lesson to plan for tomorrow after I finish writing this entry.

First of all, we have all seen the recycling symbol. The three arrows that are supposed to mean a recyclable product, but in reality, there are actually no laws that govern the use of the symbol.

Secondly, most plastic products are categorized using the Resin Identification Code and are numbered from 1 to 7 (material such as nylon, polyester, and rubber are not included in the system and are considered non-coded plastic). Most plastic products usually have a number within the recycling symbol as well. I used to throw everything with a recycling symbol into the recycling bin, and didn't think plastic was that harmful. After all, it was being recycled! I was wrong - not all these plastic types are actually recyclable in most municipalities. Thunder Bay only takes #1 and #2 plastic. The rest end up in the landfill. These plastics then leech into the soil, ground water, and atmosphere.

There is also the misconception that plastic is recyclable in the sense that it can be recycled over and over again. In reality, when number 1 to 7 plastics are actually recycled, they don't become the same product again. Instead, they are made into non-coded plastics such as carpet or hard plastic bins that end up being burned (releasing toxins into the atmosphere) or sent to the dump once they outlive their use.

This is obviously a simplified version of a complex process. For example, certain beverage bottles are starting to be recycled into similar style bottles, but that is few and far between. I think the bigger picture is pretty obvious - not that much plastic actually gets recycled. And even when it does, it will eventually end up in the landfills regardless.

Check out this link or this awesome CBC documentary called Forever Plastic for more information and facts. It is pretty nuts. For example, only 7% of discarded plastic is recycled in the US. Or according to Stats Canada, "in 2006 Canadians produced over 1000 kg of waste per person, up 8% from 2004. Of this total 835 kg went to landfills or was incinerated while 237 kg was diverted from landfills."

Day 12: Soapnuts!

I'm living in a house with 5 other roommates. Sounds a little crazy, but it is actually a fairly relaxed atmosphere! And not to mention they have been supportive of my attempt to go plastic free and have been massive contributors to my growing glass jar/container collection to slowly replace all my plastic. And according to the cleaning schedule, it is my turn to clean the washroom.

That got me thinking and researching about plastic-free alternatives to all the cleaning products we have. Green Living Ideas has some pretty good non-toxic organic house cleaning recipes. Although definitely much better than buying toxic products from the store packaged in plastic, some ingredients, such as vinegar, come in plastic containers as well. 

Then I came across Soapnuts, a hypoallergenic and plastic free way of cleaning.  

They aren't actually a nut, but the shells from a tree fruit that releases saponins when soaked in water and are great for cleaning anything. They have been used for cleaning in the past by many Asian and South Asian countries as well as North American Aboriginals. They can be made into laundry detergent, dish soap, or multipurpose cleaner. I wish I had found out about them earlier so I could have ordered them and used them by the time my two weeks were up! But I am going to buy them anyways and try them out because I'm extremely curious about the result.

I've been researching and haven't found a place in Thunder Bay that has them. But there are several stores in Winnipeg that carry them. You can see Orgownic for all their locations. I'm going back home to visit soon, and I'm pretty excited to pick some up!

Maybe even have a post-14 day challenge update? 

Day 11: A Little Taste of Home

I've been thinking about home a little more than usual this weekend, so naturally I've been craving curry.

I went to Masala Grille yesterday - the only East Indian restaurant in Thunder Bay. And you know what? It is pretty good. Although I personally didn't use any disposable plastic while at the restaurant, I felt a little guilty going during the two week challenge since the restaurant obviously uses plastic. But I did bring my own containers in case I had left overs. I've never thought about bringing my own containers to a restaurant before till yesterday. I consider that a small victory.

Despite the filling meal yesterday, the craving stuck around. so I decided to make some vegetable curry at home.  Normally I would bust out the big bag of frozen vegetables, but obviously that is not an option. Instead I cut all my vegetables that I bought from the store earlier this week - carrots, zucchini, potatoes and onion to be exact. Definitely a lot more time consuming, but worth it!

And here you go!

Out of laziness, I would normally eat my curry with packaged sliced bread or tortillas from the supermarket, but since that was no longer and option, I made some chapatis from scratch. They totally hit the spot! And take only a few minutes to make. My dad would be so proud right now since I hated making them and would refuse to growing up.  

Ingredients in the vegetable curry or "subji" as it is traditionally called in India.
- olive oil
- onion
- garlic
- ginger
- Meat Masala spice mixture
- turmeric powder
- cumin seeds
- cayenne pepper
- salt
- carrots
- zucchini
- potatoes

My exact measurements are unknown to me since I usually do occasional taste tests and decide if I want to add more spices. And I usually do. But Manjula's Kitchen is an awesome site for authentic vegetarian East Indian dishes. She is so cute and endearing to watch too! Take a look at her Carrots with Green Peas recipe for something along the same lines. I would have loved to add peas to mine, but I haven't seen any that are not packaged around.  And most vegetable curries have the same base, so you can add any other vegetables your heart desires.

As for the chipati, Manjula is back to the rescue! It is so simple.

- whole wheat
- water
- a dash of olive oil.

And you just make it to a good dough consistency, roll out, and cook on a skillet or frying pan.

So satisfied :)

Day 10: Homemade Face Mask

I just made myself a Banana-Honey face mask. There are tons of recipes here for other types of masks.

This is a simple one. Banana, honey, and lemon juice. It is meant for oily skin. 

No more overpriced face masks in plastic bottles for me!

Day 9: LUSH

I went to LUSH to see what they had for plastic free alternatives.  They definitely have a lot of soaps, moisturizers, bubble baths and the like not packaged in any plastic. Or packaged at all, really. And they also allow their customers to refill their plastic containers once they are finished the product. I thought that was pretty cool.  I ended up buying the Aromarant Deodorant. It is a dry bar deodorant that you can rub directly to dry skin.

I thought some of their products were overpriced - especially considering I bought a bar of soap and shampoo for $1.70 each from The Soap Works. Granted, the stuff at Lush looks much more amazing. But all the extra perfume smells and amazing colours had me a little skeptical about just how "natural" and "good for me" everything at the store is. I did a little search on EWG's Cosmetic Database and found that the products on the site ranged from Level 3 to 6, which classifies them as "Moderately Hazardous." It is all the perfumes they use in their products, I think.

I would like to explore more local soap/cosmetic makers if possible though. If anyone has any pointers, let me know! I've checked out a couple places, but not being from Thunder Bay has me a little lost at times. And since it is the end of the semester, all my free time is being sucked into homework.

Day 7: Half Way Mark

I'm half way done!

There have definitely been frustrating moments. Like, discovering canned food contained plastic when it was 7 pm at night and I was hungry.  Or last weekend when I decided to get a few cans of beer for a party and completely forgot about the six-pack plastic rings that accompany them. And I kind of miss cheese.

And then there have been triumphs, like cooking food from scratch and having it taste pretty good. I'm still amazed at how great those granola bars taste. They haven't lost their chewiness yet!

Goals for the next half:
- find plastic free moisturizer or even make my own
- find a plastic free deodorant
- laundry time is coming up, so I want a plastic-free alternative to my plastic packed liquid detergent

I think that is a decent list considering it is the last week of classes and I have final assignments/tests everyday of the week!

Oh! A video worth checking out. It is a hilarious 4 minute mockumentary called The Majestic Plastic Bag. It's written and executed like a nature show documentary.

"It is now nightfall, and our highly advanced night-vision cameras  have managed to capture for the first time in history, a plastic bag in pitch black. [pause] Phenomenal." 

Day 6: Meal Planning Struggles

I'm in the second last week of classes before my teaching practicum starts, and I've definitely been spending long hours at the university as a result. As someone who has been a fan of single serving packaged meals, or would have simply gotten something to eat on campus for long days, I'm definitely having a hard time meal planning. On top of that, my fast home cooked meals are also out of the question since my frozen vegetables and sauces tend to be packaged in plastic and canned.

I'll be honest here, but I was pretty devastated to find out canned foods have a lining of plastic on the inside as well.  I went into this challenge thinking I could quickly whip up some recipes with canned food. But nope, according to Environmental Working Group, canned foods have been found to contain BPA in them from the liner. Beverages seem to contain the least amount of BPA, and canned pasta and soups contain the highest levels. 

Things seemed gloomy, but then the research began! I came across a few tomato pasta sauce recipes I could make from scratch. Some called for boiling tomatoes and then peeling them. Others called for 6 to 8 hours of cooking. And then there is this hilariously awkward video on "How to Make Good Ass Tomato Sauce From Scratch in 15 Minutes." I read them over and got the general gist and decided to see what I could come up with on my own. 

Andddddd, ta-da!

It wasn't too bad! I could definitely improve on the recipe and try to make it with more care when I don't have a bunch of assignments due. I don't have the exact measurements for the recipe, but here are the ingredients:

- olive oil

- garlic (I just threw in a whole clove; I love garlic)

- LOTS of roma tomatoes (I think I had about 15 to 20)

- green peppers

- mushrooms

- basil

- sage

- brown sugar

- Italian herb mixture

- rosemary

- pepper

- salt

- cayenne pepper

- water

You can buy all the herbs and spices from the bulk barn. I am lucky that I took my parents glass and metal spice rack since they never used it.

1) Cook onions and garlic in olive oil
2) Chop tomatoes and a little bit of water. If tomato peels bug you, I would boil them, peel, and then add them to the mixture.
3) Add the rest of the vegetables and spices
4) Stir! It will take a while for everything to break down. I think I cooked mine for about an hour.
5) Boil some pasta and chow down!

I was so hungry that I forgot to take a picture before I started eating. So you get this mush-mash instead. I have tons of left overs that I can eat later on in the week or freeze. 

Day 5: Confronting Makeup

I find makeup to be one of the tougher subjects to approach when going plastic free. It not only raises the issue of all the wasteful plastic packaging that harm the planet and our bodies, but then you're faced with issue of the even more harmful toxins and chemicals that compose makeup to begin with. And that undoubtedly raises the age old, much debated, and never really resolved issue:  Why wear make up to begin with?  

Personally, I find this topic to be a massive labyrinth of multifaceted issues ranging from level headed personal choices to extremes in which women spend 3 hours every morning painting their face. I think both ends of the spectrum are definitely influenced by mass-media and its appropriation of beauty.  For the sake of theme, I'll let you all ponder that one on your own while I stay focused on the issue of reducing my plastic use.

In one way, I consider myself fairly lucky walking into this challenge given the fact I consider myself fairly low-maintenance. The picture above illustrates what my daily makeup routine looked like before the challenge. LOTS of concealer, a little bit of foundation, kohl eyeliner, mascara, and chap stick. However, that doesn't mean it is even close to all the make up I own but never use (see below). And this is only what I decided to bring with me from Winnipeg. Pretty brutal!

I've managed to drop everything but the concealer for my everyday makeup routine.  On the plus side, I'm using a lot less plastic and saving some time getting ready in the morning. On the down side, I feel like I am failing a bit by not giving up on concealer. But my vanity definitely gets the better of me - those under eye circles are a little extreme! 

I tried to look around for some plastic free alternatives for make up, and I haven't come across anything worth mentioning. And even if you do take care of the plastic packaging issue, there is still a question of what is in your make up. Check out EWG's Skin Deep Makeup Database to see what your makeup rates. 

For me:

MAC Concealer: 5 (moderate hazard)

Maybelline Liquid Mousse Foundation: 3 (moderate hazard)

Revlon DoubleTwist Mascara: 4 (moderate hazard)

Revlon Eyeliner: 4 (moderate hazard)

And I couldn't find my lip balm on the site. 

Day 4: Do you ever feel like...a plastic bag?

Today has been a homework day. Basic meals, pajamas, glued to the computer.

However, I came across an interesting short film: Plastic Bag by Ramin Bahrani. The film was commissioned by ITVS for a series called Future States. It is not the typically preachy you-are-destroying-the-world documentary about the environment. Thankfully! Instead, it is a poignant and beautifully executed short film that takes the audience on an existential journey of a plastic bag that is in search of his maker. It is a bit slow moving, but I found that it spoke volumes. I may or may not have teared up at the end. I hope you guys find the time to enjoy it!

And attention educators/future educators! While snooping around the website, I was pleasantly surprised to find out that the short film was accompanied by a lesson plan! There are a few other lesson plans in relation to other short films in the series as well. Woohoo! Bonus!

Day 3: Shampoo Bars?

Ahhhh! How do I shower and clean myself without my shampoo and body wash that is packaged in plastic? What about my plastic toothbrush and toothpaste? What about moisturizing my body? I knew that all these items were packaged in plastic (and full of chemicals that are actually harmful to the body), but was never truly conscious of the fact and implications until starting this challenge. It was actually after I started the challenge that I even thought about it.  

I was actually shopping at the bulk barn when I came across various bar soaps by The Soap Works  that were not packaged in any plastic. And it clicked that my shampoo bottle and body wash were plastic! Very obvious in retrospect. But I guess that's just how pervasive plastic is in our lives that we don't think about it anymore. I don't at least.

Oh, I should also mention that they were $1.70 each. That is the least I have ever paid for soap or shampoo! So ridiculously cheap!

After reading about all the different soaps, I was pretty excited to try out the Hemp Oil Soap (it had me at "anti-aging"). I was definitely a little weary of the Shampoo & Conditioner Bar since my hair is really long, and I had never tried a bar shampoo before.  

Verdict? I'm impressed. My skin feels great, and it is great knowing that the soap was actually healthy for me as well! The shampoo was better than I expected as well. I didn't get that creamy conditioner feeling that I am used to, but it lathered really nice and my hair was fairly soft in the end. 

I think if I put some coconut oil in my hair before washing, my hair will be a little softer. Coconut oil is amazing for hair, anyways. It is what my aunt would massage into my scalp every other night when I was in India. Come to think of it, conditioners weren't commonly used back then in India anyways. And all the girls had amazing hair!

Now, I just need to get plastic free moisturizer. Or maybe even make some myself? I shall research and report.

Day 2: (Almost) Plastic Free Granola Bars!

I am so incredibly proud of myself for making granola bars from scratch and almost plastic free! I never bake. I hardly ever make anything from scratch.

I went to the bulk barn and asked whether it would be alright if I used my own paper bags. They had no problem, but advised that they were unable to tare their scale according to my bags. I do think that this is something that should be changed since it would encourage people to bring their own containers to the bulk barn instead of relying on plastic bags. Regardless, the weight difference between the paper and plastic bags was negligible, and I walked away with most of the needed ingredients for my granola bars!

The only ingredient that came in plastic was the honey. I tried a few different stores and was not able to find honey in a non-plastic container.  This is something I will have to continue to research.

I slightly modified this recipe to get to the deliciousness that you see above. And of course the raisins, chocolate chips, and pecans are optional. And you can add anything else you want!

Ingredients:

2 cups rolled oats
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup wheat germ
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup raisins
3/4 cup milk chocolate chips
1/3 cup crushed pecans

• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup honey
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1/2 cup olive oil
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup apple sauce

Directions:

1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 9 x 13 inch baking pan.

2) Mix oats, brown sugar, wheat germ, cinnamon, flour, raisins, chocolate chips, pecans, and salt.

3) Make a well in the center of mixture and pour in honey, egg, oil, vanilla extract, and apple sauce.

4) Mix using your hands (fun!!) and flatten into baking pan.

5) Bake for 25 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes and cut bars while they are still warm. 

6) Enjoy!!

Day 2: Thank You, Kivela Bakery!

Finding plastic free alternatives for basic items has been the starting point in this challenge. And bread is definitely a basic in my life! I have always tried to support local businesses, but out of bad time management and laziness on my part, I usually end up at a big department store where all the bread is wrapped in plastic. I found that many local bakeries also wrap their bread in plastic.

Then Kivela Bakery comes to my rescue!

I went to the bakery earlier today and got a loaf of locally made sourdough bread that was not packaged in plastic upon request. 

While purchasing my $2 loaf of bread, the owner Michael (pictured above on the right) informed me that the bakery has been around since 1910, and supplies bread to The Hoito.

I have to say - the bread is delicious! And plastic free :)

Day 1: The Dilemma of Containers & Packaging

Day 1 has been full of many revelations and challenges.

1) I own a plastic Nalgene (BPA free) water bottle, which is used for everyday water consumption. On the plus side, they are reusable and durable, which is much better than using a one use disposable plastic water bottle.  However, they are still plastic and go through the manufacturing process.  According to this article, and many others - aluminum bottles appear to be a better choice.  I will definitely take this into account whenever I have to purchase a new water bottle.

2) Rubbermaid Containers: I packed my lunch for the day thinking knowing I would not be able to purchase any packaged food during the day since it would most likely be packaged in plastic. My alternative: Rubbermaid containers, which are still plastic but definitely reusable. I am definitely in the need for more Tupperware, so I need to look into glass alternatives. Or even these cute tiffins/bento boxes.

I have also started collecting glass jars/containers for storage rather than putting them straight in the recycling bin.

3) Food: I have had to think a lot more about my meals than I normally have. Single serving meals consist of a lot of plastic. And many other items I buy (cheese, sour cream, ketchup, bread) come in plastic packaging as well. Tomorrow begins the quest of finding alternative food sources! I will most likely be cooking more from scratch, buying bulk, buying from the farmers market. It is interesting how reducing plastic consumption is weaving itself into other positive environmental habits.

14 Day Challenge: Reduce Plastic Use

Hi there,

Today is the first day of my 2 week challenge to use the least amount of plastic possible!  And whenever I do have to use plastic, my goal is to be aware of it, and to seek possible future alternatives. More details about this project will follow.

But first things first: breakfast. I'm thankful that the eggs and veggies I bought are plastic-free. Not so much the bread and ketchup bottle though :(