Too often I made the excuse that if something wasn’t financially viable, then it would just have to wait. For me, this meant a personal regard for certain consumables or lifestyles as opulent and extravagant in equal measure.
When I was much younger, I was decidedly environmentally conscious. The topic of humanity’s most recent contributions to climate change was just beginning to surface in school curriculum; likely the catalyst for my awareness. As with most children, I had an innate ability and an unrestrained impulse to ask simple questions which more often than not, yielded problematic answers.
Shock
“why can’t this change? Why are we doing this? why don’t we stop doing that?”
Easily mistaken for inquiries about the quantity of ice cream available, an unwillingness to remain present in a long car journey, or the visiting of an elderly and invariably smelly relative who struggles to hear what we are saying anyway. But on multifaceted matters of topical concern, the expectation of an uncomplicated answer is just the same. Because when the complexity of human emotion and experience is separated from an issue, it is betrayed by its basic facts and revealed as trivial to the young minds paying attention.
Recently, environmental activist Greta Thunberg has been reminding me of this mindset. Not that I believe in any way that what she feels or is expressing is naive or unconsidered, but really that her perception reminds me of a version of myself that I’d long since lost to adult life. I observed a shift in my nature, as responsibilities of young adulthood began piling up in front of me. Things got in the way, new priorities took possession, distractions materialised. I neglected and overlooked my feelings on (or at least my enthusiasm to do anything about) climate change. In fact, I noticed a similar pattern of indifference in other aspects of my life.
Denial
Surely, I was shirking responsibility.
Too often I made the excuse that if something wasn’t financially viable, then it would just have to wait. For me, this meant a personal regard for certain consumables or lifestyles as opulent and extravagant in equal measure. That electric car would just have to wait… I had an unwritten contract with myself; If and when it became financially viable to make altruistic adjustments to my life, I would absolutely and without hesitation do so.
I think that for a number of causes, I passed this deadline some time ago. So here is my debut action, well overdue. At the end of 2019, I’ve decided to go plastic-free.
Anger
Looking around me, there appears to be a large movement towards plastic-free consumerism. Unfortunately, I don’t possess a wealth of expert knowledge on the topic, and so shan’t be presenting a well-informed opinion as to why this is the case. But a small amount of googling (a legitimate verb for the modern researcher) and reasonable common sense, leads me to the following ideas:
- In many cases, uptake of plastic handling in local recycling isn’t comprehensive.
- Peripheral motivations such as vegan movements seem to be driving demand for products that are better for the environment, and by extension plastic free.
- Recognition of a high percentage of non-recyclable plastics in production.
- Recognition of a high percentage of unsustainable plastics in production.
- Recognition of the contents of this image:
This felt like motivation enough to begin exploring products I could use to shift my dependence on plastic. Once I began, it became evident that there was a real potential to remove disposable plastics from my life altogether.
Bargaining
As an acceptance of personal limitations (an essential skill for a successful life), I recognise that removing all plastic from my existence will most likely be unworkable. Instead, I wrote an extensive shopping list of items that I make regular use of, and researched potential plastic-free substitutes. I then glanced over the list haphazardly for a few days, presented it without prompt to unsuspecting friends over the following weeks, and crudely devised the following list of categories:
Disposable plastic
My vague assessment would be things that we buy, use, then throw away. Simple right? Even if these are reused after having been purchased (such as bottled water), they will eventually be discarded either by necessity or intent. Plastic Tupperware for example, is a long-term / permanent solution, and is therefore safe from my purge.
Consumables
We are interested in the contents, but the less appealing part of the arrangement is that unfortunately the vessel they arrive in is manufactured with plastic.
Routine
Inspired by the category of consumables, but the originative concept is that we can predict the purchase of them. Take for instance the contents of your weekly food shop (if you’re that way inclined). Else the contents of your food cupboard / fridge which you would acquire throughout a typical week. My thinking is that if we can predict them, maybe we can plan substitutions ahead of time?
There are limitations to going plastic free, and I want to be honest with myself about my expectations. (Having attempted this strategy in the past, and the outcome having been successful…)
Testing
For instance, I can (and will) accept the following exceptions:
I don’t want to throw it away
If something I purchase is entirely or partially composed of plastic, I don’t see it as being problematic if it has a permanent role in my life. Yellow Ducks make great conversationalists in the bath.
Special occasions
AKA: where’s the Halloumi?
A good example: I want to cook a special meal for friends. Unfortunately, there is a significant barrier to getting hold of an essential ingredient. If I want to buy it free of plastic packaging, I must travel to Tibet, and barter with a cautious farmer from the Ü-Tsang province. The carbon footprint of the journey alone would doubtless offset my environmental conscience, not to mention the patience of my dinner guests.
Then again, there is always the regrettable fact that products simply can’t be found without plastic packaging.
Gifts
Remain vigilant at all times for surprise plastic. Thank them kindly, and ask them not to do it again.
Plastic-related emergencies
I’m sure there will be some.
Acceptance
I will continue to write posts sharing my own experiences, in the hope that I can provide a useful resource to others who are equally motivated and similarly curious. Thanks for sticking with it, I hope to always exceed your expectations.
