Observations on #PlasticfreeJuly

So #PlasticFreeJuly is drawing to a close for 2017.  How was it for you?  Did you manage to refuse plastic and find alternatives?  Did you learn anything new and will you move forwards more plastic aware?  I know I learnt a lot from the month, some of which was rather depressing but some was really very uplifting. 

Home made foods > 4. Plastic packaging > 0.

July is Plastic Free July which aims to raise awareness of the problems with single-use disposable plastic and challenges people to do something about it. As part of the challenge one of my aims has been to make more foods that I might otherwise buy and which comes in plastic packaging.  So what have I managed ... 

1. Tortillas Wraps

Not only are these plastic wrapped*, they also contain a shed-load of additives AND palm oil.  This recipe for home-made tortillas from My Make Do and Mend Life popped up in my Facebook timeline and I am please do report that they were easy to make and tasted delicious.

* I do reuse the plastic bags they come in - they are great for helping to keep lettuces fresh in the fridge and make good string packages for sandwiches and my own home-made bread.  But overall I would rather not have them and he fact the tortillas contain palm oil ensures they are no longer on my shopping list.

My shopping trolley - a plastic reducing challenge

Throughout June the Marine Conservation Society UK is organising a #PlasticChallenge, encouraging everyone to reduce how much plastic they use, especially single use plastic.  You can find more details and how to sign up here.

Over the years I have gradually worked at reducing how much waste we, as a family produce, although I know I have a long way to go to become zero-waste (more of that in another blog, shortly) ... but I thought I would share this week's shopping trolley with you complete with my failures and successes, and some ideas on how I could further reduce my plastic consumption.

How much plastic is in your shopping trolley?

Take the 100 step plastic reduction challenge

In our modern world is is impossible to avoid plastic.  It is all around us that in many cases we probably do not even notice it yet its negative effect on the planet is devastating.  Plastic is made from fossil fuels that were laid down many millions of years ago, locking up carbon and you can read more about why this is so bad in a recent blog I wrote - 100 ways to reduce your plastic use. Scientists estimate that there are 269,000 tons of plastic pollution may be floating in the world's oceans made up of some 5.25 TRILLION plastic particles.  We are even eating plastic and microplastic particles have been found in mussels, oysters and sea scallops.  It is even estimated that by 2050 there will be more plastic, by weight, in the ocean than fish.  That is plastic that YOU and I have used and thrown away. 

Image from the Marine Conservation Society