Plastic-Free Challenge : V.O.S. Selections 30 Days of Tips

8/9/2019 Plastic Free Challenge : 30 days of tips - Google Docs

Plastic-Free Challenge : V.O.S. Selections 30 days of tips

Day 1: Nb. 1 & 6 Carry your groceries in big reusable bags. Skip the produce bag and use a cloth bag for nuts, seeds, grains, small fruits and more. Skip the produce bag and use a mesh bag or big cotton bag for vegetables & fruits. Saves thousands of produce bags and shopping bags! You probably already have several bags at home you can use. Mesh and cotton bags can be found at the Container Store (pics below), natural food shops and stores for green living.

Day 2: Nb 2 Get a reusable water bottle - 50 billion plastic water bottles were used in 2015 in the U.S. Refill it with tap water (safe to drink and neutral tasting in most places). S’well is great for their plastic-free design, cool colors, insulation, and partnership with the UNICEF to support access to clean water. Klean Canteen as well, B corp and gives back 1% for the planet. Since you’ll use it almost everyday, get one you love! More choices here: https://www.recycling.com/reusable-water-bottles/

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Day 3: N b 3 Get a travel mug/coffee thermos (it works for iced coffee and eliminates the need for a straw). Bonus points for picking in store locally (uses less packaging than shipping). Stores like REI in Soho (they have the Hydro Flask on sale), Paragon Sports, Bed Bath & Beyond offer a good selection. Zojirushi is great and totally leak proof, keeps coffee super hot/cold, but hard to find locally. 99.9% of coffee places will accept your cup & fill it up directly (not using an extra cup!). If they don’t, they’re not worth your money. Get a mug you’ll love carrying with you, keep it in your bag. https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/travel-products/travel-coffee-mug-reviews/g785/best-travel-coffee-mugs/? slide=1

Day 4: N b 5. If you’re going to a party, be prepared! bring your own silverware, rolled up in a kitchen towel. Or reusable bamboo cutlery ($10 at REI). bring a tumbler for wine/beer (try the “Cortado” cup from Zoetica, made is the USA by Karen Hoskins from Montanya Rum, or Swell, Hydro Flask, Corkcicle). Or any durable glass that won’t break. Bring your water bottle to refill with tap water through the evening. Skip the straw, or bring a stainless steel one (best durable option). And forgo balloons, including so called “biodegradable”, for more eco-friendly ways to celebrate. https://blog.padi.com/2019/04/24/eco-friendly-alternatives-to-balloon-releases-and-sky-lanterns/

Day 5: N b 4. Ordering lunch to-go involves a lot of single use plastic and other single use materials. To avoid single use: Best option is bringing your own lunch to work, packed is a reusable container. A stainless steel (lasts forever, easy to recycle if needed), leak proof one is best - works for everything, from salads to sandwiches - Mason jars are good for a smoothie or juice. If you buy a lunch to go, the easiest option is bringing your own container (weigh it first) to a salad bar. Or asking the sandwich or salad place to put your lunch is your own container. Most places will accept, especially if you go a little before or after rush hour. Check the video below for tips. Refuse cutlery, single serving condiments (keep full size at work), napkins (keep a cloth napkin at work, that you wash every week). Don’t forget to bring your reusable bag, or skip the bag. If you forgot your container, a sandwich just wrapped in paper or aluminium is less waste than a salad in a plastic shell. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgdNJHzWak0&feature=youtu.be Where to find containers? check Zoetica (ethical all around) and shop locally: the Container Store (practical, but not focused on ethical sourcing, try the Ecolunch box), and for one-stop shops for greener living: Green in Brooklyn (Clinton Hill), the Package Free Shop (Williamsburg).

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Day 6: It’s almost the end of week 1! Do you have all you need for next week? Do a quick checklist of what might be missing, or be ready to be creative:) h ttps://youtu.be/V0PC8Mn4yNQ

Day 7: Learn more and check “United States of Plastic”, a series of articles from the Guardian. Upset about the plastic crisis? Stop trying so hard. We make good-faith efforts to help the planet by recycling, but what we really need to do is even simpler “the most effective technique for reducing our environmental impact is to produce or consume less. There is no greener packaging than no packaging. No trip is greener than the one we didn’t make. No product is greener than the one we didn’t buy.” https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/jun/23/upset-about-the-plastic-crisis-stop-trying-so-hard

Day 8: W elcome to week 2 of the challenge! We are progressing with more “advanced” plastic-free tips. Cut out sodas, juices, and other plastic-bottled beverages. It eliminates plastic, saves money, and is healthier! Don’t forget to use a stainless steel straw:) Some recipes here for inspiration: https://www.tasteofhome.com/collection/best-summertime-lemonade-recipes/ https://www.marthastewart.com/274641/iced-tea-recipes

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Day 9: F avor farmer’s markets & coops (4th street coop in E.V. is open to non-members) for unpackaged produce - fruits & veggies also have less stickers and ties around them. Remember to bring your own bags, small and big - if you only have one or two of something, it can go straight into your big bag. For small fruits like berries and cherry tomatoes, use your own container or bag and give the plastic container back to the vendor. Or chose instead the ones coming in cardboard containers, and bring them back to the vendor (they do reuse them). For herbs, salads, and green leaf veggies, just throw them on top of your bag. Bonus points for local (reduces carbon footprint) and seasonal. Now you have a plastic-free, beautiful harvest!

Day 10: P asta, grains, beans, nuts, dry fruits, seeds, cereals, granola, flour, sugar: they all come in bags that create tons of waste - and are not recyclable. The solution? Shop in the bulk section. Remember to bring your cotton bags (no need to weigh them as they are very light) or reusable containers/bottles (weigh them before). Bulk sections available at Whole Foods, some health food stores (LifeThyme and Integral Yoga, both in the West Village), and zero waste shops like Precycle in Bushwick or Plant Base in Jersey City. The 4th street coop in East Village is great for items typically hard to find in bulk: algae, olive oil, maple syrup, herbal teas and more. This week, look for your local bulk store.

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Day 11: O ne step further, from bulk stations to refill stations! Yesterday’s post mentioned the 4th street coop in East Village, that has both. You can refill bottles or jars (weigh them first) with olive oil, vinegar, maple syrup (though these often come in glass bottles, reusing them is best!) For detergent and dish product, a refill station reduces plastic (reuse the container you already have), but some brands offering refillable do not recycle their own bottles! that’s the case for Common Goods. Making your own detergent (many recipes online) is the best solution. If you’re out of NYC, “ecosia” (the eco-friendly motor search) “refill stations” for your location - Princeton, NJ for example, has Whole Earth Center, which is great. For a large choice of higher ends olive oils, vinegars and salts, head to THE Filling Station at the Chelsea Market: h ttps://www.tfsnyc.com/oils Calculate now how many plastic/glass bottles a year that step will save. Be proud!

Day 12: W e all love bread, and it’s even better plastic-free! Skip the plastic bag, and the little plastic clip that closes it: Buy your bread at the farmer’s market, or at a bread counter. Even better, bring a cotton bag to avoid a paper bag (why waste a disposable when you have a reusable?) At home, keep the bread in a cotton bag or rolled in a kitchen towel.

Day 13: T onight is movie night! Watch “A Plastic Ocean”, following the adventures of a filmmaker and a world record free-diver: https://www.amazon.com/Plastic-Ocean-Craig-Leeson/dp/B01N215LVC

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Day 14: A day without tip? Not quite, not quite. On the last day of week 2, “how-to-avoid-cling wrap-in-the-kitchen”? No need to buy any fancy replacement. In most cases you can use what you already have: leave leftovers in bowl, pot or pan, covered with lid. transfer leftovers to a reusable container. You can even freeze food in jars, as long as you don’t fill them with liquid all the way to the top. use a container and cover with an upside down plate. place cut fruits or veggies (half apple, cucumber, lemon) upside down on a plate. for dough or salads, place in a bowl covered with reusable cloth cover or kitchen towel. for fresh herbs, place them in a moist kitchen towel and store them in the crisper. Check on them every couple of days to make sure the towel hasn't dried out. keep herbs or cut leaves in a glass of water on the counter, change the water regularly. keep fruits in cloth bags. place your sandwich in a reusable container or reusable sandwich bag (L unchskins reusable ones are good, and the company offers give-back programs.)

Day 15: W eek 3 of the challenge! How are you doing? Congratulations for building new habits, and contributing to a healthier life for those around you - and far away. Ready to move to a plastic-free bathroom? Switch to shampoo and conditioner bars! No more bottles! Bars are package-free (or have minimal, recyclable packaging), are great for traveling (small and lightweight, no spills) and reduce bathroom clutter. The ones from Lush are great: they last a long time, in most cases replace conditioner as well (if not, Lush offers conditioner bars) and can be bought locally in their shops - some natural food stores carry shampoo bars as well. Buy the tin to transport them (bring it back when you buy more), or use a reusable cotton bag. Bonus points: they only use natural ingredients, and they are cruelty free. Lush fights animal testing, and supports number of campaigns for LGBTQ rights, immigrants rights and more. Find a nice dish to put them on. Well done! https://www.lushusa.com/hair/shampoo-bars/ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1ua0KPBBDwWjcurd7pSvZfgMU5uDv44XtY33yq7ex1Pw/edit 6/15 8/9/2019 Plastic Free Challenge : 30 days of tips - Google Docs

Day 16: D itch liquid soap/shower gel! switch to bar (or cube!) soap, both in the shower and by the sink. Bar soap is: - sanitary and as effective as liquid soap for dealing with bacteria - contrary to what marketing would like people to believe. - light, with minimal packaging, great for traveling. - relatively inexpensive. A brand like Dr Bronner’s is made with natural ingredients, certified organic, and comes at a fair price. Tip: Skip the big brands (Neutrogena, Aveeno, Dove and the likes) owned by huge corporations (they test on lab animals) and choose smaller ones with natural ingredients. Plenty of choice here: bar soaps are available at Whole Foods, natural food stores, good pharmacies. Find a little dish to put it in, and your bathroom is on the way to becoming a spa.

Day 17: P lastic toothbrushes are not recyclable, and 1 billion end up in landfills in the USA alone. switch to bamboo toothbrushes After much research on all options and brands, we recommend Brush with Bamboo. - totally plastic free packaging/shipment - not in stores yet, hopefully soon. Order directly from the company - not from Amazon. - polyamide bristles made from 62% castor bean oil, which require less fossil-based carbon than traditional Nylon bristles. - made from bamboo, a sustainable resource, and the handle is compostable (separate the head from the handle with pliers, bring to a compost drop off location) - produced in California by the Kumar family. They also developed a permaculture garden and urban educational organic farm in their neighborhood. Check their site for bamboo straws and other bamboo products, and their story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI1Pf2gMFCs#action=share Enjoy the zen! To geek on, read this: h ttps://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/06/story-of-plastic-toothbrushes/

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Day 18: W hat to put on your bamboo brush? More than 1 billion plastic toothpaste tubes end up in landfills or oceans each year - they are non-recyclables. Solutions are not yet wide-spread, but after much research (trust us here:), 3 suggestions: Toothbar. Good-looking (dashing with any shampoo bar), economic, and sold locally (Marché Maman@ 239 Centre Street, check before going) h ttps://www.orezlifestyle.com/bundle/toothbar-citrusmint-kj3bh Bite toothpaste bits. Convenient, but expensive! The subscription is great (1 glass jar to start, refills after). For special occasions: h ttps://bitetoothpastebits.com/ Level 4 plastic-free life!!! handmade recipe, low budget. Be careful, you’re reaching Zero Waste level here. Jump down to “3 Simple DIY Toothpaste Recipes”: h ttps://www.authoritydental.org/homemade-toothpaste And… switch to a totally plastic-free dental floss. The packaging for this one is plastic-free, and the strand is made from Mulberry fiber and Candelilla wax. Also sold at Orez, along with refills: h ttps://www.orezlifestyle.com/bundle/dental-floss-nyalx

Day 19: Y ou probably still have an impressive amount of plastic between your medicine cabinet & bathroom shelves: face cleanser, sunscreen, body lotion, the list goes on. Simplify/cut down: do you need that much? You can for example replace face cleanser by soap and, if needed, a little coconut oil (glass jar) to take your make-up off. It works equally well. Save $. Body lotion: use coconut oil (glass jar), shea butter (sometimes sold in slabs in “bulk” stores, go to 4th street coop in East Village) or make your own - Replace the grated beeswax in the recipe by shea butter. https://www.goingzerowaste.com/blog/diy-lotion?rq=body%20lotion S ave $. Body scrub: use coffee grounds: https://www.theholisticingredient.com/blogs/wholesome-living/105823622-diy-coffee-body-scrub-recipe You can reuse them after making coffee, and just add a little olive oil. Save $. Shaving cream: the DIY recipes are pretty close to the body lotion above. 2 in 1! What you still buy, buy in glass when possible. Use the save $ to buy your fruit & veggies organic:)

Day 20: D o you know the US holds the record of toilet paper consumption per person? 141 rolls per person per year! double than France or Italy. Most TP comes packaged in plastic, and major brands rely heavily on virgin wood pulp. We are wiping with trees and flushing our forests! The Natural Resources Defense Council offers this 30 page report on the subject: https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/issue-tissue-how-americans-are-flushing-forests-down-toilet-re port.pdf

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Adopt the ultimate eco-friendly, hygienic solution, easy to install on any regular toilet: h ttps://hellotushy.com Buy toilet paper without plastic packaging. Buy TP made from 100% recycled paper and preferably unbleached. Recycle the cardboard tube and the paper wrapped around the TP. Recommended brands: W ho gives a crap: Even though it can only be bought online, 1st choice. This brand does give a crap about water contamination, forests destruction, greenhouse gas emissions, the amount of oil and energy used, the litres of water waste… but also there’s a purpose behind every TP roll sold: building toilets around the world. The company donates 50% of its profits to that effect. The TP comes in two versions, bamboo or recycled paper, and is shipped in a cardboard box, plastic free and waste-free. https://us.whogivesacrap.org/ and here for FAQ: https://myplasticfreelife.com/2017/09/who-gives-a-crap-recycled-or-bamboo-toilet-paper-without-plastic/ Get an eco-friendly brand (see NRDC report p.6) without plastic - Seventh Generation has an option in certain stores.

Day 21: T his week, we are digging, digging, digging deeper…. For those with a cat or dog companion: Buy less toys. When buying new ones, choose natural materials (hemp, bamboo, cotton) and minimal, plastic-free packaging. Wash unused ones and donate them to a shelter. Make your own (especially for cats), using old t-shirts, corks, lonely socks. Cats: use litter packaged without plastic. Cedarific is good and the bag can be recycled (sold at Whisker’s Holistic in East Village and Astoria). Many other options. Dogs: use a shampoo bar. Ideas here, but try local stores first: https://www.chagrinvalleysoapandsalve.com/products/organic-pet-care/ Dog poop: buy “biodegradable” bags. While they still won’t break down properly in an oxygen-less landfill, their production does not require petroleum. Use a newspaper. Try local stores, otherwise shipping here is carbon neutral, zero waste - for the rest, their products don’t look super eco friendly: https://www.onlynaturalpet.com/products/Only-Natural-Pet-Eco-Friendly-Degradable-Plastic-Poop-Bag/999695. 5.aspx If you have to buy something that comes in plastic, try second hand. and if you’re done using it but it’s still in good shape, donate it. Ex: for a litter box, wash, disinfect and donate it to a shelter, or put on Craigslist in the free section. If buying a new bowl, choose stainless steel. It is better for the planet and the healthy option for animals. Use brushes with wooden handles, sustainably produced. Take the fur out of chairs and clothes using your own hand, slightly wet. It is surprisingly efficient. Roll the fur into a ball. Then... Compost the fur!

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Day 22: Detox your cleaning routine. From Windex to Febreze, Lysol, X kitchen cleaner, Y bathroom cleaner, Z stove top cleaner… these marketing-fabricated shop-bought products come with a heavy plastic footprint and are often toxic - from the phthalates in synthetic fragrances to the fumes in oven cleaners. Ingredients in common household products have been linked to asthma, cancer, reproductive disorders, and hormone disruption. 3 essentials for plastic-free, natural cleaning: baking soda (buy in cardboard box, or in bulk with reusable bag), lemon juice (make it), and distilled white vinegar (get a glass bottle). Essential Oils.

To start, replace Windex/glass cleaning products with a solution of equal parts distilled white vinegar (glass bottle) and water, pour into a spray bottle (durable, or reused) or directly onto a reusable cotton cloth, clean, and dry with crumpled newspaper. This solution also works to remove lime scale on kettle, shower head, tiles. Add some lemon juice to disinfect. No need for Lysol wipes! Use what you have first, never buy again, and save $! You’ll also gain room in your cabinets. to replace all your products, check this blog for clear, complete info: https://www.naturallyfreelife.com/easy-guide-non-toxic-cleaning/

Day 23: O ne way to reduce plastic is to save your food scraps and bring them to a compost collection point. What’s the link, you might ask? Food comprises about 21% of NYC’s waste stream. Composting: - Reduces your amount of trash (besides your recycling). - Smaller trash = smaller trash can = smaller liner (more on the liner in the next post). Also, more room. Donate your big trash can! - If you’re mostly plant-based (animal products, except egg shells, are not accepted in most programs), no more organic matter = no smell, you can keep your bag for a long time! Participating to a compost program is easy! All you need are 2 cloth bags and a freezer - cloth is light, easy to carry, and the frozen scraps don’t stick to it.

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F ind a program and check what is accepted. Grow NYC has many drop off in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx. Some community gardens also have programs. h ttps://www.grownyc.org/compost P ut your fresh scraps in a cloth bag, keep in your freezer - it does not smell. When full, bring to a drop off - most likely, the closest drop-off is a few subway stops at most. Bring home the empty bag, wash it, use the second one in the meantime. Double green points: composting reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Day 24: D ish soap: from regular brands, containing toxic ingredients like Ammonium Sulfate or fragrances (a combination of up to 3,000 chemicals that do not have to be disclosed to customers) to eco-friendlier brands (clean ingredients but plastic-packaging), to truly sustainable, plastic-free products. Dr Bronner’s bar soaps work great for hand-washing dishes. Pair with your favorite brush.

Day 25: B in liners… they’re usually the small/not so small plastic bag that gets put into the bigger plastic bag that gets dropped to the curb. Instead of liners, go (mostly) naked! For the bins holding the “recyclables”, skip the liner. Directly empty the bins into the final large bag (house), or into the building bins. The paper bin is clean, wash the one for glass/plastic. Skip the liner in the bathroom. When full combine with the kitchen trash, wash the bin if needed. For the kitchen (the only one that likely needs a liner), adapt the size of your bin/liner to your trash (ideally, the smallest possible) so that you always carry full bags out/down. Now that you stopped using disposable plastic bags, use the remaining as a liner for your kitchen trash - or take them to a collection point for plastic bags recycling. You’re doing good!

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Day 26: S ummer days are for ice cream. When out, skip the plastic spoon! First and obvious, get a cone. If you’re not a cone person, bring your spoon (whatever it is, a remnant from your plastic days, a real one , as long as it is reusable). Even better, bring your cup/jar/mini-vase/votive holder/container of your liking to reduce waste.

Day 27: F rom chips to pretzels, popcorn, cereal bars, nuts and cookies, most snacks available on the go come in non-recyclable plastic. Buy dry fruits, nuts, granola, popcorn or energy bites in bulk (bring your own container/bag), get fresh, local, seasonal fruits, and add a little snack pouch or container to your lunch for plastic-free, healthy snacks. More ideas here: h ttps://wildminimalist.com/blogs/news/10-healthy-zero-waste-snacks

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Day 28: A few days ago, you detoxed your cleaning products. Finish the job by tackling cleaning tools. 1/ Do you know regular sponges contain plastic? They’re made from synthetics derived from polyurethane, a petroleum-based ingredient. They also often include chemical dyes, artificial colors, and the antibacterial ones are treated with toxic chemicals - triclosan, an agent classified as pesticide. Replace them with: brushes made from natural wood (sustainably sourced) and natural fibers. Smell-free and durable. S ur La Table sells some, package free. A used B rush with Bamboo toothbrush is perfect for detailing jobs. Go Japanese and make your very own Tawashi, a recyclable, free, washable “sponge" made from your own recycled materials. If you only use fabric (no tights), wash it one last time when it gets too old, and toss it at the Farmer’s Market - fabric drop-off collection point. Now practice your French and watch this tutorial! subtitles in English: https://www.brut.media/us/entertainment/how-to-make-a-zero-waste-kitchen-sponge-52b4067d-8487-4410-808 d-7540e6fa18b8 I f you need a transition time, switch to sponges made from natural fibers. T wist is a good brand (it looks like they switched to plastic-free packaging, although we have not verified): unbleached, dye-free, no glue, 100% plant based (hemp, agave and cotton). End of life: cut into small pieces and compost. 2/ Paper towels come packaged in plastic and even the ones marketed as “ eco-friendly” (made from 100% recycled paper and unbleached) still take a lot of energy and resources to be produced and transported. Replace them with cloths made from natural fibers. Before buying new, see if you can cut some from old t-shirts or towels. Rinse, wash, reuse.

Day 29 T oday, general principles to reduce plastic use, and waste in general: Use what you already have. Replace by plastic-free, sustainable and natural options. Only buy what is truly necessary. Avocado slicer? Plastic cactus? Clip-on cup holder? Maybe not. When buying new items, consider: material, packaging, product's end of life. Favor plastic-free, minimal or no packaging, easily recyclable items. Buy only one of each: it’s better to spend a bit more for a quality water bottle/coffee mug/X or Y than 5 of them accumulating in a cabinet. Refuse free stuff: most likely, you either don’t need it and it will end up in a junk drawer or at the back of a cabinet, or it is not efficient and you have a better option at home (ex: hotel toiletries are small in size but have a big plastic footprint) Donate what is in good shape and can still be used - if you own it, somebody else might be interested. Buy second hand whenever possible (Craigslist, Facebook, Next Door, and more)

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Switch it up! avoiding plastic might mean shopping at a different store, shopping at a different aisle (bulk aisle instead of packaged goods) and buying different products - if the grapes come in plastic, get a different fruit that is not packaged. Cook more: you don’t need to make elaborate meals, but more home-cooking means less take out. If you take out, review our tips from “day 5" Make your own! ex: juice, ice tea, kombucha, cleaning product, body scrub,… Read: h ttps://storyofstuff.org/blog/give-me-convenience-or-give-me-death/

Day 30 “ I recycle every bottle I use.” “My coffee shop uses compostable cups.” “The straws are made from corn.” I’m good, right? Wrong. After a month of tips on how to drastically reduce plastic, it might be helpful to remember why this is needed, and why “recycling” and “biodegradable” are not the answer. “Recycling”: When it comes to plastic, “recycling” is actually downcycling. It is expensive, costs energy, is not possible for every type of plastic, and the downcycled items eventually end up in landfills. The consumption of plastic is much too high for the capacity of downcycling. And plastic production depends heavily on cheap fossil fuel feedstocks and energy. Eliminate 90%, recycle the rest. For more info and a little humour…. The Daily Show, with Trevor Noah! h ttps://youtu.be/-htnUTN4mH0 “Biodegradable”: - Almost everything marketed as “biodegradable” and “compostable” has a fine print: “in commercial facilities”. Meaning high-temperature industrial compost. Pretty much i nexistent in NYC, and not accessible to individuals. - Most coffee shops and take-out places using these materials do not take them to such facilities. - Customers using cups and containers made from these materials throw them in the regular trash. In a landfill, a plastic bag or cup made from corn remains intact just as long as a plastic bag made from oil or natural gas. T he production is cleaner, the end of life is the same.

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KEEP ON GOING!

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