The second week of Plastic Free July (PFJ) is nearly over, some of us have come across a couple of speed bumps. But we are all staying strong! Here is what we have learnt in our second week.
Holly, 1MW Social Media Manager-
This past week was hard. Last week was my partners birthday (check out this awesome vegan chocolate cake I made him) and we were out for most of weekend, meaning there was a lot of eating and drinking on the go. However, I did manage to remain almost completely plastic free by taking the time to slow down.
On the day I forgot my Keepcup (I know, rookie mistake) I made sure I got my coffee to ‘have in’. I made sure to pre-pack all my lunches and when I inevitably get peckish at 2pm, I always make sure to choose the ‘nude food’ options (like bananas, mandarins or carrots).
My partner was eating a lot of chocolate over the weekend (if you can’t on your birthday, then when can you?) and I caved and got a chocolate bar from the supermarket. For me though, this is still a HUGE step forward. I’m really noticing the subtle process of behaviour change in action this week!
What I learnt: This weeks lesson was to stay strong in your convictions, and not to beat yourself up over a tiny slip. Long lasting behaviour change is a long journey, where every positive action is a step in the right direction.
Bronte,1MW International Social Media Correspondent-
Plastic free july has been going pretty well for me. Brazil doesn’t have the same cafe culture as Australia, and since moving here I haven’t been drinking as much coffee and no takeaways ever, which was one of my main problems when I was living in Australia.
It’s really quite easy for me to be plastic free during my day-to-day routine. I always carry quite a big bag around with me to hold my laptop, so if I have been needing to buy anything on the way to or from work I’ve been putting it straight into my bag and avoiding any plastic ones.
The main trouble area here which I’m trying to focus on is going to the supermarket, and buying fresh produce. I have been trying visit the one supermarket I’ve found here who offer cardboard boxes to carry your purchases home. So this has been great, however the main problem is fresh produce coming already wrapped in plastic. I have avoided any of these purchases, which did mean missing out of a few fresh veggies I was wanting. I’ve heard about street market which sells fresh fruit and vegetables every wednesday night which I will try to visit next week to see how it is, because hopefully this will be a better option for me to be able to buy produce plastic free (and probably fresher and cheaper too).
What I learnt: To be strong and say no to the produce wrapped in plastic, and to recipe adapt if that means missing out on an ingredient I was needing.
Babs, 1MW Office Manager:
Plastic-Free July has been going really well for me! I haven’t had takeaway food or coffee since July started, as I have been bringing my own food and have been using my Keep Cup to take my coffee to work in the morning.
The main challenge I encountered was last weekend when we went away for a couple of days with a group of friends, my friends had to do a lot of grocery shopping to feed 9 people for a whole weekend, so we ended up with a lot of plastic packaging around our rental house. I told the guys that it was Plastic-Free July and explained about the effect plastic has on our environment, they cared and decided to make an effort; when I went shopping I made sure to only buy food and drink in glass containers or cardboard boxes; plus, I made sure that at the house the rubbish was sorted out and anything recyclable went into the recycling bin. I also took all of the plastic bags home so that I could take them to the plastic bag recycling bin at my local Woolworths.
Other than that, at home we have been pretty plastic-free, even my boyfriend has started putting fruit and veg in paper bags (the ones they give you to put mushrooms in) at the supermarket, and we are avoiding all of the items that are pre-wrapped in soft plastic. I even bought myself a reusable drinking straw made of glass (you can also get them in stainless steel or silicone) and a straw cleaner, as I love drinking anything through a straw and it’s also better for your teeth, so I’ll be able to enjoy doing this while staying plastic-free!
Overall, this second week of Plastic-Free July has been very interesting and productive and I look forward to the rest of the month!
What I learnt: In a group, if you explain to people why you’re trying to avoid plastic and you raise awareness about the impacts of plastic on the planet, they will care too and make an effort.
Shea, 365 Ways Coordinator-
Giving up coffee cups has been extremely easy to do. I borrowed a keep cup from Holly, after the horrific mould incident, and I have been using that every morning for my coffee. However, thinking consciously about not getting coffee cups has made me conscious about the other plastic in my life. Such as the plastic bag I would usually bring my lunch to work in, I’ve switched to paper bags now, which can be recycled.
I think I underestimated myself, thinking that coffee cups would be a hard thing to give up. I am going to extend my Plastic Free July challenge to avoid all take away plastics.
What I learnt: There are always alternative ways to do things, often much better ways.
Tara Hunt, 1MW co-CEO-
I am really trying hard and I have been pretty successful, except when I forgot briefly and bought walnuts in a plastic bag!
I went to farmers market with my bag ready to buy and I saw everything 'wrapped in plastic'!
Luckily, there was another stall where I could buy plastic free.
What I learnt: Just because it is at the Farmers Markets does not mean it will be plastic free. I need to always look around for the best option to reduce my plastic consumption.
Natalie Isaacs, 1MW CEO-
My plastic free july challenge is to accomplish zero waste shopping. My first week was pretty easy because I was away in New York and Washington DC for a climate change conference. So while I was away I did nearly no shopping at all, however I did stop off at my favourite curly hair salon in New York and bought bulk hair products in plastic containers.
Now that I am home the challenge really begins, this week has already been a lot. Already I bought plastic, my daughter just moved out of home and has yet to accomplish a grocery shop on her own, so I went to help her. While shopping she put a plastic container packed lettuce in the trolley. Without thinking I bought it, along with a couple other things she snuck past me.
Back on track and I am determined to achieve zero plastic shopping!