Before the Challenge: Being Aware of My Plastic Usage

Going to the grocery store: I can use paper bags for measuring out bulk items, and I have breathable cheese bags that can be used at the deli for both sliced meats and cheeses, and a reusable glass container with a plastic lid for other packaged items.

Let me describe my day yesterday, in terms of awareness of single-use plastic consumption.

• Took a shower: all these single-use shampoo and body wash containers! I have heard that there are some companies that offer refills in milk carton type containers.
• We already use bar soap (either cardboard or no packaging) instead of liquid hand soap, but there may be hand soap refills for those who do use them.
• Coffee: If I buy Peet's from the grocery store, it comes in a plastic bag. But if I go to a Peet's (the closest one is 4 miles from my house) and order ground coffee, it comes in a paper bag. Alternatively, I can try a different brand that comes in a paper bag, like Tony's or Stumptown - there are lots of them.
• Fed the cats - their kibble comes in a big plastic bag. I think that All the Best Pet Care sells bulk food, and there are brands that use paper bags - I remember how fun it was to undo the string on the paper Meow Mix bag when I was a kid.
• Picked up prescription: the little orange plastic bottles with the white caps. Next time I will try using my own container, but this would mean not calling ahead, but going in and handing them the previous (empty) bottle. I don't even know if reuse of prescription bottles is even legal in Washington State.
• Went to Tall Grass bakery to try their sandwich bread (our standard bread comes sliced in a plastic bag). Unsliced bread comes in a paper bag, so my baguette and seeded dark rye loaf were fine, but after Madison sliced the sandwich loaf, she put it in a plastic bag with the tiny breathing holes. The solution here is to keep the bag and reuse it, or not have it sliced.
• Replaced the battery in my kitchen scale. Batteries will always come in plastic blister packs - there is no getting around it. However, I will look into using rechargeable batteries to at least reduce the consumption.
• Did laundry: Seventh Generation offers powdered detergent in a box, so we will use that instead of liquid detergent from a plastic jug.
• Made dinner: the chicken breast came in Styrofoam and plastic packaging, so I will have to go to the butcher directly and have them wrap it in just paper. For seafood, I might be able to bring my own container (seafood is always wrapped in plastic, then paper) although our friend Stuart says that the stores may not allow that for health liability reasons.

Some things we may have to do without, and some alternatives are going to involve more time and/or more money. This experiment will be easier for me than for many people, because I have several advantages:

• I live in the city of Seattle, which means that I happen to have a great fish market, bakery, butcher, and a selection of grocery stores for every price point, including the new PCC Natural Market that just opened in our neighborhood a few months ago;
• I work remote from home, which means that I have flexible time to say, make my own cottage cheese or drive farther;
• I can afford to pay more for non-plastic alternatives;
• There are no children in my house, which means that I don't have to deal with fallout over lifestyle changes. Although if I did have children, ideally they would be old enough to buy in to and participate in the experiment. Talk about teachable moments!