We did it!

Well, we made it! A month of avoiding single-use plastic, and we mostly succeeded, with some exceptions. We learned how to reduce our plastic consumption habit considerably, and most of out newly-adopted habits will stay with us. It's been fun, challenging, frustrating, and time-consuming, but it's been worth it, definitely.

What are we sticking with?

• Bulk snacks, flours, sugar, spices, oils and vinegars, coffee, tea, granola, most pastas
• No-plastic versions of laundry and dish detergent, and bulk refills of dish soap
• Bar hand soap and shaving soap, shampoo, and bulk lotion
• Plastic free toothpaste, deodorant, toothbrushes, dental floss
• Plastic-free packaged meats, seafood, poultry, deli meats, sliced cheese
• Plastic free produce (except for the little plastic sticky labels)
• Breads from the bakery (or homemade)
• Condiments in glass jars/bottles with metal caps, or homemade

What will we probably still buy sometimes?

• Five-Hour Energy (Thom never had plans to give this up)
• Tennis balls (although I have just ordered Wilson balls in 100% recyclable paper containers - very exciting!)
• Potato chips
• Cases of canned cat food
• Milk and juice in cartons with the small plastic caps
• Boxed pasta in cardboard with little plastic windows
• Condiments with plastic caps
• Makeup for me, and some skincare products
• Products ordered online that are delivered in some amount of plastic packaging, although we will be cutting back as much as we can

Our single-use plastic usage at the end of the month. The latest additions included remnants from a cat food order and our tennis ball habit.