Plastic!

[Daisy]

I'm shocked and horrified by all the recent news reports about plastic, especially the damage it's causing to wildlife and the seas and sea creatures.

I know there's no easy answer, but using recyclable or biodegradable will help a little. But perhaps the real solution is finding alternatives to plastic packaging and using less packaging.

We can't change the world on our own, but I'd like to do as much as I can to reduce the plastic waste I generate by changing buying habits, choosing goods with recyclable packaging etc.

I have noticed small changes which give me hope! I bought a pair of boots and a pair of shoes from a small local shoe shop last week. The used to have their own sturdy plastic bags but now they have large paper carrier bags, which do the job just as well and are re-useable and compostable.

Has anybody else found shops that are tackling the issue? Or horror stories - like Qwerty's book which arrived in a box about 10 times its size?

[Sunshine]

I was very pleased to receive my WI magazine this month, in a bag made from potato starch, rather than the usual plastic bag. There were clear instructions on the bag of how to recycle it. Well done WI.

[Oma]

Hello Sunshine ,
That sounds a excellent alternative , I must admit I have never heard of bags made from Potato starch , can they be composted ?
Paper bags were used for years , not good in the rain mind you but im sure they could overcome that if they tried ,
A few weeks ago I bought some little cakes they were in a plastic tray with plastic wrap and each cake individually wrapped in plastic , no need at all

[Enfys]

Sunshine, yes, I noticed that when I got my magazine, great idea. Welcome, by the way, nice to see you posting 🌞

[Daisy]

Sunshine - that's a fantastic avatar!

Well done to the WI! You've reminded me that my quarterly magazine from our local garden centre came in a paper envelope last week instead of the usual plastic wrapper, and last time I was there we parked next to a huge pile of plastic pots which were free for people to reuse rather than buying new ones.

Oma - yes, I think potato starch products can be composted.

I also read somewhere that some growers are using pale brown-ish pots for their plants because recycling equipment can 'see' them, but they can't detect the black ones.

[Grauntie Mag]

We have the Mail at the weekend. I remember it announcing that they would no longer be wrapping the magazine in plastic on Saturdays. They still wrap Sunday’s mag though! 🙄 I have decided to try and avoid plastic bottles wherever I can but it’s not easy. I have changed back to soap bars as opposed to plastic bottled stuff though. I prefer them, I find.

[Qwerty]

That’s interesting Sunshine and a good idea I have 3 subscriptions a month all in plastic bags I wait to see if they come in paper bags

[Nanto2girls]

Hello Sunshine,nice to meet you.
I know in Morrisons,you can take your own container if buying fresh meat and fish.
Iceland shops have pledged to have done away with plastic, within the next 2 years.

[Plantaholic]

My DD uses beeswax sheets to wrap cheese etc in her fridge and she has drawstring canvas bags which she takes to put loose fruit in at the supermarket. I hope all these changes means people are beginning to think we can't go on as we are.

[Clover]

Our local village grocery/ coffee shop has done away with drinks in plastic bottles and are now using a paper bag when one is needed..

[Gemini]

I'm horrified by all this too.
We all need to do our bit of course but the manufacturers of plastic bags need to find ways to produce less armful ones,like the potato starch.

Like all of us now, we always take our own bags when shopping.
We drink filtered water from a jug now rather than all the bottled water we used to buy.
MY DD1 uses these wax sheets like Plant's DD and they use bar soap now not liquid soap in plastic bottles.

[Gemini]

Love the new avatar Sunshine

[Oma]

Its quite hard to do away completely isn't it ,
Gem im afraid I still buy bottled water , even with my filter jug our water tastes funny as we live so near to the treatment works , I use my filter jug to fill the kettle couldn't do it straight from the tap .

I have complained to Morrisons sever times about the fact they promoting taking your own tubs for fish and meat yet they still selling shrink wrapped Swede !! since when does Swede need a wrapper ?
I try not to buy any veg in bags , I have done for a while . apart from its more expensive often its wet and too much in the bag so a lot goes to waste or goes off ,

I don't have any plastic mugs now the children are older but that's something I think cant be avoided when you have little ones around

Today I bought a very large bottle of Comfort Fabric conditioner and I thought what alternative could that come in? , Glass would be far too heavy
How much more would it cost to use glass for likes of Fruit Juice , not much I would guess if they did a return and recycle policy like they did years ago , remember the Pop man used to give you either a free bottle of pop or a few pence back ,
In Germany likes of Aldi give cash back when returning plastic bottles

[Daisy]

It's good to hear about the efforts some businesses are making to reduce the use of plastic, even though I know it's just the tip of the iceberg.

I use mainly block soap as I prefer it, but even Imperial Leather comes in two lots of wrapper if you're buying multi-packs.

I still use plastic mugs for the GDs because I can keep them on the bottom shelf and they can help themselves to drinks. But I certainly won't replace them.

Oma - the fabric conditioner one is difficult - as you say glass would be too heavy. They could have a refill version, but I suppose that would also be some sort of plastic. I still use washing powder rather than liquid or tabs for the washing machine, but I feel guilty about those plastic covered tabs for the dishwasher. If we use powder we'd be forever adding rinse aid and salt - both needing containers!

We still have milk delivered to the doorstep. I rinse out the bottles and put them out for the milkman to collect. I actually think the milk is nicer as well - less watery.

Plant - I like the sound of the beeswax sheets for cheese.

[Plantaholic]

I use tabs for both dishwasher and washing but they come in boxes and plastic wrapper.