Packaging
Unrecyclable packaging makes me sad. I want to cut down on this as much as I can over the next year, and make such a strong habit of it that it becomes a lifetime choice. So, where is plastic packaging most predominant for me?
Breakfast cereal...I checked at the local stores and there aren't any bulk cereals (as in bring your own packaging) aside from granola and muesli. But cereal is so convenient. Sigh. I'll work on this one.
Bread...already started making more of my own, so no bags there.
Butter...I don't use a lot of this, but the singly wrapped sticks, that are then boxes is easy to skip in favor of the once wrapped larger slab. I can cut it up and freeze the portions I'm not ready to use.
Convenience foods...not a huge part of my diet, but the frozen entree and pizza type stuff, plus, sigh, frozen berries and veggies. I think I can start freezing my own, though, that's a step in the right direction.
Cheese. So not going to stop eating cheese. Maybe I can try to get to the nicer stores before they repackaged smaller chunks, though. We'll see.(But is that just less garbage for me, or does it really address the world's garbage issues?)
Then there's the stuff that can be recycled. It's way better than pure trash, but still, recycling is a pretty energy intensive undertaking, and it'd be better if I could avoid this stuff, too:
Milk and milk alternatives...I'm not going to stop consuming this stuff...I have recipes for making some of it, but it'll still be something I purchase.
Canned tomatoes...Oh I lurvs 'em. Talk about easy and good. We'll see on that front...
Beverages, from fizzy water to soda to juice cartons to beer, etc. I love beverages. Is this a "make it myself" category, too? I don't see any hope of giving this up.
Okay, looks like cutting back on the recyclable containers is probably not going to be too successful at this point. I'll start with the garbage elimination and work out from there. :-)
Today's note to the world in general: please try to take bottled water out of your life in any habitual way. It'd be a big step in the right direction.
Breakfast cereal...I checked at the local stores and there aren't any bulk cereals (as in bring your own packaging) aside from granola and muesli. But cereal is so convenient. Sigh. I'll work on this one.
Bread...already started making more of my own, so no bags there.
Butter...I don't use a lot of this, but the singly wrapped sticks, that are then boxes is easy to skip in favor of the once wrapped larger slab. I can cut it up and freeze the portions I'm not ready to use.
Convenience foods...not a huge part of my diet, but the frozen entree and pizza type stuff, plus, sigh, frozen berries and veggies. I think I can start freezing my own, though, that's a step in the right direction.
Cheese. So not going to stop eating cheese. Maybe I can try to get to the nicer stores before they repackaged smaller chunks, though. We'll see.(But is that just less garbage for me, or does it really address the world's garbage issues?)
Then there's the stuff that can be recycled. It's way better than pure trash, but still, recycling is a pretty energy intensive undertaking, and it'd be better if I could avoid this stuff, too:
Milk and milk alternatives...I'm not going to stop consuming this stuff...I have recipes for making some of it, but it'll still be something I purchase.
Canned tomatoes...Oh I lurvs 'em. Talk about easy and good. We'll see on that front...
Beverages, from fizzy water to soda to juice cartons to beer, etc. I love beverages. Is this a "make it myself" category, too? I don't see any hope of giving this up.
Okay, looks like cutting back on the recyclable containers is probably not going to be too successful at this point. I'll start with the garbage elimination and work out from there. :-)
Today's note to the world in general: please try to take bottled water out of your life in any habitual way. It'd be a big step in the right direction.