Is there a non plastic alternative to Dr. Bonners? I buy it in bulk and use it for just about everything, but it’s in a plastic bottle.

Has anyone seen Bragg’s in a glass bottle? But even if it was in a glass bottle, there may be plastic around the lid. Has anyone tried making soy sauce?

I love sprouted bread, but it comes wrapped in plastic. Has anyone made sprouted bread? Or seen sprouted bread packaged in paper?

Location:Chicago, Illinois, United States

Name: Hanh Pham

Week: 4

Personal Info:

This is my second go around with the Plastic Free Challenge. Last time, I made it to week 3. I hope I’ll be able to keep tabs on my plastic use for longer this time.

I am super passionate about reducing my waste. I bring reusable containers wherever I dine out so I don’t get non-recyclable plastic… or styrofoam. I bring a stainless steel water bottle and a metal spoon with me. I used to have a metal chopsticks, but they got confiscated at the airport. 🙁

I live in a 3-flat with my husband, and we don’t have any pets.

Hanh Pham’s personal blog: http://prettydirtyperformances.blogspot.com

List of plastic items REFUSED this week. (Yay!)
I refused ice cream in a foam container, but I had some bites, so I am including it in my list.

I also refused fresh squeezed fruit juice due to the plastic cup & lid and straw. I had a few sips instead from my family, so I am including it in my plastic count.

Total items collected: 20

Total weight:

Items: Recyclable
Dr. Bonner’s plastic bottle
Bragg plastic bottle
Plastic condiment container
Plastic cup

Items: Nonrecyclable
2 foam cups that ice cream was served in
Plastic spoon
2 plastic wraps from around kombucha bottles
Twist ties
Plastic wrap around sprouted bread
Plastic bag from bread
Plastic wrist band from Maker Faire I attended
Cup from bar — If I knew my drink would be served in a cup, I would have gotten a beer.
2 straws
2 tubes of toothpaste
2 plastic cups
1 plastic lid from cup
1 condiment container + plastic lid

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
I could continue to refuse cups at restaurants and dining out, and be more explicit so that I don’t accidentally get one.

Instead of Braggs, I could buy soy sauce in a glass container. It’ll most likely have the plastic wrap around the lid though.

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
Braggs

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
Dr. Bonners
Toothpaste
Sprouted bread

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
Make more time to make my own bread.

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
Even if people around me have food in plastic, I won’t take a bite, so that plastic won’t be on my count.

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?