Welcome. I’m Beth Terry, an accountant from Oakland, California. In 2007, I unexpectedly found myself an activist, author, and public speaker after learning about the devastating effects of plastic pollution and my own plastic footprint. This site has evolved from a simple blog (formerly known as “Fake Plastic Fish”) to a comprehensive resource on plastic-free living. Please explore, join a challenge, ask questions, subscribe. Together, we can change the world.
Read the Book!
Plastic-Free: How I Kicked the Plastic Habit and How You Can Too is your illustrated, practical guide to living with less plastic, updated with new chapter and foreword by musician Jack Johnson. Click here to learn more.
TAKE ACTION
Get Started
Here are my top 100 steps to get started on a plastic-free journey. Choose a few to begin with. Don’t try to do it all at once!
- Carry reusable shopping bags.
- Give up bottled water.
- Shop your local farmers market.
- Say no to plastic produce bags.
- Buy from bulk bins as often as possible.
- Cut out sodas, juices, and all other plastic-bottled beverages.
- Buy fresh bread that comes in either paper bags or no bags.
- Return containers for berries, cherry tomatoes, etc. to the farmer’s market to be reused.
- Bring your own container for meat and prepared foods.
- Choose milk in returnable glass bottles.
Join the Discussion
- Globalnipple on Alternatives to glow Sticks?What happen when the interior of a glowstick leaks out is it harmless ? - what biodegradeable plastics can contain glowstick chemicals ? What happens
- Beth Terry on Long Term Water StorageHi. I got the water container on eBay. You can read about it here: https://myplasticfreelife.com/2013/08/plastic-free-burning-man-the-list-part-1/
- Liz on Long Term Water StorageWhere I live, earthquakes are not the problem but we've lost power for 10 days due to hurricanes. I'm planning to buy a few dozen 1/2 gallon
- Beth Terry on Plastic Dental Night GuardI'm actually not using it anymore, but my dentist is nagging me to continue with Invisalign. I am not resting easy about it at all. It's a t
- Nrthrnlghts on Plastic Dental Night GuardBeth Terry said Believe it or not, I actually sleep with a mouthful of plastic. But it's not a night guard, it's Invisalign teeth straighten
- Debra McNeely on Exactly what we didn't need....more plastic bags being used by pet owners to pick up after their pets!!!It appears to me that everyone with a dog uses plastic bags to pick up doggy poop. Plastic bags are provided at dog parks and at rest areas because it
- Sam on Plastic Free Toothbrush Subscription ServiceHey everyone, Full disclosure I'm looking to get some feedback on my business idea. Here's the link ViroBrush. My general belief is that mos
- Brenda on Prescription bottlesI have reactions to plastic prescription bottles..What is an alternative for me..it's really become a problem for me...my throat tightens and hur
- Allison Williams on Field Roast Grain Meat CompanyHello, I wrote one of my favorite food companies Field Roast Grain Meat Company and they actually wrote back! (They are amazing grain based vegetari
- JoseVe on What do you do with your old plastic bottlesHello all, Do you have any alternative ideas of recycling the old plastic bottles?? I just stacked up a lot of bottles after cleaning up my home. I d
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My Plastic-Free Life Videos
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Take the Challenge!
Do you know your plastic footprint?
Join participants around the world in the “Show Your Plastic Trash” Challenge! No guilt. Just education.
