August 2, 2011

Plastic Challenge: Margaret, Week 4

If there is any toothpaste out there that isn’t in a completely plastic tube? Actually, I’d settle for a natural toothpaste that isn’t in a box – completely unnecessary packaging around a self-contained product like a toothpaste tube.

Toilet paper – I’ve seen commercial settings, including my work, where the toilet paper is set out unwrapped and I highly doubt the janitorial staff is unwrapping it. But all the bulk TP in cardboard boxes online is apparently intended for resale and individually wrapped. I’m not convinced individually paper wrapped rolls is better overall than the largest possible plastic wrapped package. But at the very least, I did find a 12-pack in a cardboard box on Office Max’s website. As awkward as it’d be, maybe I’ll contact the janitorial dept at my work building to inquire. Anyone work in that sort of setting and know about sources?

Location:Tualati… Read the rest

July 12, 2011

Plastic Challenge: Margaret, Week 1

How to buy plastic-free vitamins and supplements? There’s one brand at Fred Meyer’s that comes in glass bottles, but it still has a plastic lid, and actually has more plastic wrapped around it than the other brands that come in plastic bottles.

What rules do places like Starbucks or Jamba Juice have for bringing in your own mug/cup? I don’t go their often enough to know what the protocol or guidelines are, but often enough that I feel guilty for the plastic cups I use. If you aren’t using one of the cups they sell, how does Starbucks know what size it is or how to far to fill it for the size you ordered, etc.? I worry too much about things like this. 🙂

How you write down or otherwise keep track of the item number for the cashier when you’re buying from bulk bins with your own bags or containers, and don’t want to use their twist ties or fasteners to write on?

Can you confirm that all food wrappers that sort of appear to foil, bu… Read the rest