Name: Lena

Week: 1

Personal Info:
Urban dwelling, female, lives solo, works full-time for Ethical Ocean (www.ethicalocean.com).

Total items: 27

Total weight:

Items: Recyclable
Disposable red plastic cups, #6
Coffee cup lids, #6
Baba ghannouj/hummus containers, #1
Juice container, #1

Items: Nonrecyclable
Plastic packages
Plastic bags for produce

What items can I replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
The disposable red drinking cups I use when I have many guests but that just means I’ll have to buy more glasses or I could buy paper cups.

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
The disposable red drinking cups.

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
Food containers like yogurt, baba ghannouj, etc.

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
– Do not hold parties at my place where I invite more people than I have drink-ware for.
– Start to not buy products that use excessive, plastic packaging.

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
The disposable red drinking cups.

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?
Whether it’s a perception of quality or a guarantee that what we’re buying is “new” (how many people would buy something if they believed it was already opened by someone else?), almost everything is packaged with plastic. It’s difficult to make conscious decisions of avoiding certain types of packaging without viable alternatives presented to us in the marketplace. If I could get organic, plain yogurt that came in an FSC certified paper container, I would buy it but I just don’t have that option.. yet.