How do I convince the local farm to stop using plastic? Plastic packaging on food is a really big thing here in Asia.

Location:  Singapore

Name: Ana-Marija Spajic

Week: 1

Personal Info:

I’m a 26 year old female. Married. Working from home and cook most of the food myself. I hosted a BBQ party this week so there is some extra waste because I treated guests with food.

I’ve recently moved to Singapore and still figuring out where and how to do grocery shopping and cook around here.

I buy most of my veggies from a local farm (but they use plastic on everything!)

List of plastic items REFUSED this week. (Yay!)
I tried to do normal shopping the first week, but I refused to buy disposable plates and cutlery for a BBQ on Saturday.

Total items collected: 37

Total weight: 340

Items: Recyclable
2 Soy milk with plastic coated carboard

2 Beer cans (plastic coating)

1 toothbrush package

1 lighter package

2 tofu packages

1 coconut cream with plastic coated cardboard

3 tomatoe packages

1 Sweet corn package

1 soap package with plastic coated cardboard

1 plastic coated cardboard for grill fork (label)

1 package for vegan cheese

1 package for soba noodles

1 paper/ plastic bag for baguette

1 coconut oil label

1 quinoa bag

1 millet bag

1 instant baby oats bag

11 veggie bags/ cling film package

1 plastic spice bag

1 green curry bag

1 plastic cork seal

Items: Nonrecyclable
1 Toothbrush (not sure)

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
Food packaging. I buy most of my fruit veggies from a local farm but they wrap everything in plastic. I will ask them not to do this.

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
Ready-made green curry

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
Tofu – I’m vegan and need the protein etc

Grains & noodles – there are no refill stations in Singapore

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
Exchange some of the plastic items to non-plastic. For example toothbrush.

Speak to the local farm where I buy fruit and veg and persuade them to give up plastic packaging

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
Plastic toothbrush. Next one will be plastic free!

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?
Most of my plastic trash is food packaging, so I need to find a solution for this.

I can try harder on my end, like baking bread instead of buying, or get a fabric bag and buy bread from bakeries instead of pre-packaged bread from supermarkets.

I can make more home made vegan cheese, it will still generate waste, but not as much.

Find ways to refill lighters instead of buying new ones (or buy big matches instead)