crackers

cat biscuits

face moisteriser

Location:Auckland, New Zealand

Name: Anaia

Week: 1

Personal Info:

I’m in my mid-30’s, busy professional, finding that plastic=convenience, and being plastic free requires time and not taking the easy way from A to B all the time. I did plastic free July and am committed to continuing my commitment to reducing plastic in my life and changing my lifestyle to find alternatives.

List of plastic items REFUSED this week. (Yay!)
plastic bags
plastic containers for takeaway food

Total items collected: 9

Total weight:

Items: Recyclable
cream container
face moisteriser container

Items: Nonrecyclable
catfood biscuit bag
thai curry instant meal bag
frozen blueberries bag
bubble wrap bag that something from fishpond came in
plastic tape that was on a box that was delivered
wrapper from a packet of crackers
plastic bag from the post office for a redirection

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
I have found out that coconut cream will whip up and can be used instead of dairy cream (in NZ I don’t think you can buy cream in glass bottles). Or find a farm and drive there, but that is using petrol.

Blueberries- eat fruit in season in my smoothies, freeze fruit next summer to use and store in glass.

Thai curry- be organised and cook from scratch. Or buy takeaways and bring my own container.

don’t buy from online, buy from shops, locally.

make my own moisteriser (I have saved the container in case I can fill it with something myself)

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
cream
frozen blueberries
instant meals

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
cat biscuits?

crackers- I love these- perhaps I could make my own I guess- just time poor…

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
work less cook more!

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
frozen blueberries

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?