I am trying to figure out deodorants, shampoos, mouth wash, and liquid soaps without plastic. How do you shop at Costco without plastic wrapped foods?

Location:  Antioch, CA, United States

Name: Mary Halbasch

Week: 1

Personal Info:

I am a grandmother with 2 grandchildren, mother of 4 (one daughter 23 years old lives at home), wife, director at a local preschool (so I work away from home), and my mother-in law lives with us. We have a total for four adults living together.

List of plastic items REFUSED this week. (Yay!)

Plastic jug of orange juice, plastic tub of ice cream, and a Tupperware sale!!

Total items collected: 24

Total weight:

Items: Recyclable
I have six water bottles, that I can recycle.

Items: Nonrecyclable
Costco pie container: bottom, plastic wrap and a top protector.
shampoo bottle
seven newspaper plastic bags
mango plastic container from Costco
Amazon mailing plastic bag
alarm clock plastic wrap
plastic deli meat bag
cheese slices wrap

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
I will replace my plastic water bottles with a stainless steel one with filtered tap water.

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
I will try to give up some shopping at Costco due to the plastic wraps on all the produce. I could shop at local farms more.

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
Shampoos and deodorants

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
Don’t try to be in a rush with all the foods to go. I plastic wrap everything, so I will buy more glass containers. Zip loc bags are so easy, but I can change.

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
I am giving up plastic water bottles.

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?
I never realized my plastic waste, when I looked at it I was shocked. I need to be more aware.