Location:Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Name: Nan

Week: 3

Personal Info:

Looking for suggestions on how to handle the social aspect of reducing plastics (gifts, politely refusing or asking about plastics at stores, etc)

Nan’s personal blog:

List of plastic items REFUSED this week. (Yay!)
finally made a good loaf of bread!
worked at reducing plastic at a work event

Total items collected: 26

Total weight: 3.5 oz

Items: Recyclable
2 plastic bags # 4
1 plastic bottle #1 or 2
top to a hot chocolate container which was a gift #4
top to something I can’t remember #4
take out container #3

Items: Nonrecyclable
1 cereal liner
1 emergen-C packet
1 tea wrapper
10 window envelopes
3 tamper resistant rings
1 bottle cap
1 ribbon from a gift
1 veggie tag (feels like plastic)
1 ring from canister

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
cereal liner
tea wrapper
take out container should be here, but I really tried to not get a plastic container. I brought my own, but decided not to take my food home, but the very kind and generous waiter brought a container half filled with additional sauce for my food (as a kind gesture to me)

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
facial toner

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
none really

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
I would need to do more things on-line to avoid envelopes, this has been a slow process for me (contacted one co. this week)
Also would need to watch packaging better (what’s up with the large plastic label on organic chard?)

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
newspaper bag- called this week to request it without the bag so I’ll see what happens

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?