How to order things online or buy necessities at the grocery store without them having to use so much plastic packaging

Location:Santa Cruz, California, United States

Name: Sarah Nevarez

Week: 1

Personal Info:

I’m a 19 year old second year student at the University of California, Santa Cruz, studying marine biology. I scuba dive and plan to get scientific certified. I’ve always tried to use as many re-usable items as I can; plastic waste has always been a concern to me. Going to this school has made me even more environmentally conscious.

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

Plastic grocery bags
disposable plastic water bottles

Total items collected: 10

Total weight: 10 oz

Items: Recyclable
Cardboard boxes
drink cans

Items: Nonrecyclable
plastic packaging
styrofoam

What items can I easily replace with plastic free or less plastic alternatives?
non-reusable water bottles
plastic grocery bags

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic free alternative doesn’t exist?
ordering things online that come in plastic packaging.

What items are essential and seem to have no plastic-free alternative?
water bottles

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
not relying on shipping items, knowing they will have to be packaged using plastic.

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
Replacing plastic wrap with using a reusable plastic container

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?