Fake Plastic Fish Challenge 1 Week’s worth of plastic

5/18/09
1 snack Cheetos bag (plastic and foil fusion)
1 snack Doritos bag (plastic and foil fusion)
1 soup container (which will become an African violet pot soon)
1 plastic spoon
1 plastic fork
1 polystyrene take-out container (not sure if this plastic. In fact I have no idea what polystyrene is made of beyond “chemicals”)
1 plastic bag (too dirty to recycle)
1 packet of soy sauce

5/19/09
1 styrofoam plate (Styrofoam is plastic… right? I think… It’s not natural…)
1 wax paper liner from the deli (not sure where this falls)

5/20/09
1 McD’s coffee cup top
1 Sweet and Sour dipping sauce container

5/21/09
bulk Q-tips box
1 McD’s lg. soda and cover
1 Sweet and Sour dipping sauce container
2 Cheetos snack pack bags

5/22/09
2 Cheetos snack pack bags
1 plastic Fresh City bag
1 plastic food container from Fresh City
1 plastic soup cover from Fresh City
1 plastic fork

5/23/09
1 deli bag from turkey breast slices
1 plastic water bottle I found in the trunk.
wrap from a sleeve of oreos
3 plastic tag hangers from clothes
1 plastic shopping bag from clothes
1 plastic water bottle

5/24/09
1 veg sticker on pepper
polystyrene tray for corn
shrink wrap on corn
plastic tape on box of canned green beans
shrink wrap on 6 pack of tuna
tomato box
shrink wrap on twin pack of eggs
potato bag and clip
bag of fish guts (blech)

5/25/09
1 Boston Market dish and cover
1 Soup container cover

Analysis Questions:

What items could I easily replace with plastic-free or less plastic alternatives?
– take shopping bags with me for clothes shopping
– take cloth produce bags shopping
– do not buy bulk packs or pre-packed veggies
– do not buy bulk packs of tuna wrapped in plastic
– go inside at McD’s and use the cover of the chicken nuggets to hold the sauce
– use reusable forks and spoons at work
– keep a bottle of soy sauce at work
– take reusable containers for the deli

What items would I be willing to give up if a plastic-free alternative doesn’t exist?
– Sweet and sour sauce
– Plastic water
– Chips

How many of these items are from “convenience” foods that could be made from scratch with less packaging but might take more time to prepare?
– Take out food.
– Oreos
– Mmm…. everything else is an ingredient

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

What lifestyle change(s) might be necessary to reduce my plastic consumption?
– bring my own lunch (*sobs*)
– no shopping at BJ’s

What one plastic item am I willing to give up or replace this week?
– water bottles (This is a cheat as I haven’t bought water in months and am just getting rid of bottles that are hiding in the house)
– produce bags – just have to get down to the sewing machine.

What other conclusions, if any, can I draw?
– I need to get my parents (other shoppers) involved in this too.
– It’d be lovely if the fruit and veg didn’t have plastic stickers on them.