It's What's On The Inside That Counts.... Not Always

Just as important as what is on the inside...

is how it is packaged...

in some cases

(humans and animals excluded - except for roosters, of course!).

While I am extremely choosy about what I feed my family,

and the products that we use,

I am becoming equally concerned with how those items are packaged.

One of my favorite indulgences is croissants from Costco,

(they are seriously delicious, all-butter croissants)

but the packaging is a nightmare.

12 of these flakey-soft, delicious pastries are packaged in a huge, hard-molded,

non-recyclable plastic box.

Sadly, because of this packaging, I have stopped buying them.

Note to self: must learn to bake croissants!

That's just an example of so many changes that I have made as a consumer.

Others include:

Yogurt... I make my own in re-usable glass jars.

We eat yogurt every day, so making my own is not only a more economical

solution - but it reduces our plastic waste, considerably.

Water...we buy no disposable water bottles.

I carry water with me wherever I go,

so rather than use plastic water bottles,

I use an insulated, steel water bottle.

I use similar containers for my tea.

(You can take your own containers to coffee shops, and they will fill them,

rather than use throwaway cups)

Food storage containers and wraps...

Dish detergent and hand soaps...I have stopped buying plastic containers,

and switched to glass pump bottles and pouches of re-fillable vegetable based soaps.

The pouches are made of plastic... but much less than what is in a plastic bottle.

I am in the process of obtaining information on how to recycle these pouches.

Cleaning products...

I invested in glass spray bottles and use a concentrate that is mixed with water

to re-fill them.

Shampoo and conditioner...

I am in the process of using up the last of the plastic bottled products

and will be switching to bar shampoo and conditioner

when these are gone.

Toothpaste...

I am switching to this toothpaste in place of plastic tubes.

It comes in small glass bottles that can either be recycled or repurposed.

I will use these bottles to store dried herbs that I have grown in the garden,

or sprinkles, etc. that I buy at our local bulk food store.

I like to keep extra toothbrushes on hand for guests or for travel.

Instead of plastic,

I have switched to bamboo.

Bamboo is renewable, and poses no disposal problem.

Household items...

Sometimes the "old fashioned" way is better in the long run.

We are no longer buying lighters, but have switched to matches.

When considering what brand to buy in items such as vinegars, condiments, 

organic peanut butter, and other grocery items,

I choose the brand that is packaged in glass rather than plastic.

Glass and paper are easily recyclable...

plastic is less so.

And then there is the subject the effect of plastic on our health and the environment.

Changing the world begins at home.

We each have the ability to help solve our own problems...

especially if we all work together!

Let's be thoughtful consumers.

Please share any changes that you have made so that we can all learn!!