Day 4- Whoops I did it again...

On this super hot sweltering day, most of which I spent laying on the floor refusing to move.

I knew I had things to do that I could avoid, but one major thing I had to get my butt in gear to achieve was buying glue and brushes for my craft group with the elders at my local dementia centre.

So I dragged myself to the shop bought my equipment, got back in, drenched in sweat, then realised, doh another plastic fail...
I had bought a bottle of PVA glue and plastic bulky brushes.

Many people I have discussed my plastic free July challenge with have doubted it's achievability "but how?! It's everywhere!" and they are right, it's bloomin hard!

Many feel the task is so large that there's no point trying and what I say to them is, Have a Go, Fail then Keep Going because the little you do achieve will have a big impact and will lead to further changes in your life.

Since last years Plastic Free July (which I failed miserably at) I now:

• carry a metal bottle for water that I always carry and top up; 
• a foldable shopping bag always in my bag; 
• bars of soap instead of soap liquid; 
• occasionally I use shampoo bars and occasionally I use wooden tooth brushes; 
• I mainly buy loose fruit not packaged; 
• and I'm in the long process of converting my old plastic bags into plastic yarn to making a things with.

So you see that's a pretty good start.
So this year I am re awakening to the plastic problem and re booting my goals and awareness.

I've realised to make this work I need to plan ahead.
Like with my craft day I need to source wooden brushes and made flour and water paste.

Try again, Fail again, Fail better!

Good Luck Fellow Plascateers!

Day 3- A Plastic Habit

So Day 3 and it's hard.

I had a bad plastic day.

Much like any other addiction it's hard to break bad habits and that's why I'm gonna be honest and confess.
I lapsed into plastic today.

There are rituals and routines that we develop that help us get through tough days.

They are mostly there to just give us a touch of comfort.

One of my weaknesses is coffee shops.
I don't go for the coffee, ok sometimes I go for the coffee, but I go mainly to just get off the pavement out of the stream of people, put my feet up and observe the world whip by. It's a time out thing.
Often these coffee shops don't give you china but paper cups and plastic lids and a tiny plastic stopper (dumbest thing ever!) Today I succumbed...

So I have to stick to the ones that have ceramic options.

Continuing in my days rituals I bought food from the store I always buy food for the weekend.
I wanted bacon and bread and fish and I bought them in my exhausted overheated fuxx.
Epic plastic fail:

I need a new shopping plan.
There's nothing like a bit of failure to get you on the right path.
1. I need to find a bakers
2. I need to find a fishery monger thing
3. I need to go to the butchers.
Do these things still exist....

Dear reader be encouraged, it's not easy but it doesn't mean you should give up.

In the great words of the great Samuel Beckett just before he leaped

Try Again, Fail Again, Fail Better.

Day 2- Symbols of Plastic, Know Your Enemy!

Day Two of the Great Plastic Mission.

I woke up thinking about recycling plastic and what the heck the symbols mean on the back of plastic packages. 

I believe correct me if I'm wrong but it means you can recycle them! 

IF your council recycles plastic, which is another thing to discuss with your local government.

Burt Bees Hand Cream

This recycle symbol says 50% inside it, what does that mean??

Quick Google search...nope..shall look further 

Boots EXPERT dry skin cream:

This does not have a recycle symbol to tell as about itself :(

That symbol it has with the two arrows means the company who made it invest/support in recycling but does not mean this is recyclable.

Tissues from Boots:

So this wrapper is made from Low Density Polyethylene which is no. 4 on your chart 

and Yeay! It's commonly recycled!
But not in the UK..Booooo!

Here's a fun chart to learn more AND a wiki page just to spoil you, don't say I don't give you anything!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recycling_codes

So I have learnt avoid plastic without a recycle symbol cause it probably means you can't recycle it. Also avoid plastics 6 and 7 as they are very hard to recycle.

This was my plastic purchase of the day.
A sandwich wrapper.

I went for the canned drink because I can recycle it in my building and it's not plastic!

Keep Up the Good Fight Plasticateers!

Day 1

So I've bitten off a big ol'challenge for the month.

The fabulous and fantastic Plastic Free July.

http://www.plasticfreejuly.org/

Right here I'm gonna log the plastic that crosses my path.
Now I doubt it'll be all the plastic because the stuff is everywhere so my goal is to become aware and reduce and find out about the plastics that are reusable.
It's a journey, join me!

So I started the day with my kit. 

Top Left: water bottle (alternative to bottled water), 

Top Right: Cutlery kit (alt for plastic spoons and forks), 

Bottom Left: Foldable shopping bag (alt 4 carrier bags) 

Bottom Right: My sandwiches in a reused carrier bag (reuse win)

Then whilst waiting for a meeting I heroically refused a lid on my coffee. NO I said NO

Then someone (Manda!) pointed out the cup is plastic coated, doh! 

She also suggested bring my own re-usable cup. I should see if they'll take it.

And some coffee places give you a coffee in a mug, so I'll be looking for them this month.

Wanted a cold drink but all the cold juice was sold in plastic cups, so I got this (expensive!!) glass bottle and then recycled it.

I didn't buy this but found it uber plasticy. Printer toner packaging.

The good thing is the old cartridge goes back in the packaging and is sent off for  re use.

My brain wave this morning for the Craftivists out there, a couple of ideas:

1. Make, out of old plastic, badges that say- No Plastic Please (like the baby on board badges) so when you're shopping you can point at the badge.

2. Make animals out of the plastic and send it to the HQ of the chain you bought it at, asking them to consider cutting down on their plastic use. (for example a plastic wrapper could be made into a butterfly)

3. Make a plastic crane for this campaign http://www.positivelifecycle.com/

4. Crochet/Knit reusable bags or bowls out of old plastic carrier bags.

Happy Minimal Plastic Use & Plastic Awareness Month!!

M.P.U.P.A.M! (catchy, right!?)