Last day of plastic free July Summary

31st July 2019

The final day

The children are so excited for tomorrow supermarket shopping visit, however I have not told them of the news that we are still going to try and live a reduced plastic future.

The cost of this month to last month

June 2019 I spent £544.21 feeding the 6 of us and the 3 animals

July 2019 ended with a total spend of £589.93 feeding the 6 of us and the 3 animals

So plastic free has cost me £45.72 more

This is where I am going to have to seriously watch what replacement alternatives cost, I have to express that the little supplies that have been in the house in July prove that this challenge has been costly which annoys me. Why should this be? I just did not know where to find the alternatives and where I have shopped has been farm shops, butchers, fish deli, eco waste free shops and fresh meat counters. I have had to buy replacement plastic free alternatives online that have occurred a delivery charge such as toilet paper, shampoo and conditioners, eco cleaner etc.

This is where supermarkets have us in the bag and control where our money is spent due to the cost of their food covered in plastic being so cheap. I can see how the eco waste free market shops and farmers barn style shops are cashing in on the climate change emergency regarding plastics which is wrong. I know they could never match the supermarket prices and buying there fresh locally farmed products come at a price for them. Plus they are have changed their packaging to plastic free alternatives which have a higher suppliers cost. (WHY?) The eco waste free living is a niche market and can only be offered to a home with a disposable income, to families that can afford it and families that can afford the time to bake everyday bread and snack alternatives. As a family of 6 we like fruit snacks however a pack of crisps or a pack of biscuits go a long way due to their price. We are facing this climate problem in the wrong way and I'm getting crosser waiting for something to change that is just not happening. I read an article today that children in the school holiday in deprived areas are not been given meals due to families not able to afford to pay for food, it's so bad that schools are now opening up in the holidays to feed the kids. How will they be able to change their habits for climate change if all they can afford is the cheap plastic covered supermarket options. Whilst the food is being brought in plastic the supermarkets feel there is a consumer market still wanting plastic but they don't consider the families that don't have an option but to buy these plastic covered items.  It's just wrong, food should be offered without plastic at the same or cheaper prices. The other thing I witnesses is that the farm shops, zero waste shops etc promote plastic free but guess how their products are being delivered to their stores? Yes you got it in plastic from their suppliers. These are however big plastic bagged products that then get filled into the shops containers. When I asked how they get their products delivered they mentioned "in larger plastic bags". They said it was to reduce the plastic in their consumers homes, so we their consumer could live a less waste option. Annoyed that these type of shops advertise plastic free life style but can only buy their shop supplies in plastic and charge extra for us to have the privilege of this contradiction.  

So whilst you all digest this honest post I still believe that I am doing good by reducing my individual household waste to landfill and I feel good about that too. I feel good that I am not wastefully buying in bulk for the products to go out of date before I have had the chance to use them. I feel good spending the time with family members experimenting on recipes I have never done before. Spending the time with the kids teaching them how to cook but also laughing a lot with them when the cooking process goes wrong or did not work and finding out solutions together how we can improve the recipe next time. We must all try to change our habits regarding less waste to landfill but it does not have to be stressful just do one thing at a time everyday. The plastic free lifestyle does work out in the end and if I can do it with such a large family then anyone can. I know from the knowledge I have gained doing this challenge it is going to work out cheaper in the long run with our health improving too.

The Journey as of today

 My waste black bins, two of them were always full before plastic free July and today one bin goes out with only three bin bags in it. Whilst the two recycling bins were full only one was put out last week and half of that recycling came from the plastic I had already in my home from previous months as i did not want to waste the products but use them up.

I received a lovely vegetable box from Mike who has an Allotment, he has some great tips on how to grow your own food simply and easily. His you tube channel below on the link.

https://www.youtube.com/user/woody24562530
Thank you Mike for the box of goodies

Some supermarkets are going in the right direction but they need to act faster and we the consumer should not be blinded by their sale tactics to buy more unnecessary bulk buying. 

My toilet paper delivery arrived and the kids thought the box was delivered to the wrong house due to its logo.
We did laugh!!

So as my Plastic free July comes to an end I am thinking of keeping this blog going with a different name although maybe not writing it everyday. I believe we can all change our habits if we try so I will look at where I have brought my alternatives  throughout this month of July and offer a blog with these links for everyone else to try. Sharing this blog has been a pleasure and I hope that you have all enjoyed my journey.

Thank you for keeping me going

Karen

30th July 5 day update sorry

July 30th

Day 30

Five days in one blog tonight as I have had a few days of being a busy mom. My son has had a serious injury to his eye ball and I have spent the last few days travelling to and from the hospital. He has require treatment ever two hours and I was just too tired to blog. I do apologise for this however I have one day left of plastic free July and I think the kids are delighted. They cannot wait to have a few simple pleasures back in the cupboards. Some of you are possibly thinking that I should not go back to plastic but the truth of the matter is some items are just not available as an alternative. I will however keep a few alternatives that I have found as they work well and also fit in to our lifestyle. I will also seek to find the other alternatives that have been impossible to find in one month. My cupboards are emptying of plastics and I will not be replacing them either, so little by litter we will become a Zero waste family.

The problem at the moment is that the Eco or waste free shops are just not catering for the family market. Prices and practicality are just not in a family range or budget when shopping here and there for goods to feed a family of 6. Tomorrow I will work out for the final day just how much has been spent on plastic free July 2019 compared with my June 2019 spends.
One thing this challenge has shown me is just how wasteful we are in this throw away culture and this is what's going to change in my household. Every family has to start somewhere and this challenge has been very daunting at times where I could have easily gave up. My routine will change and my money will be saved in the long run but as a mother my sanity has to be intact.

The overall issue is that I am one consumer that is making an impact in my lifestyle not to bow down to convenience and let the supermarkets bombard me with plastic covered goods. I am determined to reduce my household waste, this plastic free July challenge has been successful and our household has reduced it's waste by 50%. However it's by far not enough,  have turn to books to help me with some final changes and most authors express that changing your family over totally to waste free is difficult and should be done one thing at a time. I have done more than this each day and have also educated myself on the alternatives and where to go for them. So once the routine slips back in to place I can actually start shopping differently and more excitedly than just popping to Tesco for convenience. I shall make the time to pop in to the city to a larger waste free shop with my weekly menu in hand and make sure I visit the city when the markets are on for the cheaper fruit and veg options. So in one afternoon the waste free shop and market will be visited. The key to the successfulness of a waste free family is definitely in the planning and organisation of my week.  A trip to the city will be a welcomed change.

The overall truth is that our planet needs us to change our convenient ways, stopping us being dictated to by supermarkets who are only fulfilling their profit margins. People are telling me that's its more expensive to go waste/eco free but when they go to the supermarkets their trollies are full to the brim, covered in plastic and most of it will end up in the landfill or recycled bins unused. Money is being wasted in so many ways that we have become accustomed too and there really is no need to acquire so much and then place it in landfill forever. The availability to become a waste free success has to be in the practicality of the refill shops offering us the items needed so that we can cater in such a big family. Cereal for instance.

There is a huge satisfaction in turning to a Eco freak and I for one like it, mine household feels fresher and my burdens are easing due to my cupboards being organised. My bank account will be healthier and so will the planet as I'm turning more and more to waste less, reuse stuff and enjoy up-cycling what I have. A veg patch will be a new addition to my garden over the next year and I will enjoy more baking with the kids. Time is so important.

Today My bread making skills were tested once more as I made hot dog rolls. The children loved them and I did impress myself too.
Advertised all over Facebook was toilet roll options that are tree friendly and made by recycled material. The funniest name ever for this company was "Who gives a crap". brilliant name I thought. An order has been made and a big box will be delivered in a couple of days.

Hope you enjoyed tonight's blog and once again I apologise for the 5 day update.

Hot dogs



They turned out well

Day 25 I need to put the oven on and it's a baking hot day

Day 25

25.07.19

My nephews birthday and I need to bake a cake.



We went to Bells farm shop and the kids were delighted to see the two farmers crisps, crisps is the one snack in our house that is popular. The two farmers crisps packets are compostable and plastic free. We did buy three packs but one did not make it home, however at £2.80 for a large a packet I think for this family walkers packets might be coming back home. Terracycle will be getting my used packets along with toothpaste tubes as I still have not found an alternative for toothpaste. My duty of care towards the kids has to be my number one priority and the dentist needs to be kept happy.

Delighted with Bells farm today as they have started selling the two farmers crisps.

The shampoo and conditioner bars are still going strong after about five uses these have hardly changed in size.

 

 

Tonight I baked a birthday cake for my nephew a lemon drizzle cake, I was unable to taste it due to my intolerances however the family tucked in a commented how nice it was. I do know one thing is there is only three pieces left and I can honestly say it was simple and easy to make.

Today has been about looking after the children in this very hot weather however I am enjoying the sunshine.

Day 24 Summary I needed to cheat for my sainity.

Day 23 Summary

Today I needed to make a few plastic decisions as my cupboards are empty of anything available and gradable for the kids to eat. We are in the summer holidays and I cannot in this heat keep putting the oven on. So I bought light brown sugar in a plastic packaging as there is no where I can find an alternative. I thought the homemade baking of many cookie varieties at different times throughout the week with this one bag of sugar would make up for me buying 6-8 packets of biscuits and ending up with all that packaging. Surely one plastic packet was better than 6-8 different plastic packets. Two packets of biscuits were brought though as I'm not a wonder woman who can bake daily and cereal was brought too as the kids need to eat cold breakfasts in this kind of weather.

Ice cream was brought in a plastic tub and popsicles were found in paper tubes so that's this heat wave sorted to cool the kids down. A really nice find for mom and dad was the gin and tonic popsicles that will also keep the adults cool too.

 

These are a real success with the kids and adults. Gin of course is the adults one lol.


To summarise this day the supermarkets won over with certain plastic covered items that I need to help me through summer holiday days especially in this kind of heat. My children have really supported the plastic free July however day 24 and it's taking its toll so far as snacks and ice cream go. For my sanity and safety in decision making as a mother this was a much needed necessity.  



Day 24 baking by hand now no bread maker in sight

Day 23 Plastic free July


23.07.19

Our menu yesterday was Pizza and I decided to make it all by hand. I usually buy the pizza's in a box with the plastic cover. These handmade pizza's from scratch were easy to make, very tasty, the block of cheese was lovely melted nicely and enough was left over for todays lunch.

looks amazing kids loved it

My nephew pointed out that I was using a kids recipe book and my reply was it was nice and easy.

Tip for the future make it on the tray as trying to place it on a tray once filling is applied was a quite a tricky moment.

This is my pizza with the pepper sauce jar from Sainsbury's, cheese block from Co-op with goats cheese, olives, salami and my friends home grown courgette. Defiantly a recipe staying with my family it was lovely.

I then gave bread a go and it was quite easy however I'm not sure how this is going to be achieved time scale wise in a normal day. At the moment the kids are home due to school holidays and when they return making fresh bread in the morning is just not possible. Unless of course I wake earlier to bake it which I also can't see happening as I have just got my sleeping pattern back after many motherhood years.

Very impressed with the final bake no soggy bottom either Mary Berry would be pleased.  

The rise was supper

However not much left after 6 people attacked it, need to bake another one.

Not much mess to clean up but best of all NO PLASTIC WASTE



Day 23 summery 8 days left

23.7.19

Day 23 and only 8 days left of this madness to find the alternative’s to plastic free. What have I learnt  though is a lot.

I have to say that some plastic items will have to return after plastic free July as much as it pains me as I would like to continue plastic free. THE LOGISTICS of making the biscuits and snacking items are too much for this mom. What I will continue to Keep is the knowledge that there are other options to buying household and food items. I will continue to shop at the farm shops, butchers and local shops rather than huge food chain supermarkets. Using my reusable tubs has definitely reduced the waste to landfill and the two recycling bin’s I put out every two weeks,  this week there will only be one bin. This meaning that my hard work has paid off and I’m only sending out 50% of what I usually do. Mostly tins from the pet food, bottles and delivery cardboard boxes.

Today I used the shampoo and conditioner bars, I was immediately surprised that the shampoo bar actually lathered my hair. The conditioner also went on with ease and I do believe if I have no reaction that this is a welcomed change I am willing to keep.

Once again I also picked up some salami for our pizzas in the week from the deli at Sainsbury’s that was also wrapped in paper. I was surprised to learn how when introducing any kind of change in their store people moan and make the process of elimination hard for the staff to support due to the negativeness they receive. Plastic reduction has to happen and like me with this process I hope people will read that small changes are not that difficult.

Last night the children were invited to our neighbours garden to experience his new toy a ice cream machine. I never told them about it until they got there and when they seen cones and paper tubs with wooden spoons they were ecstatic. We all munch away I a much missed item in this plastic free house.

Sainsbury’s deli also offer plastic free and you can take your own tubs too. 

The shampoo and conditioner bars after one use 

On delighted lad 

Kids said they are available daily to experiment his ice creams lol 

Add caption

Day 22 summary kids snack pacifiers and exciting cereals have all gone

Day 22

22.7.19

It's getting hard now

I remember at the start of July how I was saying the first week was going to be the easiest as we had the contents of our cupboards to eat down. Well I was completely correct it is now day 22 and the good stuff as the children would say is all gone. In my children's eyes the fridge is empty and the cupboards are clear of all things junk. 

In reality the fridge is full of the healthy stuff but the problem is it is not grab ready therefore there is no food in the house. I will say I am feeling tired today and the washing from the weekend away is slowing going through the machine.   

The issue with not having the grab ready snacks now is that the children moan, I going to give them credit though as they have put up without packet biscuits and treats now throughout July. They have also been very supportive of the plastic free task but they are bored of food and their reduced sugar intake is beginning to take it's toll. 

The grab snacks are a needed essential with this family and if I have not baked the snacks then we have the issue of the hunger snack moans.

The children made pancakes last night and also a chocolate concrete however this did not last the morning and by tea time they wanted to eat each other lol. 

The pantry items are running out or have been used up, I cannot find plastic free brown soft sugar anywhere to make more biscuits, but I am going to try the caster sugar to see if that can be used as an alternative. 

My husband and I went to the co-op supermarket today and struggled with many items however it was pleasing to know that the cold meets and cheeses were plastic free from the counter. I was unable to buy grated mozzarella cheese for our pizza making in the week and have gone with an alternative cheddar cheese block  that I hope the children will enjoy.

Lovely to have a paper wrapped cold meat section 

A great selection of meats and cheeses to chose from 

Just the bread in plastic however I am going to use this bread bag again.

The husband returns to work tomorrow and I am left at home with the children and very little junk food to pacify them with. This is going to be the real test of plastic free endurance to be able to get through full summer holiday days plastic free with children.
I must leave now to plan the meals for the week because I do not plan on running here and there with three kids in tow catch up tomorrow. 

Day 21 Camping plastic free!!!!!and a tesco delivery

Day 21

Hi I'm back after a couple of days away glamping with the children, James football team families and a disappointing Tesco delivery that catered for 30 people perfectly. As you can imagine 7 families preparing for a weekend away with two or three children can be stressful, just to pack the clothing and needing to be arriving at camp after the last school day is very time consuming, especially when you have also worked that day. All the mothers planned at a meeting last week the catering for such a large number of people and this plastic free parent was out voted on a few items. The decision to meal plan for each meal and list out a delivery was the easiest and less stressful way of doing the catering for such a large party.

I did fight my corner though on the waste side of things especially when the other moms mentioned buying water bottles. My suggestion was a drink serving dispensers to refill the children's drink bottles. Each adult and child was to bring their drink bottles to refill during their time at camp and the dispensers would be filled with squash and water. The parents agreed on this and of course we saved money this way also. The second suggestion was that I bought the meat from the butcher in order to reduce the plastic packaging that the supermarket always wrap their meat in. The parents agreed that I could order what we needed from my local butcher. So last week I ordered the meat and on Friday morning I turned up at the butchers with my reusable tupawear and collected it. I also baked three different cakes for the children to snack on and a birthday Victoria sponge was homemade too for James 9th birthday.

I could not really do much more because some items on the list included nuts, biscuits, crisps, fruit, bread, salad, dips etc and I'm unfortunately not wonder woman and had to agree on some plastic covered items to feed and pacify 30 people especially 16 kids which included 3 teenagers.

We took two dispensers that I had borrowed from the scout hut.

The campsite owners prepared fresh pizza's for us all the first night so not a plastic wrapper in site, even her tomato base sauce was homemade.

I will say though how impressed I was at the support I was receiving throughout the weekend from all the parents and children who were recycling what they could, composting all compostable foods, egg shells, egg boxes, cartons and paper. The waste to landfill was only one black bin bag at the end of camp from 7 families of 30 people in total which I think is very impressive.  We were staying at a campsite that prides itself on being eco friendly and it had all these waste facilities available to enable us to reduce what waste went to landfill. So overall it was impossible to buy plastic free for such a large number of people as snacks, salad mixed grab bags, biscuits, nuts and most snacks are not offered at the supermarkets (Tesco delivery option) without the plastic wrapping. The weekend shop for each family worked out about £60 which when feeding 30 people in 7 families throughout 6 meals I thought was a reasonable cost. I also feel that it could not have been avoided in anyway as these items when finding alternatives are just not available anywhere without driving here and there to find them. Quite disappointedly it's was not achievable with a  Tesco delivery due to no available alternatives items. I could have baked cookies, shopped for fruit unpackaged, made the dips, brought the salad separately to make up but I could not have done it all, especially when catering for such a large number of people and feel that baking over 120 cookies may have just finished this tired end of term mom off. The one other plastic free was tuna mayonnaise made by one of our mothers from tins however the mayo was plastic bottled, one plastic bottle instead of about 8 tuna mayonnaise plastic made up pots.

As you can witness glasses were used for beverages

The pepper sauce mix my husband found in Sainsbury's was lovely on my pizza. My first pizza in a long time as I have a tomato intolerance.

No packaging in sight just the hubby and the BBQ

All the cutlery was metal and the plates, bowls, mugs etc were all porcelain, washable and reusable. The younger children did have plastic bowls and spoons but these were also reusable.  No waste to landfill at all of these items.

Happy wife, Happy life is what my husband says.

The honest wheelbarrow of unavoidable plastic wrapping catering for such a large number of people. 

Day 18 summary

Day 18

18.07.19

So today was a pleasure day as I walked the dog this morning along a nature reserve, did some washing and went for a litter pick along the canal with The Pickup Artists volunteers. My dog also went for a long walk along the canal and is currently fast asleep. Plastic free today which has been lovely. The teachers received their gifts from the children and two teachers expressed their joy of a plastic free gift and went on to explain how they also are reducing plastic within their households.

Once again the menu was decided the weekend and we had a lovely homemade Chinese chicken buns with sweet and sour noodles. 

I made the filling and my nephew made the dough and buns.

The homemade bees wax candles turned out lovely

So I am going away the weekend for my son's birthday and his football team families are coming too. To my delight we are staying on a Eco campsite and will fill you all in on what happens over the weekend regarding plastics or any tips I can use from the campsite itself.

No much to report today its been a very relaxing day.

Day 17 Summary

Day 17
17.07.19

My delivery arrived

Today was a bread machine disaster however there was success on the plastic free family today. My shampoo and conditioner bars arrived with my husbands shaving bars. I stole one of these for a teachers gift but I won't tell him.

The shampoo and conditioner bars if left in the bath for instance by the kids will dissolve away. So I am going to crochet a soap bag for them to put the bars back in after they have used it on their hair. Rules must apply if these are going to last and be good value for money.



So the children reminded me the last day of term is Friday and their teachers presents are not ready. So off to work I went making candles, wrapping up my homemade soaps and collecting some bamboo toothbrushes that my friend had personalized for each teacher.

My homemade candles in the yogurt jars for teachers gifts

So I added a litter note

perfect for a male teacher with a candle of course

no plastic in sight
I brought the cards from card factory as they sell the cards without the plastic wrapping.

It’s my sister in laws birthday today and I asked the florist to send a bouquet without plastic My sister in law said.

Yes they had a grass woven tie on them and no plastic stick holding card with kids names on they stuck that and flower food to the paper wrap with blob of glue 😃. Xxx

The kids were happy when they returned home to more home baking made and cottage pie for dinner. I did not visit a supermarket or shop today so again planning ahead is proving more relaxing. 

As i'm typing tonight summary the husband has just walked in with this in his hand.
 MY BREAD SUCCESS without a machine. lol

Day 17 Bread Maker disaster Hilarious

Day 17

17.07.19

So last week I visited a friends house and experienced her son's bread made from a bread maker and how he puts the bread maker on every night so that they have fresh bread for the morning. They have not purchased plastic covered bread for a long time. 

So a bread maker went on my list and I mentioned on Facebook that I was looking for one and a second hand one came available for £10. Bargain so I thought. My nephew accompanied me to collect it and we decided to have a bread off competition. If you remember from yesterdays blog he made a lovely loaf by hand that everyone in this house has enjoyed.

So the competition was on "Who was going to make the best bread?"

As he moved around the kitchen being all kneady, I smugly followed a recipe and found that when using a bread maker you simply put the ingredients into the bread maker and turned it on. how easy was that, I then sat down with a cup of tea and watched him work his bread laughing how difficult mine was.

However after his bread had proved and cooked my bread machine was still hard at work so I thought? turns out the machine kept blowing the fuse in the house and when the machine turned back on the program started over again. The trouble being that the bread maker had been running for a hour and when it stopped and then started again once the electric switch was turned back on, the bread dough was ruined. 

So my nephew won the bread off and smugly reminded me all day that his way was the easy way. The funny part was I moved the machine in determination to another plug today and it only went and blew the fuse again. So if anyone wants a bread maker I now have one going for free.

The bread maker 

The nephew's handmade success

Mine today given up on the machine

Day 16 Summary (THE COST SO FAR)

Day 16

Today has been a relaxing day full of a breakages, reduced waste and baked goodies. The ice cream is ready from our berries, mousses are done for pudding, Biscuits and more dough made to pacify kids snacking needs and bread crumbs made for the dinner. 

Laundry has been put away and the house is now organised from the weekend. The dog is happy sleeping after her long walk and I am not stressed running around shopping for plastic free alternatives.

So far day 2 of this week I am convinced the organised lifestyle is the best way to go for plastic free living. This whole challenge has been refusing to buy the unnecessary single use plastic's covering our foods & house goods, Living by producing less waste and living a healthier life style.
 Today is day 16 of 31 meaning 15 days left. 

As I have been driving around feeding more CO2 emissions into the environment, reducing plastic waste to landfill, using more recyclable glass and metal (tins),  I have to question is it all worth it. The only real question people are asking is 

"Does plastic free cost more"
*  My answer so far is yes more time as I don't really know where to find alternatives!
*  More time prepping the fresh food but fun with the kids!
* More fresher food being eaten
* More car journeys

Food Expenses
July 19 verses June 19 

2019
Total spent so far in 16 days is??????? £348.79
This might seem excessive but this weeks food is in the fridge plus i'm feeding 6.

2018

Total spent in month June 2019 is????? £544.21 
So day 16 of July I've spent £348.79

If I spend more than £195.51 in the next 16 days this month has cost me more going plastic free so I will keep track of this.

Mousse looks great

Ice cream maker 

Homemade ice cream with blackberry
 and raspberry fruit from the freezer.

The bread machine I up-cycles for £10 from Facebook group
 "Every bit helps"

My nephew decided to prove me wrong about the bread machine and made a perfect loaf by hand, this was after the machine made it home that he showed me this talent of his.

The last biscuit role 

biscuit role cut and ready for the oven for when kids come home from school

Yummy

My confession today was that yesterday I purchased these plastic items. Please don't be disappointed as my overall plan is reuse the bottles. I ran out of washing up liquid and fabric conditioner and I was going to make the 7.3 mile journey to the Eco shop when I realized I did not have enough refill bottles to fill. Also if this family is going plastic free it needs to be planned better and I hope to only visit a shop that is 7.2 miles away from my home once a month. So my plan is to use up these bottle contents and then refill the lot at once.

  

AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THE ABOVE plastic free needs to be a transition in a household, if someone gave me a list of where to buy just what I needed and used this transition would be easy. Every family run their household differently and finding the alternatives to suit my family is still on going so at the moment yes, plastic free is impossible straight away in plastic free July. However it is not completely impossible long term and when i'm looking at my plastic waste today it has reduced massively. Plus I'm not feeding the plastic supply chain any of my usual money which delights me after watching the recent documentary War on plastic and knowing that the plastic producers plan to grow and make more instead of less. 

I will continue this challenge to achieve my plastic free family and I am also looking at ways to reduce my tin can and glass waste within the household to.