Plastic free and proud by Pauline Round

Plastic free and proud ! 

Thank you to my friend Pauline Round who has kindly wrote me a poem about where my plastic free  July challenge has taken me.


Doing our best to be plastic free,
Helping the planet, all of us and me ! 
Our house is Plastic free at last, 
Plastic now a thing from the past.

No more plastic in our home,
So even if I have to roam.
To look for alternatives here and there,
Due to our food cupboards being bare.

Cooking, baking to feed us all
The kids helped we had a ball! 
I will continue to do my best,
Plastic free house, is my quest.

From time to time I will write a blog,
To let you know about the hard slog.
Trudging from one shop along to another,
I will keep going, it's not that much bother.

Supermarkets need to go plastic free,
A better environment for all to see.
Hope you'll be inspired by my rhyme, 
We will get there, all in good time. 

Pauline Round 

Mrs Pauline Round 

Pauline and I became friends whilst litter picking in our community with The Pickup Artists. 

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 

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