Amber Mathewes
7/31/2022 12:05 PM
Most of my plastic use is food related
July 1 - July 31, 2022
South Carolina Aquarium Feed
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Reflection, encouragement, and relationship building are all important aspects of getting a new habit to stick.
Share thoughts, encourage others, and reinforce positive new habits on the Feed.
To get started, share “your why.” Why did you join the challenge and choose the actions you did?
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Linda Rowe 7/31/2022 4:48 PMYeah! We did it!! Great job, everyone. -
Jianna Wankel 7/31/2022 1:14 PMIt’s been really good to check in and begin to be more intentional with my plastic consumption. I find it most hard to avoid in grocery stores. I would love to shop at more eco friendly places like farmers markets and such. -
REFLECTION QUESTIONCommunity Estimate My Plastic ConsumptionWhat did you find out about your plastic consumption by using the calculator? What did or didn't surprise you?
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Candy Colonna 7/31/2022 10:08 AMThere are some things I’m just not there yet like making detergent and using soap for shampoo. Maybe one day. -
Connor Geelhoed 7/31/2022 8:30 AMOne more day everyone! I can’t believe how much great work we have all accomplished this month! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONPets Sustainable Suds: Pet EditionIn what ways does your pet make your life happier, more interesting, or more rewarding?
Shelley Shrader 7/30/2022 1:08 PMI started bathing my dogs with bar soap and they smell so much better than they did with other dog shampoos! I'm working towards a zero waste bathroom and this gets me one step closer!
(my dogs are less than 20 pounds so I bathe them in the tub) -
REFLECTION QUESTIONCommunity Say No to StyrofoamHow might styrofoam be an environmental justice and/or environmental racism issue in your community?
Shelley Shrader 7/30/2022 7:27 AMI hate learning how often Styrofoam is for the environment and then going to a store and seeing them serve any food or drink in the container. I use to always go to Easy Bay for lunch, but this whole month I've not gone so that I don't create any waste, but especially Styrofoam! I want more restaurant locations to offer more opportunities to bring your own things in for drinks at quick service places! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFamily Swap the SnacksHow does swapping out prepackaged snacks for fresh fruit or veggies benefit your family?
Shelley Shrader 7/30/2022 7:24 AMI try really hard to only eat things that aren't wrapped in single use plastics. Which means I have had to stop eating a lot of kind bars/luna bars/lara bars. This has helped my bank account a lot, but sometimes I miss those yummy snacks. Does anyone have a good granola bar recipe that uses little to zero waste when buying the ingredients at the store? Would love for you to share if you have it!-
Jaime Webster 7/30/2022 7:52 AMThis recipe has always been my go-to, and can be made plastic-free: https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/no-bake-energy-bites/
- Old-fashioned oats: Also called rolled oats — Can purchase from bulk bins, at stores like Sprouts , MOMs & Wegmans (on east coast). These are also sold in cardboard containers but hard to find the ones without plastic lid.
- Shredded coconut: An ingredient I always omit, so unsure on packaging.
- Creamy peanut butter: Glass jar brands with metal lid
- Ground flaxseed: Can purchase from bulk bins using mesh bags
- Semisweet chocolate chips: Can purchase from bulk bins using mesh bags
- Honey: I buy local honey in glass jars with metal lid
- Vanilla extract: Can be found in small glass jars with metal lid (off-brands)
- Chia seeds: Can purchase from bulk bins using mesh bags
I'm SO glad bulk foods are back, all stores in my area stopped bulk sales during the shut-down and started pre-packaging everything in plastic, it was horrible! Fine mesh bags are my best friends for bulk items, and if I need to buy flour or anything finer, I grab a small paper bag from the register or bakery areas.
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Shelley Shrader 7/30/2022 7:14 AMHere is a petition to sign to Break Free from Plastic Pollution!
https://actionnetwork.org/letters/support-the-break-free-from-plastic-pollution-act-2?source=direct_link&referrer=group-plasticpollutioncoalition
There's a lot of great resources on this site and plenty of other petitions to sign. A great way to do your own research and find ways to help our locally community to produce less waste! -
REFLECTION QUESTIONFood Minimize PackagingWith the added mindfulness of reducing your packaging, what have you noticed about the amount and type of single use plastics used for packaging when you shop in the grocery store?
Shelley Shrader 7/30/2022 7:07 AMI went to the grocery store and the only thing wrapped in plastic was the meat I purchased! Does anyone know if there's a butcher/local seafood place that you could go to and bring your own containers to purchase meat?
Or a place where you can buy rice/beans/things like that in bulk and bring your own containers?