10 Changes I Made to Love the Earth

Well, Greta arrived in New York via sailboat. Scientists are on Arctic research expeditions, also in zero-emissions wooden sail boats. The Arctic. Some humans are living completely plastic-free.

I suppose I can change a few things too…

Cue Simple Life Changes

While I have no occasion for sailboats (yet), I do live more than 1000km from my family, I use toilet paper, and I like to clean my teeth. Are these things barriers to a sustainable lifestyle? I’m finding out.

Starting with plastic.

Plastic-free: 10 Steps

OK, it’s everywhere. A person can’t get a protein bar without landfill anxiety. So… I’m not buying protein bars anymore.

Our major grocery stores operate on a preposterous packaging system. That is, they use plastic. I have a choice whether to support this or not.

1. Choosing my supermarket: One of our major Australian supermarkets sells plastic collectable miniatures of its products. I don’t shop there.
2. Recycling soft plastics: Our major supermarket chains collect soft plastics packaging for recycling. If I can’t avoid buying something plastic-covered, I return the plastic to the designated bin outside the shop. Fingers crossed it will actually be recycled!
3. Buying Recyclable Packaging: I only buy products in jars, cans, or recyclable plastic if really necessary. Sadly, that doesn’t include protein bar wrappers!
   My supermarket shopping list: Coconut oil, coconut cream, coconut yoghurt, Lindt dark chocolate (recyclable packet!), unpackaged fruit.
4. Shopping Bulk: I buy grains, legumes, oats, cereal, nut butter, honey, shampoo and conditioner, soap, cleaning products, laundry liquid, toothbrushes, etc. from a bulk food shop. I bring my own jars and containers.
5. Bakery Bread, in my own Bag: I bring my own bag to the bakery to wrap the bread.
6. Eco Dental: Bamboo toothbrushes. I buy them from my bulk food co-op, and you can find them online. Like this biodegradable dental floss. TerraCycle recycles toothpaste tubes, and they have drop-off points around Australia.
7. TerraCycle also recycles things like pens. I take my empty pens to the drop-off point near me.
8. Toilet paper: Our toilets have not escaped scrutiny! Even the recycled toilet paper in Woolworths is wrapped in plastic, so I order my toilet paper online from Pure Planet. Who Gives a Crap is another great Australian provider. *Update: I now buy 100 per cent recycled toilet paper from Woolies as it’s cheaper. I can recycle the packaging with REDcycle.
9. Hair ties: I treat mine with respect. I have found no cheap alternative.
10. The obvious, and the Instagrammable: Bamboo straws, keep cups, responsible take-away choices (no plastic-wrapped sushi, etc)… I really don’t have take-away coffee if I don’t have a cup.

The Family Situation

I’m really going to take the train from Sydney to the Gold Coast and back when visiting my family. It’s 15.5 hours, and a great view.

Microcosm

These are small changes, and they need to happen. I’m just one person, but I may as well be living in alignment with the planet where possible.

What’s interesting is that making these changes has raised my focus above the habitual. This is the awareness that can reform systems.

Originally published at http://adventures-in-life.com on October 13, 2019.