I’ve been thinking a lot about how I want to craft this project and how I’d like to share my findings. What i’m discovering is that this topic is very overwhelming, as it seems like our entire life as we know it is wrapped in plastic. I’m not trying to eliminate plastic from my life 100% because I don’t think that is realistic for most people and I want my experiments and discoveries to be useful to as many people as possible. I think its more practical to make small shifts and aim for what I’m calling semi-plastic free. I’m planning on sharing some of the themes that come up in my “solutions” section and some of the trends and takeaways I’m discovering as I start to make changes in my own lifestyle to eliminate plastic. I’ll be sharing the takeaways with artwork as they formulate. Here’s one big one to kick things off…

This may seem obvious but its not always easy. Here are some practical tips:

Buy foods packaged in glass jars instead of plastic containers. Glass is easier to recycle.
Don’t buy packaged produce. it’s just unnecessary!
Use the bulk bins for dry goods like rice, flour and nuts. Bring your own bags or jars.
If you can’t find blueberries that don’t come packaged in plastic containers, pick a different fruit… or go pick your own blueberries!
Shop local. buying things online always means more plastic packaging.
Consider your options when you are shopping. Some brands choose to add additional packaging even when its unnecessary. Weigh this into your choice when you decide which brand to buy.
When buying things that come packaged in bags, choose paper or compostable bags over plastic bags. Brands often have the choice to package in these alternatives!