The Deliberate Consumer

TL;DR: Psychology, economics, and consumerism all have a key role to play in sustainability. A key reflection from my Plastic Free July experience is that changing how we approach buying in even the smallest of ways can have a significant positive impact for our environment and the species we share it with. Background It started with a personal ban on disposable coffee cups. For half a year, I had been successful in only purchasing hot beverages when I had a reusable cup with me or when I felt comfortable making the time to sit-in and enjoy a cup of coffee without any rush. But once I had mastered that habit, I began looking for another challenge. And then I was told about Plastic Free July. I investigated the movement and made the pledge, swearing off single-use plastics for 31 days. While I do not think it was too difficult to uphold this pledge, the lessons learned as a result of the process have been insightful and - at times - unnerving. When I started down the path of inve...

When I signed on to Plastic Free July, I pledged to swear off single-use plastics for the entire month. If any piece of an item was plastic that couldn't be used again, I vowed to leave it on the shelf. So, with Plastic Free July coming to a close, how did I do? Did I succeed in my mission? Business Insider Australia:  https://www.businessinsider.com.au/nailed-it-netflix-baking-fails-photos-2018-3 Ok, so it wasn't as bad as all that. But in short, no. I was not able to completely avoid single-use plastics. A few products took me by surprise. There was plastic where I least expected it and where it was completely unnecessary. What got me? Three items. Three in a month of purchasing. And the culprits were... Kitty litter. Grr... I thought I had avoided this when I found a cardboard box of litter without a plastic bag inside. I picked it up off the shelf, paid, and waltzed it to the car - only then to notice the plastic handle that was stuck in the top of the box. Da...

Heading into last weekend, the forecasted increase in temperature had me plummeting into some mid-challenge blues in a classic inverse relationship. However, the break in the heat wave also brought with it some wonderful reach-outs from new and old friends, reminding me of all of the positive actions that have resulted from taking on the Plastic Free July challenge. Like my wonderful co-worker, Lisa, for example, who reached out to let me know she has ordered metal straws for future beverage purchases. Or John, a member of my public speaking group who mentioned he now keeps a reusable cup in his car so that he doesn't need to use disposables any longer. He is the fifth person to mention this change in habit to me. I can't wait to hear from the sixth! And then there are still more who have connected, not to share habit changes, but to share an increased awareness of plastics and how they are a part of everyday life or favourite pastimes. My co-worker, Kati, shared an interes...

While there are more informational posts to come and many ideas for how to extend this zero-waste adventure when Plastic Free July comes to a close, this post's purpose is to share some of the mental and emotional challenges that are resulting from taking on this pledge. "You'd best start thinkin' where your food comes from and I hope you tend a good garden."  Corb Lund Tomorrow, where my parents live, it is forecasted to feel like 49 degrees Celsius by mid-day. "Hope they have a pool!" you may be thinking. Or, "Geebus, stay inside and crank that AC!" may be your advice. They do not have a pool. They have a farm. And while I'm sure their AC will be turned on (albeit not too cold), they will not be inside. They will be out in the field, sweating to bring in their blueberry harvest. A harvest that will go to city markets us urbanites can travel to using climate-controlled [public] transit, spend a short while bemoaning the heat ...