Enviro and waistline challenge

For one month you can't buy anything with packaging. So no packaged food, no take-out food, no bottled drinks and if we're being honest no restaurant meals either. Everything you eat is made from scratch and you need bring your own containers to the grocery store. Pretty hard eh? Now think about everything else you  buy that comes in a package and nix that too. I think it's doable, but next to impossible. So what if the challenge was no unnecessary packaging and any packaging you did buy had to be easily recycled? That would limit you to pretty much glass and paper/cardboard packaging. Easier to do than cutting all packaging out but still pretty hard. 

So could you live waste free for a whole month and produce no garbage at all?

That would be pretty tough, but not impossible. A lot of that requires time, which people seem to have less of nowadays. I always forget to bring a container when I dine out to take the leftovers home in. I have expressed my concerns to a few restaurants  that they are still using styrofoam containers. They tell me it is the cheapest option for them. You make some good points, Syncro.

I like milk.

Posted by: switch

I like milk.

get a cow

No new bike parts for Christmas?

Ever see the episode of Seinfeld where they bet to see who can go the longest without pleasuring themselves? Well just like Kramer, I’m out.

Posted by: syncro

Posted by: switch

I like milk.

get a cow

Pretty sure my strata will have something to say about that ...

I've been trying not to buy stuff with packaging for weeks now.

It's god damn fucking hard.

Going zero packaging is very difficult, but I have for years looked at packaging when making buying decisions.  Eg., I will not buy eggs that are packaged in expanded foam cartons, only cardboard cartons, because the wood fiber is easier and lower energy cost to recycle.  Even for the occasional pre-packaged meal (aka frozen dinner), there are options available now with mostly recyclable packaging.  These are easy decisions to make and don't cost much.

Posted by: ReductiMat

I've been trying not to buy stuff with packaging for weeks now.

It's god damn fucking hard.

Yah, for groceries, you can do a lot with sourcing from local farmer's markets and the like, but pretty much impossible when it comes to any other consumer goods.

Posted by: syncro

Posted by: switch

I like milk.

get a cow

Yes, because that would be good for the environment.

the wife has these beeswax reusable wraps, they actually work really well, will keep half a avocado in the fridge without it turning into a gray sludge.

Ya, the fam recently brought in those beeswax wraps.  They work great.

Damn.  This is way harder than dumping cold water on someone's head.  And in December to boot.  I will be honest, I can't do it, but I will try and reduce as best I can.  Maybe we should keep our packaging aside and see what it looks like after a month.  

We need some standardized reusable packaging incentives because just going through the grocery list and there are items that always come with throw away plastic.  It is pretty easy to buy meat, eggs and veggies locally, but what about cheese?  I love cheese!