Comments on: Use Less Plastic Challenge http://gnowfglins.com/2008/06/12/use-less-plastic-challenge/ God's Natural, Organic, Whole Foods, Grown Locally, In Season Sat, 20 Mar 2010 00:48:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Wardeh http://gnowfglins.com/2008/06/12/use-less-plastic-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-11314 Wardeh Tue, 08 Jul 2008 14:40:27 +0000 http://gnowfglins.com/?p=1158#comment-11314 <em>Jen, thank you for that option! They look great to me and I believe others reading here will thank you for the tip. </em> Jen, thank you for that option! They look great to me and I believe others reading here will thank you for the tip.

]]> By: Jen http://gnowfglins.com/2008/06/12/use-less-plastic-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-10959 Jen Mon, 07 Jul 2008 05:13:47 +0000 http://gnowfglins.com/?p=1158#comment-10959 Hey there! Here is a stainless steel option: containers and lids meant for steam tables in restaurants. They come in a variety of sizes and depths: https://www.surfasonline.com/productlines/153.cfm. I like square & rectangle vs. round because it's a more efficient use of space and it looks like they would stack great. Hey there! Here is a stainless steel option: containers and lids meant for steam tables in restaurants. They come in a variety of sizes and depths: https://www.surfasonline.com/productlines/153.cfm. I like square & rectangle vs. round because it’s a more efficient use of space and it looks like they would stack great.

]]> By: Wardeh http://gnowfglins.com/2008/06/12/use-less-plastic-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-9726 Wardeh Mon, 30 Jun 2008 23:21:43 +0000 http://gnowfglins.com/?p=1158#comment-9726 <em>Just announcing that Sara is our winner! Yay! -</em> Just announcing that Sara is our winner! Yay! -

]]> By: Wardeh http://gnowfglins.com/2008/06/12/use-less-plastic-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-8352 Wardeh Tue, 24 Jun 2008 21:02:59 +0000 http://gnowfglins.com/?p=1158#comment-8352 <em>Kate, that is wonderful to hear what the school systems in New Zealand are teaching the children! There does seem to be an issue with plastic leaching into dry foods, but it depends on the plastic rating. The link above outlines the issues with each rating. Also, we just don't know all the effects of plastic, and studies are ongoing. </em> Kate, that is wonderful to hear what the school systems in New Zealand are teaching the children! There does seem to be an issue with plastic leaching into dry foods, but it depends on the plastic rating. The link above outlines the issues with each rating. Also, we just don’t know all the effects of plastic, and studies are ongoing.

]]> By: Kate http://gnowfglins.com/2008/06/12/use-less-plastic-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-8141 Kate Mon, 23 Jun 2008 04:45:57 +0000 http://gnowfglins.com/?p=1158#comment-8141 When we were in New Zealand, we were inspired by the waste-conscious lessons that the school was helping to teach the students. The kids were strongly encouraged to bring their food in reusable containers. In fact, for their morning "brain food" they were not ALLOWED to bring anything packaged. The kids were motivated by contests between classes to see who was able to produce the least amount of "rubbish". (This addressed wasted food as well as packaging.) Along the same lines, the school also recognized the class that used the least amount of electricity each week, and handed out "caught ya!" awards to students that helped the environment by picking up litter, etc. Another thought- when we were kids, my dad created a padded nylon velcro sandwich bag. It was washable and also had a pocket to hold a small ice pack so you could keep your sandwich chilled. (Of course, we were terribly embarrassed to have it in our lunch bags...) And a question- Is there the same problem leaching problem with dry foods, like flour, in plastic containers as there is with liquids? When we were in New Zealand, we were inspired by the waste-conscious lessons that the school was helping to teach the students. The kids were strongly encouraged to bring their food in reusable containers. In fact, for their morning “brain food” they were not ALLOWED to bring anything packaged. The kids were motivated by contests between classes to see who was able to produce the least amount of “rubbish”. (This addressed wasted food as well as packaging.) Along the same lines, the school also recognized the class that used the least amount of electricity each week, and handed out “caught ya!” awards to students that helped the environment by picking up litter, etc.
Another thought- when we were kids, my dad created a padded nylon velcro sandwich bag. It was washable and also had a pocket to hold a small ice pack so you could keep your sandwich chilled. (Of course, we were terribly embarrassed to have it in our lunch bags…)
And a question- Is there the same problem leaching problem with dry foods, like flour, in plastic containers as there is with liquids?

]]> By: Wardeh http://gnowfglins.com/2008/06/12/use-less-plastic-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-7514 Wardeh Wed, 18 Jun 2008 17:36:17 +0000 http://gnowfglins.com/?p=1158#comment-7514 <em><strong>Sara</strong> -- I agree that Tupperware is better than throwing away plastic each time. You might consider wax paper bags from Natural Value. I just read about them today. They are coated with paraffin wax, not a petroleum based plastic coating. I have seen children's water bottles and cups made from stainless steel. If she's old enough to do a sport cap, I believe you can get it (mostly) plastic free. Otherwise the sippy cups unfortunately have a plastic lid. <strong>Sangeeta </strong>-- Okay, I want some of those storage containers from India! How can we get some??? You made great suggestions. I appreciate the thoroughness of your responses. Will you let me know your findings on the butcher paper? You're right that freezer paper is coated with plastic. I suppose it could be used inside out? That defeats the point of not using plastic at all, but at least we could keep it away from our foods. If my powers of observation are correct, the beef we buy -- 1/2 cow per year -- comes from the butcher in butcher paper and taped with a paper tape. So I think that is the answer. It is double wrapped and truly I have never noticed freezer burn. You're right about the pot handles taking up space in the fridge. I have to nest them carefully. ;) <strong>Melinda</strong> -- I have the same issue with the plastic buckets. I don't foresee changing the big ones, but will try to replace (over time) the plastic containers in the cupboard with glass. Yes, I do make most of my own soaps. I store them in cardboard boxes in the bathroom cupboard. This is better for them than plastic, because they need to breathe or they'll start getting gooey. I learned that the hard way. ;) For the shampoo & conditioner (which I do purchase) I recycle those containers. Are you able to recycle yours? That might make you feel better about not being quite so wasteful. <strong>Jay</strong> -- You're nearby to us! We're in the Pacific Northwest, too. How wonderful that you make your own yogurt! Your question on cheese packaging is one I have too. Currently, I buy goat cheese and it is wrapped in plastic. I will start making it as soon as we are able to milk our dairy goats. I foresee wrapping my cheeses in wax paper (coated with paraffin, not petroleum based plastic). If I freeze it, I will have to pop it in something for the freezer and I think wrapping in butcher paper would work. The meat? I am thinking butcher paper, not wax paper. We buy 1/2 cow at a time and it comes in butcher paper (double layer) from the butcher and taped with a paper tape. We are going to raise our own beef soon and I foresee getting lots of butcher paper and paper tape. I think a chicken could be wrapped in the same way. Well, I don't think I've helped but it does encourage me that you are going plastic free for 3 months! <strong>Everyone</strong> -- I think the less we rely on commercial goods, the more likely we are to get away from unnecessary plastic packaging. This is not something that happens overnight, but it is encouraging that we can work toward it! Sara –

I agree that Tupperware is better than throwing away plastic each time. You might consider wax paper bags from Natural Value. I just read about them today. They are coated with paraffin wax, not a petroleum based plastic coating.

I have seen children’s water bottles and cups made from stainless steel. If she’s old enough to do a sport cap, I believe you can get it (mostly) plastic free. Otherwise the sippy cups unfortunately have a plastic lid.

Sangeeta –

Okay, I want some of those storage containers from India! How can we get some???

You made great suggestions. I appreciate the thoroughness of your responses.

Will you let me know your findings on the butcher paper? You’re right that freezer paper is coated with plastic. I suppose it could be used inside out? That defeats the point of not using plastic at all, but at least we could keep it away from our foods. If my powers of observation are correct, the beef we buy — 1/2 cow per year — comes from the butcher in butcher paper and taped with a paper tape. So I think that is the answer. It is double wrapped and truly I have never noticed freezer burn.

You’re right about the pot handles taking up space in the fridge. I have to nest them carefully. ;)

Melinda –

I have the same issue with the plastic buckets. I don’t foresee changing the big ones, but will try to replace (over time) the plastic containers in the cupboard with glass.

Yes, I do make most of my own soaps. I store them in cardboard boxes in the bathroom cupboard. This is better for them than plastic, because they need to breathe or they’ll start getting gooey. I learned that the hard way. ;)

For the shampoo & conditioner (which I do purchase) I recycle those containers. Are you able to recycle yours? That might make you feel better about not being quite so wasteful.

Jay –

You’re nearby to us! We’re in the Pacific Northwest, too.

How wonderful that you make your own yogurt! Your question on cheese packaging is one I have too. Currently, I buy goat cheese and it is wrapped in plastic. I will start making it as soon as we are able to milk our dairy goats. I foresee wrapping my cheeses in wax paper (coated with paraffin, not petroleum based plastic). If I freeze it, I will have to pop it in something for the freezer and I think wrapping in butcher paper would work.

The meat? I am thinking butcher paper, not wax paper. We buy 1/2 cow at a time and it comes in butcher paper (double layer) from the butcher and taped with a paper tape. We are going to raise our own beef soon and I foresee getting lots of butcher paper and paper tape. I think a chicken could be wrapped in the same way.

Well, I don’t think I’ve helped but it does encourage me that you are going plastic free for 3 months!

Everyone —

I think the less we rely on commercial goods, the more likely we are to get away from unnecessary plastic packaging. This is not something that happens overnight, but it is encouraging that we can work toward it!

]]> By: JayS. http://gnowfglins.com/2008/06/12/use-less-plastic-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-7460 JayS. Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:52:32 +0000 http://gnowfglins.com/?p=1158#comment-7460 We are currently discussing a leap of going (non reusable) plastic free in our kitchen for three months. Only a few things make it scary for us. Cheese someone asked about storage....how do you buy it without plastic? We have made our yogurt on and off for years. I'm willing to make cheese but keeping up with my families consumption and young tastes could be hard. I see it at the farmers market sometimes but most are goat in plastic or aged (give me headaches). Cheddar has always been acceptable but it looks pretty hard to make from what little research I have done. Meat How do you buy it? I thought about farm direct but I think most butcher and vacum pack. Meat counter? I think that butcher paper has plastic coating on one side. Hunting? How do I store it after I butcher? CHickens fresh butchered from my yard seems to be the only choice. Perhaps I need a pet cow here in Portland??? Please help!! We are currently discussing a leap of going (non reusable) plastic free in our kitchen for three months. Only a few things make it scary for us.

Cheese someone asked about storage….how do you buy it without plastic? We have made our yogurt on and off for years. I’m willing to make cheese but keeping up with my families consumption and young tastes could be hard. I see it at the farmers market sometimes but most are goat in plastic or aged (give me headaches). Cheddar has always been acceptable but it looks pretty hard to make from what little research I have done.

Meat How do you buy it? I thought about farm direct but I think most butcher and vacum pack. Meat counter? I think that butcher paper has plastic coating on one side. Hunting? How do I store it after I butcher? CHickens fresh butchered from my yard seems to be the only choice. Perhaps I need a pet cow here in Portland???

Please help!!

]]> By: Melinda http://gnowfglins.com/2008/06/12/use-less-plastic-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-7402 Melinda Tue, 17 Jun 2008 22:33:27 +0000 http://gnowfglins.com/?p=1158#comment-7402 Hi Wardeh, I am so glad you brought this topic up because I've been thinking about it a lot lately. So far we've replaced our plastic water bottles with glass ones, and we've reduced our use of plastic grocery bags. I've replaced my measuring spoons and cups with metal.We are also recycling the plastic we do use, but that still doesn't seem like enough. My biggest challenge is also freezing. I grind wheat to make flour and then store it in the freezer to use during the next week or two. I currently use big ziploc bags for this as well as plastic bags to freeze baked bread in. How do you freeze your bread? I still use plastic in the refrigerator for left overs but I make sure the foods are cool before I put them in and I won't reheat them in the plastic. Another challenge is bulk items. I store my wheat berries and oats in big plastic buckets with lids. I also use plastic to store my nuts and dried fruits and beans in the cabinet. I guess I could find glass for the cabinet items, but what about the large bulk items? Wardeh, I know you make your own soaps and personal products. How do you store these? I've been convicted of the wastefulness of the shampoo bottle and lotions that we use. I try to buy large items so that the packaging is somewhat reduced, but I'm not sure that helps much. As I join this challenge, my goals are to get glass containers for pantry items, and to reuse the plastic bags/containers of that I must continue to use. Thanks! Hi Wardeh,
I am so glad you brought this topic up because I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. So far we’ve replaced our plastic water bottles with glass ones, and we’ve reduced our use of plastic grocery bags. I’ve replaced my measuring spoons and cups with metal.We are also recycling the plastic we do use, but that still doesn’t seem like enough. My biggest challenge is also freezing. I grind wheat to make flour and then store it in the freezer to use during the next week or two. I currently use big ziploc bags for this as well as plastic bags to freeze baked bread in. How do you freeze your bread? I still use plastic in the refrigerator for left overs but I make sure the foods are cool before I put them in and I won’t reheat them in the plastic.

Another challenge is bulk items. I store my wheat berries and oats in big plastic buckets with lids. I also use plastic to store my nuts and dried fruits and beans in the cabinet. I guess I could find glass for the cabinet items, but what about the large bulk items?

Wardeh, I know you make your own soaps and personal products. How do you store these? I’ve been convicted of the wastefulness of the shampoo bottle and lotions that we use. I try to buy large items so that the packaging is somewhat reduced, but I’m not sure that helps much.

As I join this challenge, my goals are to get glass containers for pantry items, and to reuse the plastic bags/containers of that I must continue to use.

Thanks!

]]> By: Sangeeta http://gnowfglins.com/2008/06/12/use-less-plastic-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-7294 Sangeeta Tue, 17 Jun 2008 03:31:08 +0000 http://gnowfglins.com/?p=1158#comment-7294 Dear Wardeh, I love your blog, it is a sanity check for me in a sometimes crazy day. It reminds me what is really important. Plastic has been an issue for me for a while. I am glad that people are now talking so much more about it. If I do a search, I am sure that I could find tons of articles on the harmful effects of plastic. I do believe that we can greatly reduce the amounts of plastics that we use. Good substitutes are lovely, chemically inert glass and stainless steel. REFRIGERATOR: Right now I use glass containers with plastic lids Journey: I used to use lots of stainless steel containers (from India). Disadvantage- they are not see-through. Advantage: they stack well. I still get a lot of use out of these containers. I have replaced with glass containers. I first tried glass containers with glass lids from Anchor Hocking- they were refrigerator, microwave and oven-safe and looked good on the table as well. A great deal, I thought!. But I found that they were very heavy and were not good for freezing because the lids do not fit tight. I think they work well for fresh produce, though. I have now replaced with glass containers with plastic lids. I think my favorite so far are from Target (http://www.amazon.com/Pyrex-Storage-10-Piece-Clear-Blue/dp/B00005B8K5/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1213671281&sr=8-1). Advantage: lids fit tight. Disadvantage: plastic lids however these do not have to come in contact with the food. I do think that it is worth to get new glass containers because then you can get a set that stacks somewhat decently- great for space efficiency. This is a big issue because glass containers occupy so much more space than ziplock bags! Wardeh, I noticed that you have pans with handles in the refrigerator, I used to do this too but it occupies a lot more space. FREEZING: I freeze cooked food in stainless steel or glass. I store cooked food in “freezer safe” ziplock bags and often in store wrappings, which is not good because these plastics are probably not freezer safe. Goal: to stop using ziplock bags and “store-wrappings. An alternative that I considered was freezer paper but I read somewhere that freezer paper has a plastic coating which kind of defeats the purpose! I am now looking at butcher paper. Need to research this more, though. I read somewhere that on prolonged freezing with butcher paper there is some freezer burn. It might work well with shorter freezing, though. As of right now, I envision a freezer full of labeled and neatly wrapped butcher paper packages with freezer tape! I would love to hear other ideas on this. SMALL KITCHEN “GADGETS”: I use stainless steel wherever possible- for example, colander, measuring spoons, etc. BABY: Glass bottles for baby (bought them will start using them this week) Alternative: BPA free Born Free bottle I never have stored formula or breast milk in plastic bottles. I never used the freezer bags for milk either. And I never put plastic baby bottles through the dishwasher but hand-wash them instead. For my older son, the goal is to replace plastic straw cup with a stainless steel one. But I am having difficulty locating one! OTHER IDEAS: Do not use bottled water, filter your own and carry in water bottles. I think that using bottled water really clutters up the environment. Also, it would be great if we could stop being dependent on grocery store plastic bags. I keep meaning to take my own bags in but have not gotten around to it yet! That’s all I can think of for now. I am sure that more will come to mind later! Thank you for the link Wardeh. And thanks so much to the others for their useful comments, I learnt so much more! Dear Wardeh,

I love your blog, it is a sanity check for me in a sometimes crazy day. It reminds me what is really important.

Plastic has been an issue for me for a while. I am glad that people are now talking so much more about it. If I do a search, I am sure that I could find tons of articles on the harmful effects of plastic.

I do believe that we can greatly reduce the amounts of plastics that we use. Good substitutes are lovely, chemically inert glass and stainless steel.

REFRIGERATOR: Right now I use glass containers with plastic lids
Journey: I used to use lots of stainless steel containers (from India). Disadvantage- they are not see-through. Advantage: they stack well. I still get a lot of use out of these containers.

I have replaced with glass containers. I first tried glass containers with glass lids from Anchor Hocking- they were refrigerator, microwave and oven-safe and looked good on the table as well. A great deal, I thought!. But I found that they were very heavy and were not good for freezing because the lids do not fit tight. I think they work well for fresh produce, though. I have now replaced with glass containers with plastic lids. I think my favorite so far are from Target (http://www.amazon.com/Pyrex-Storage-10-Piece-Clear-Blue/dp/B00005B8K5/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1213671281&sr=8-1). Advantage: lids fit tight. Disadvantage: plastic lids however these do not have to come in contact with the food.

I do think that it is worth to get new glass containers because then you can get a set that stacks somewhat decently- great for space efficiency. This is a big issue because glass containers occupy so much more space than ziplock bags!

Wardeh, I noticed that you have pans with handles in the refrigerator, I used to do this too but it occupies a lot more space.

FREEZING: I freeze cooked food in stainless steel or glass. I store cooked food in “freezer safe” ziplock bags and often in store wrappings, which is not good because these plastics are probably not freezer safe.
Goal: to stop using ziplock bags and “store-wrappings. An alternative that I considered was freezer paper but I read somewhere that freezer paper has a plastic coating which kind of defeats the purpose! I am now looking at butcher paper. Need to research this more, though. I read somewhere that on prolonged freezing with butcher paper there is some freezer burn. It might work well with shorter freezing, though. As of right now, I envision a freezer full of labeled and neatly wrapped butcher paper packages with freezer tape! I would love to hear other ideas on this.

SMALL KITCHEN “GADGETS”: I use stainless steel wherever possible- for example, colander, measuring spoons, etc.

BABY: Glass bottles for baby (bought them will start using them this week) Alternative: BPA free Born Free bottle

I never have stored formula or breast milk in plastic bottles. I never used the freezer bags for milk either. And I never put plastic baby bottles through the dishwasher but hand-wash them instead.
For my older son, the goal is to replace plastic straw cup with a stainless steel one. But I am having difficulty locating one!

OTHER IDEAS: Do not use bottled water, filter your own and carry in water bottles. I think that using bottled water really clutters up the environment. Also, it would be great if we could stop being dependent on grocery store plastic bags. I keep meaning to take my own bags in but have not gotten around to it yet!

That’s all I can think of for now. I am sure that more will come to mind later!

Thank you for the link Wardeh. And thanks so much to the others for their useful comments, I learnt so much more!

]]> By: Sara http://gnowfglins.com/2008/06/12/use-less-plastic-challenge/comment-page-1/#comment-7290 Sara Tue, 17 Jun 2008 03:08:39 +0000 http://gnowfglins.com/?p=1158#comment-7290 Hi Wardeh- This is a great challenge... and difficult one. I have been thinking about it myself recently. I think the first area that I can start is how I store foods - namely leftovers. I tends to use plastic for all of that. My challenge will be to start switching to other containers. I recently started bringing my own bags with me to the grocery store. I love it. I hated all the waste of those plastic bags. Today I actually turned around after leaving the neighborhood because I forgot them! Another area I use a lot of plastic is with the little one. Any ideas for kid-friendly containers for snacks on the go (I use plastic tupperware now) or sippy cups (also plastic cups with straws)? I at least felt that using the tupperware was better than a plastic bag that gets thrown away each time! Hi Wardeh-
This is a great challenge… and difficult one. I have been thinking about it myself recently. I think the first area that I can start is how I store foods – namely leftovers. I tends to use plastic for all of that. My challenge will be to start switching to other containers.

I recently started bringing my own bags with me to the grocery store. I love it. I hated all the waste of those plastic bags. Today I actually turned around after leaving the neighborhood because I forgot them!

Another area I use a lot of plastic is with the little one. Any ideas for kid-friendly containers for snacks on the go (I use plastic tupperware now) or sippy cups (also plastic cups with straws)? I at least felt that using the tupperware was better than a plastic bag that gets thrown away each time!

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