What It’s Like to Live Plastic-Free (and How You Can Do It Too!)

In case you have been living in a dark cave for a looong time, you have surely noticed the ever-increasing amount of news surrounding climate change, food production and wastage, plastics polluting the oceans and much, much more.

Now I don’t know about you, but a lot of this news scares me. And to be honest, it’s intimidating. What are we humans doing to the planet? To the environment? Why is it that so many goods are needed for our ever-increasing consumption, while at the same time landfill is stuffed with ever more food and plastic waste? And what can I, what can any of us, do about it?

Have you ever heard terms like “plastic-free” and “zero-waste” before? I am certainly aware of these concepts. Ask my whether I actually live plastic-free though, and I would probably um and ah and say how desperately I wish I did, but that I haven’t started. Yet.

I’m all for upcycling (such as in these sewing projects) and recycling (like giving new life to old toothbrushes). But still…

I needed to find some more information, something which I could latch onto and quickly implement to kick-start a plastic-free way of living. What does it even mean to live plastic-free? Would it be hard?

I decided to speak with my friend, Birgitta, as she is one of the only people I know who really does live plastic-free. And has done for a while. She would surely have some ideas for me!

Lucky for all of us, she was happy for me to share her story and some of her top tips with you! Plus, she shares one of her favourite recipes with us 😉. Read on to find out how Birgitta got started and how she successfully maintains a plastic-free household.

Jenny: Could you to tell us a little bit about yourself?

Birgitta: My name is Birgitta Bolte. I am 43 years old, I am self-employed and work freelance as an editor. I am married, we have 2 girls, aged 6 and 10 years old. We live (almost) plastic-free and also waste-reduced.

J: How long have you been living plastic free?

B: For about 2 ½ years, since Lent 2017

J: What made you start?

B: We had been searching for something to abstain from during Lent (the 40-day fasting period before Easter). We knew about giving up TV, sweets, everything but wanted to look for something new. There was the term “plastic fasting” and that sounded very, very interesting. We started it just for 40 days to see what would happen.

Living without Plastic

J: What were some of those first changes that you made?

B: The first changes were in the bathroom. We swapped our [plastic] toothbrushes for bamboo toothbrushes, plastic shampoo bottles for bars of “hair soap”, and shower gel in bottles for Aleppo soap bars.

I also tried using horse chestnuts and ivy to wash our laundry. My neighbours have an ivy plant which grows over their fence, so I asked them whether I was allowed to pick some ivy leaves sometimes for me to use. It was very strange at first using these natural ingredients.

J: As you started clearing plastic items out of your house, what did you do with all of them? Surely you didn’t just throw them in the bin?!? I know that everyone has lots of plastic packaging and containers in their bathroom, their kitchen…

B: We finished using up those type of products, and then just didn’t buy new ones. Some plastic tubs from the kitchen we now use to store other items (like buttons) but no longer for foodstuffs. Some items we just gave away because we used an App to research more information about those products and decided that they were too unhealthy for us.

J: Since you’ve been living plastic-free, what has been the most difficult thing for you to change?

B: I think the things that have been most difficult for me are the same things that are difficult for everybody. The questions I get at every one of my presentations are about grocery shopping.

Most groceries are packed in plastic, especially in the supermarket. For example cheese and meats, are all cut into portion-sizes and packaged in plastic; fresh produce are often packed all together in one bag eg red+yellow+green paprika. Like I can’t even choose out my own paprika!?! It’s not normal to bring your own tubs and containers to pack what you want to buy at the supermarket. You stand out. It’s not common, although it is getting better.

Also, you have to prepare more before going shopping. Before, we would just decide to go shopping, unprepared, no idea what I will cook, I will just go and buy what I like. Now, I need to prepare by packing (reusable) cloth shopping bags and containers to store the fresh goods I buy (like salami or meats or cheeses). I have to figure out what I really need for the week. Now, when I notice I don’t have enough containers with me then I say that no, I won’t buy it. A couple of years ago I would have thought, it doesn’t matter, it’s wrapped in plastic but I will just buy it anyway. But now, I remember that I have decided to live zero-waste and plastic-free and then I just won’t buy it. Not always. Especially when it comes to the kids. But for things for myself, I try. And mostly I am successful.

J: So where do you buy your groceries?

B: These days, at the organic food store. Previously I would also shop at a regular supermarket, but these days about 80-90% is bought at the organic supermarket.

There is also a larger package-free store about 45 mins from here. They have everything I need. I do that only about once every 3 months, mostly because of the CO2 [emissions], because I need to drive there. What I usually buy there are dry goods: eg sugar, flour, rolled oats, cashews and other supplies like citric acid.

J: I imagine a lot of people think “Urgh, plastic-free! I have to plan so much and I want my yogurt and I just want to buy it, even if it’s in plastic packaging”. Convenience is a major factor in choosing to not reduce plastic.

B: I think that it’s convenience without thinking of the consequences. “I want convenience everywhere when shopping and to buy whatever I want and eat whatever I want”, no matter how it is presented. But I think we have arrived at a point where it is no longer possible to ignore the consequences. Every person has to think of the consequences and change their behaviour, as hard as it may feel at first.

J: Have you found any unexpected benefits to living plastic-free?

B: Physically, no. Although I don’t feel better physically, I feel better in a moral and ethical way, that I am living almost entirely plastic-free. I’m also not perfect. Before we started living plastic-free, we would fill 2 recycling sacks every fortnight. Now, it is nearing the end of September and we are still using our 2^nd sack for this year.

J: Wow! That is amazing!!

B: Yes I am also amazed, but it works! I am not dying trying to avoid plastic, but this shows it is possible. It IS more work to live plastic-free. BUT I find it if it is too difficult, I don’t do it. What’s special for me is that I change how I do or make things when I know there is another way that can save me time.

J: When you tell people you live plastic-free, how do they react?

B: Often “That’s interesting. And that must be a lot of work, and I don’t have the time. Thanks for your information”. Although, people are generally more aware [of plastic-free living] and most people are positive and want to learn and listen.

J: But change is scary.

B: Yes, change is scary, but also fun. It’s so much fun to see how easy it can be and how important it is for the environment and the future. I am not perfect and there are always possibilities for me to improve.

J: Do you miss anything you used to enjoy buying but now don’t because it is packaged in plastic?

B: Nothing special. There are restrictions. But I know why I am doing this and what it is for and then it’s not that hard.

Tips for Living Plastic-Free

J: What can you suggest to people who don’t have a package-free store nearby? How can they take some steps toward plastic-free?

B: For starters, bring your own shopping bags (cloth, preferably!) and not use the in-store plastic bags. Choose fruit and vegetables that are not packaged in plastic. Most of the time there is a choice available to avoid packaging!

J: I’ll confess, our family usually buys a mix of pre-packaged and loose produce, for example apples. But very often the unpackaged produce is better quality anyway. Often once you open the packaged produce, you discover one that is badly bruised but was hidden from view.

B: Yes! For other products, there are often options, especially paper and cardboard packaging that you can choose instead of plastic eg box of rice vs plastic bag of rice.

In my presentations, I tell people- The food industry still believes and says that people want packaged products. So that will continue as long as the industry doesn’t see that people don’t want packages anymore. There is the possibility to unpack the products in the store, have your own containers to repack and leave the plastic packaging behind in the store. So the store might one day be overfilled with packages and tells the production industry “I don’t think people still want your plastic packaging anymore, please change your packaging materials.”. Maybe.

I really think supermarkets are trying to be more open to people bringing their own containers or offering containers rather than plastic packaging. For example at the deli counter (for cheese, meats). Some stores even offer a deposit system: you pay a deposit and receive a plastic box to collect your food in and take it home. Next time you shop you bring that box back for the store to clean and reuse, and they swap it for a fresh box for you to use.

J: Do you have any favourite books or websites that were really helpful when you first started out living plastic free or that you still look up regularly?

B: Yes, sure.

• Websites such as  www.smarticular.net  and www.wastelandrebel.com (both in English and German ) or www.zerowastehome.com (English only). On Smarticular you can search by item or task and find so many ideas [on how to substitute for plastic-free and eco-friendly].

• Books such as “Zero Waste Home” by Bea Johnson (avail in many languages), “Fünf Hausmittel ersetzen eine Drogerie“ and “Plastik Sparbuch” both by Smarticular (German only)

• Apps such as CodeCheck (available in both German and English).

• Or I search on Social Media using tags like #zerowaste #wastefreeliving #plasticfree and the like.

J: We have covered a lot of details here! Do you have something else that you would like to add?

B: I think it is important to not try to change everything in your life at once, as I did [for Lent] at the start! I think it is more effective to change 2 or 3 items and when you see that they work, then introduce some more small changes. Take it step by step, That’s important! Otherwise you may get frustrated and give up.

Also don’t feel that you need to follow every suggestion that you ever read. You have to find what works for you and your family. What works for another person may not be possible for you. For example if you have an allergy to a particular ingredient, then you need to find an alternative for yourself. Don’t get frustrated, try again, step by step.

J: This question is probably quite silly given how passionately and knowledgably you speak about this topic, but I’m going to ask you anyway. Do you ever doubt yourself and wonder why you chose to live plastic-free?

B: No, Not ever. Not for second.

Wow! How was good was that?!? So full of inspiration and easy ideas and resources to help you (and I!!!) get started living a plastic-free life. (And a big applause for Birgitta navigating her first English-language interview 😉).

The 3 Quick and Easy Tips for Avoiding Plastic that ANYONE Can Do Next Time at the Supermarket

Remember:

1. Bring your own cloth shopping bags
2. Choose unpackaged products where possible
3. Choose paper over plastic packaging

About That Freebie…

And I did also promise you that Birgitta would share a favourite recipe with us, remember. Well, it’s not actually an edible recipe. Want to have a try at making your own deodorant? It’s easy peasy and it works! Click here to get your FREE copy!

If you’d like to follow Birgitta, you can find her on Instagram @wertvolllebenohneplastik and at www.wertvolllebenohneplastik.de.

Why don’t you share with us in in the comments section below how your deo turned out. Do you like it? Have you started making some changes in your habits to reduce your plastic waste? Have you got any of your own tips that you would like to suggest! Let us know!