The Mother Earth Committee (a group of parishioners concerned about the environment) has decided to start blogging with ideas that others might be interested in trying. We invite you to comment and give us your ideas too. I volunteered to start writing the blog. So here I go:
This month the Mother Earth committee has been focusing on ideas for reducing our use of plastics. It’s so hard to do as SO many things come in plastic. It’s mind boggling! Here are three simple things that I do that might work for you too.
1 – Instead of buying shampoo in a plastic bottle I’ve started buying it as a bar (like a bar of soap). It lathers up well and gets the job done as well as anything out of plastic container.
2– I realized one of the things I was buying most often is laundry detergent in a plastic jug. I’ve started using the sheets of laundry detergent. I was skeptical about their cleaning ability but I’ve been pleased with how clean they have gotten my clothes. I order them through the mail and they come in an envelope that I can recycle.
3 – I have a metal water bottle that really keeps my water cold. If you’ve been using a plastic one you might want to think of switching to metal. The same is true for my hot beverage container. My metal one (with a rubber overlay so I don’t burn my hand) keeps my drink hot for a long time.
What ideas do you have for cutting back on plastic use?
4 Comments
Daryl Odhner
Good ideas, Lou Anne. Here are some other options:
At Abundance Food Coop (571 South Ave, Rochester) you can bring your own container and re-fill it with liquid shampoo (several choices for normal/dry hair), dish soap, and laundry detergent; although we have been using a dry laundry detergent that comes in a cardboard/paper box.
Incidentally, you can also re-fill your own containers with olive oil, vanilla, apple cider vinegar, tamari sauce, hand soap, and lotions.
Daryl Odhner
At Abundance you can also bring your own containers to purchase bulk seeds, nuts, beans, dried fruits, etc.
Judene Scheidt
LouAnn,
I have been purchasing the laundry detergent sheets as well, and I have been very happy with them! I get mine from “EarthBreeze.”
Can you give us a link to the company you use for your shampoo bars? I’d really like to try those!
Thank you!
Lou Anne DaRin Author
My shampoo bar is from J.R. Liggett’s. They have a website you can order from. Also, Impact Earth has a store at Eastview Mall now and they sell shampoo bars as well.
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