The thin plastic thread that ran between the one leaf of my pineapple and its tag was invisible to me when I placed it in my shopping basket, checked out, or unpacked my groceries at home. It was only after I cut off the top of the tag and tugged on the tag that I realized what it was.
I had broken the rules yet again.
This plastic tag tie is just one of many mistakes I made while trying to eat plastic-free for a week.
I set myself a challenge to buy a week’s worth food and not bring home any plastic bags. This meant that I would not bring home any juice containers, yogurt containers, plastic packaging, or cellophane windows in chips bags.
What made me do this? Because not all of the plastic containers and packaging we use are recyclable. Because of the growing concern over potential health risks. Research suggests that microplastics may cause disruptions in hormone production, as well as learning disorders and asthma.
Although scientists haven’t confirmed the connection, I don’t like the thought that I could consume a week’s worth of plastic from my credit card.
I decided to budget $115.00, roughly half the cost of a weekly grocery bill for a Massachusetts family of two and the amount of food stamps for the same household. I arrived at my local grocery store on Saturday afternoon feeling somewhat plastic-aware and not prepared for what was ahead.
I began in the produce section. Here I usually grab a bag of organic baby carrots. They are prohibited, as well as almost every vegetable in the organic section. I was pleasantly surprised to find some perfectly stuffed carrots among the organic produce. I then saw the rubber bands attached to the plastic tags. I found a dozen of them down at the produce shelf drain, and grabbed them all without bag.
I moved my cart along the green beans, cauliflower, asparagus, lettuces, and grapes that were still in their plastic. I weighed the sweet potatoes, beets and onions. Anxiety kicked in and I felt like I would not have enough. I decided to buy a head cabbage.
I entered the prices into my phone’s calculator. I left the produce section and was in good shape at $31.30. It was time for me to look for protein.
I don’t eat meat. To buy meat for one of my boys, I went to the meat counter. All prepacked items were in plastic. However, the man behind the glass graciously agreed to separate two hamburger patties from some chicken and wrap them in butcher paper. They cost $21.62 together.
Tofu, cheese and yogurt were all out. Even bottled milk came with a plastic cap. There were many eggs in those paper pulp cartons. Whew.
I bought cans of rice and beans in a small box to avoid having eggs every meal. The box contained a cellophane window, which I didn’t want because I wanted pasta. I selected the brand with the smallest window (1″x1″) and decided to eat a lot of cabbage.
If I was going eat a lot cabbage, I would need oil or dressing. My plastic-free journey began with the search for oil and vinegar that was plastic-free.
There were many options for glass bottles. After careful tapping, I discovered some bottles with metal lids. Except for one brand, the metal lids on all bottles had a plastic seal. One corner of the vinegar label was peeling away. I was left wondering: What are jar labels made from? As you probably know, many jar labels are made of plastic. Sesame oil, rice wine vinegar, and jars marinara, salsa, and juice all went back to the shelves.
I can survive for one week without salsa or juice. However, I was not willing to live for a week without chocolate. Before I found some chocolate bars in foil and packaged in a box, I spent a lot time in the candy aisle.
I was shocked to discover that the plastic labels on paper-wrapped chicken and beef were included in my list of shame at checkout. When the cashier scan the barcode on bell Peppers, I was yet another loser. Each one had little stickers with barcodes. They were still my choice, so I bought them. I was hungry, discouraged, and ready to move on.
I still had $21.96. Perhaps I could find a bulk shop aEUR”, with bins of nuts and vats oil, that I can put into non-plastic containers to replace the items I have to return.
I searched for zero-waste websites at home and made some calls. I found several stores that sold bulk oil and vinegar. However, I would need to purchase the bottle with a label and plastic lid, fill up the contents, and then bring it back in for refill. Pemberton Farms in Cambridge said that I could bring my own mason containers. You could get bread wrapped in paper or bulk items such as cereals and nuts in bins. This cost me $1.23 more than my budget, but it was well worth every penny.
Even though I am out of money, I may want to do it again so I asked Greg Saidnawey, general manager, some questions. Pemberton Farms has a reputation for being a zero waste shopping destination. However, there are still many items I can’t purchase here that are plastic-free. Plastic was not allowed in the dairy, juice, peanut butter, and tahini products.
Saidnawey claims that he used to buy more than 300 spices and foods in bulk. During the pandemic, that number dropped to around 100. Saidnawey said that he doesn’t anticipate adding bulk shopping options any time soon.
Saidnawey states that there was a lot of forward momentum in zero waste in Boston, particularly before COVID. During the pandemic, however, customers wanted to have peace of mind. They didn’t want to break the seal. They didn’t want any items that had been touched by anyone else. I believe we’ve just reversed the process in many ways.
Although the CDC states that there is a low risk of contracting COVID-19 from touching contaminated surfaces, Saidnawey claims that his suppliers have never been busier. Another factor could be the increase in plastic packaging for food. Plastics are made from fossil fuels. This industry is seeking new markets in the transition to electric vehicles.
Saidnawey states that he is interested in more compostable containers but that they are 30%-40% more costly. It is difficult to add this cost to the increasing price of food. Also, compostable containers for nuts, beans and snacks (which is a lot of what Pemberton Farms has in bulk) don’t look as appealing on shelves as plastic.
Saidnawey states, “I want to find the right package that won’t end up in landfills forever,” but customers shop with their eyes.
I was not prepared for the boring meals that resulted from my week of plastic-free living. I was not prepared. I did not realize the extent of things that were off limits. I did not look at zero-waste cookbooks before I went shopping. I also didn’t budget enough for spices and herbs, which might have made my life a bit more interesting.
To reduce plastic waste, I will be making more homemade items, such as hummus, marinara and salsa. I am switching juice brands to be able to buy OJ and lemonade from reusable glass bottles. I will have to travel a lot to find more bulk foods options. I might also need to spend more on cheese wrapped in paper. I need to increase my supply of refillable containers and invest in some reusable food container bags as well as the beeswax cling wrapping alternative.
Star Market, the place I shop every week, asked me what they were doing to reduce plastic packaging. Albertsons, the largest U.S. food retailer, owns Star. I was directed to a webpage about their plans to reduce plastic waste. Costco, which I visit a few times per year, said it is currently reviewing all packaging to reduce plastic waste.
We might be able to slow down the growth of plastic that we only use once, and major oil, petrochemical and petrochemical companies that produce most of our plastics will switch to more sustainable products. I am working on improving my game. I was able to avoid using 27 plastic containers and packaging in one week. I am capable of doing better.
Looking for some ideas on where to begin? NPR’s Life Kit has some great tips to help you start to examine the plastic in your daily life.
WBUR produced this story as part of their newsletter “Cooked: The search for sustainable food.”
