I liked my challenge and because the 30 days is over, it is not properly over for me as I will be continuing to be aware of my plastic waste. I have gained the habit of not buying unnecessary items in the shop that I would get just because I have money for it or because I am bored. I am just going to buy what I actually need.

Also the student union got back to me and they said that they would try sort out the Starbucks reusable cup and styrofoam box issue. This is great news as I feel like I am starting to make a difference.

Everyone told me that this challenge would be very hard even impossible and they were right. But one thing I did pick up on is that I have noticed that this challenge created a good habit in me. I don’t buy single-use water bottles or fizzy drinks anymore. Yes I might have a canned Diet Coke once and a while but I am reducing this. It also made me notice how bad events can be for this. The amount of plastic cups I see being used daily is very bad. I was at a dj event the other day and all I could think about is all the plastic that was in everyones hands, then being dumped away two seconds later. It is definitely frustrating to see and also having no choice but to join in if you want a drink. After this challenge my awareness towards single-use items has definitely changed. It is good and bad in a way. It is frustrating to see these systems in place but awareness is beneficial for sustainability. 

my reusable cup is on the left 🙂

Today I tried to use my reusable Starbucks cup that I bought yesterday thinking I can reduce my plastic waste with my iced coffee and to get one every morning on campus. However, the lady said they do not take cups and that she would give me a plastic cup and I could pour that into my reusable one. This was quite annoying as it didn’t make much sense to me. So I think I might say it to the students union for something that needs to be changed as we need to move away from reliance on plastics and encourage people to use reusable cups…

So this week has been another learning curve, to bring my own iced coffee out and also to try not to buy food from the canteen because the food comes in styrofoam boxes.

Styrofoam is not only a dangerous air pollutant but also poses a great threat to humans, the environment, and animals. The worst part is that Styrofoam takes over 500 years to decompose and in the process, it leaches harmful chemicals into the environment. — got this from the internet

So I think I am going to say some of these issues to the student union to answer the question of ‘have I ever stood up for something I have believed in’ 

Have I noticed that there is more to this challenge that just my own actions.

Which systems influence your challenge?

The system that influence my challenge is the food industry. The companies that make the decisions on how they will package their products are what we as consumers have to buy. There are ways to buy products that are more sustainable and do not give profit into these companies that choose to use cheaper plastic packaging rather than changing to biodegradable packaging. So these ways include, going to the farmers market or growing your own fruit/vegetables. This would be ideal if you had the time to do these but not everyone has the privilege of time. I think that the systems in place do not allow for people on a cheaper budget or busier lifestyle to be as sustainable as they would like to be. The cheaper products in shops are 90% of the time not recyclable and packaged in plastic.

how can you influence these systems?

I have watched videos on how as consumers we have a huge influence on what companies put out for us to buy. Supply and demand influences these systems such as the food industry. We can see this with vegetarian/vegan products. More people are switching their diet and companies are catching on as they see this as a way of making more profit by diversifying into new markets such as protein-alternative, vegan, vegetarian, almond, oat milk etc products. If more and more people change their diets to a more sustainable one such as cutting out meat or diary, businesses will meet our wants as consumers, this will then change the systems in place that hinder us from being sustainable. However, all the power is really in the hands of the people who make these decisions…

but we also have an individual impact and we can make the most of that.

I was trying to get my family to do my challenge with me but they didn’t seem too interested in it. They don’t seem to care too much about sustainability than I do. My actions towards sustainability aren’t really influencing others that I know of. However, small changes have been occurring. My mom said to me that when she went food shopping she put back the pre-made soup and thought to herself that she will just make it herself. I think that it was my challenge that influenced her. It is feeling quite repetitive for me when it comes to asking my family to not buy single-use plastics and to recycle. All I can do is say it and to do it myself and hopefully it will rub off others but people don’t like being told what to do especially when it comes to their habits. But you can’t really blame anyone when it is the system in place that doesn’t cater for a more sustainable lifestyle especially if you have a busy life. But I hope my actions make a difference.

Has this experiment been what I expected?

Yes and no.

So I did anticipate that it would be challenging as I know how bad shops are with the amount of plastic used. However, it is the manufacturers to blame. But yes I knew this would be a difficult aspect to overcome. But I know that I’m good for bringing out my own water in my water bottle for days out and making my own snacks to prevent me from having to buy anything. I also couldn’t find time to go to the farmers market (it only opens on a Saturday) which was disappointing but I will try to go there next Saturday and I will share my experience.

Seeing everyone posting blogs and doing similar challenges has motivated me 🙂

I do expect to continue with this new habit for when the 30 days is over because this is something we should all be doing now – reducing our plastic waste – a new way of living I’m looking forward to continuing, a sustainable lifestyle.

We go through our daily ‘routines’ not really thinking twice about what we are actually doing. I had to break out of this cycle for this challenge which I really enjoy as I want to change my life to a more sustainable one. I will be honest I did have a slip up just there. I bought a flapjack and the packaging was not recyclable.This just showed me one of my unconscious habits that I need to become more aware of. I will call it conscious shopping, which is what I need to do from now on. Usually we have an idea of what we want/crave before we enter a shop and when we see that what we want is wrapped up in plastic (especially for me with my challenge) it is about asking yourself, do I really need this? This is where I learnt to plan my days. I make sure I have some snacks or a packed lunch in my bag. I used to always do this but now coming into college with longer days and more things to do this task is more daunting. I see plastic in a different light now. First of all, I see it everywhere, in everyones hands, bags, tables, shelves. I wish there could be drastic changes in how plastic enters our daily lives, through policy or companys making a shift to biodegradable cardboard packaging. As consumers we have responsibilities- another observation I made. What we buy influences what the market puts out for us. In that sense……. buy less single-use plastic 😉

So far it has been eye-opening.

Doing this challenge makes you realise that everything is wrapped up in plastic even things that shouldn’t be. It has made me wonder why some vegetables are subjected to being in plastic. like cucumber or apples. It is quite worrying that in this day and age we are still doing this, its really not a necessity. It is definitely making this challenge harder. Even passing by a shop and looking at all the fizzy drinks, sweets and many foods that I cannot buy. I am definitely saving money and becoming healthier by not buying all these unhealthy foods wrapped up in plastic. But it is a challenge when healthy foods are, I am going to go to a farmers market to compare. Im also trying to get my parents to do this challenge with me as they buy all the groceries. I told them to only buy packaging that can be recyclable and to buy less products that are in plastic. for me personally I have realised that I unnecessarily buy things in the shop that I do not need. it comes down to your needs and wants and this challenge is highlighting what those are for me in my life. 

next time I go into a shop I will question do I really need this?

best of luck to everyone in their challenges!!