How to Make a Difference in 4 Steps
Greetings Friends! Thanks for joining me today. A huge reason I decided to keep a blog about my transition to a plastic-free life is because I quickly learned that in many ways it's not as difficult as I feared. I wanted to share with others & encourage you to consider doing what you can, little by little, to reduce plastic use & waste in our world. However, as I was reminded in an excellent episode by the NPR podcast A1 called "Plastics are Forever," the problem of ever-present and ever-accumulating plastics can be overwhelming to think about, let alone fight. So today I want to talk about ways you and I as individuals can make a difference in our world.
#1 Awareness
Awareness is always the first step to solving any problem or changing behavior. We cannot fix what we do not see. So many people in my immediate sphere have indicated to me that simply interacting with me & witnessing my efforts to eliminate plastics from my life have opened their own eyes to the ubiquitous plastic in our society. This brings me great joy. Even if these individuals never adapt my level of commitment for plastic elimination, they are now thinking about it which means that they are more prepared to make better choices in the future. You too can raise awareness of our plastic crisis by living an example and by having conversations with your neighbors, coworkers, family, and friends.
#2 Make the Changes You Can to Your Personal Life
Start cutting plastic from you life by looking at the big & obvious culprits--packaging and plastic products themselves. AS THINGS WEAR OUT (and not a minute before) replace them with alternatives that use less plastic, are packaged without plastic packaging, or preferably both. If it's a product that you routinely use up (like a toiletry) consider making your own. In my last post I shared a recipe for toothpaste that I've been using for about 4 months. I've come to like this toothpaste so much that even if I could buy commercial toothpaste without plastic packaging, I don't think I would. So far, the bulk of my blog is concerned about things related to Step #2. Feel free to look at other posts for ideas, or ask if there is something specific you want help with.
#3 Use Your Voice
There is only so much we can do as consumers to choose sustainable products in sustainable packaging. While we can certainly vote with our money, our voice matters too. Businesses truly care about the consumer's opinion. Contact your favorite companies and let them know what you think about plastic use in products, in production, and in packaging. Obviously do this in a kind way and to the right person. Take the time to call that "Questions?" 1-800 number or look up contact information on the company's website. If you feel you must share your opinion in the store, respectfully ask for the manager--expressing righteous anger to a cashier just spreads misery in their day so it's better to contact the person who has the power to make the change. Speaking of people with power, the other place to use your voice is through the government. Reach out to your local municipal, state, and federal representatives (or equivalent thereof if not in the US) to let them know what you care about. Yes, X politician did run on a platform so they may not personally care about the same things you do, but remember they were elected to represent ALL of their constituents, not just the people who agree with them. Taking the time to call your representative personally goes miles further than a form email. I know it's more work, but that's exactly why it weighs more with your rep. Let your governments know that you want businesses to follow stricter guidelines in regards to plastic use. Ask the government to help businesses and individuals stay accountable by offering rewards for complying with such guidelines and deterrents for failing to do so.
#4 Work in Your Sphere
Maybe you have a natural gift or honed skill that could be put toward this effort--businesses and governments alike will certainly need engineers, researchers, and marketeers to develop creative solutions to curb our plastic use yes, on the consumer level, but especially up-stream in production. We need educators, media workers, and public speakers to share the truths about plastic pollution. We need lobbyists and politicians to work within the government on all levels toward sustainable practices and policies. We need community organizers to start grass-root projects like urban composting. We need entrepreneurs who will take the plastic-free efforts into entire industries like food, cosmetics, medical supplies, etc. And you might be saying, "But Kate, I don't have any of these skills or training." And that's fine, too. We still need you! You still have a sphere. If you are in a workplace, talk with your managers or supervisors, or even corporate officers, about making sustainable decisions within your organization. If you have a faith community, talk with your fellow members & leaders about ways that your group can make changes within your meetinghouse and the larger organization. If you have friends or family or neighbors or people you see and exchange words with on occasion, tell them about the changes you're making in your life & why.
#5 You Are Enough
Each time we do any of these things we make a difference in our world. The secret fifth step is to do what you can, but know that you are enough. Don't let it weigh on you that the world isn't perfect, that you aren't perfect. You are trying. You are transitioning to a healthier life. And that is enough.
As always, please "follow" the blog if you'd like to get updates each time I post and share it with anyone you think might find it interesting. I highly welcome comments so we can keep the conversation going. And until next time, my friends, take care.
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| Art Credit: the Somerset Co. Library System of NJ |
#1 Awareness
Awareness is always the first step to solving any problem or changing behavior. We cannot fix what we do not see. So many people in my immediate sphere have indicated to me that simply interacting with me & witnessing my efforts to eliminate plastics from my life have opened their own eyes to the ubiquitous plastic in our society. This brings me great joy. Even if these individuals never adapt my level of commitment for plastic elimination, they are now thinking about it which means that they are more prepared to make better choices in the future. You too can raise awareness of our plastic crisis by living an example and by having conversations with your neighbors, coworkers, family, and friends.
#2 Make the Changes You Can to Your Personal Life
Start cutting plastic from you life by looking at the big & obvious culprits--packaging and plastic products themselves. AS THINGS WEAR OUT (and not a minute before) replace them with alternatives that use less plastic, are packaged without plastic packaging, or preferably both. If it's a product that you routinely use up (like a toiletry) consider making your own. In my last post I shared a recipe for toothpaste that I've been using for about 4 months. I've come to like this toothpaste so much that even if I could buy commercial toothpaste without plastic packaging, I don't think I would. So far, the bulk of my blog is concerned about things related to Step #2. Feel free to look at other posts for ideas, or ask if there is something specific you want help with.
#3 Use Your Voice
There is only so much we can do as consumers to choose sustainable products in sustainable packaging. While we can certainly vote with our money, our voice matters too. Businesses truly care about the consumer's opinion. Contact your favorite companies and let them know what you think about plastic use in products, in production, and in packaging. Obviously do this in a kind way and to the right person. Take the time to call that "Questions?" 1-800 number or look up contact information on the company's website. If you feel you must share your opinion in the store, respectfully ask for the manager--expressing righteous anger to a cashier just spreads misery in their day so it's better to contact the person who has the power to make the change. Speaking of people with power, the other place to use your voice is through the government. Reach out to your local municipal, state, and federal representatives (or equivalent thereof if not in the US) to let them know what you care about. Yes, X politician did run on a platform so they may not personally care about the same things you do, but remember they were elected to represent ALL of their constituents, not just the people who agree with them. Taking the time to call your representative personally goes miles further than a form email. I know it's more work, but that's exactly why it weighs more with your rep. Let your governments know that you want businesses to follow stricter guidelines in regards to plastic use. Ask the government to help businesses and individuals stay accountable by offering rewards for complying with such guidelines and deterrents for failing to do so.
#4 Work in Your Sphere
Maybe you have a natural gift or honed skill that could be put toward this effort--businesses and governments alike will certainly need engineers, researchers, and marketeers to develop creative solutions to curb our plastic use yes, on the consumer level, but especially up-stream in production. We need educators, media workers, and public speakers to share the truths about plastic pollution. We need lobbyists and politicians to work within the government on all levels toward sustainable practices and policies. We need community organizers to start grass-root projects like urban composting. We need entrepreneurs who will take the plastic-free efforts into entire industries like food, cosmetics, medical supplies, etc. And you might be saying, "But Kate, I don't have any of these skills or training." And that's fine, too. We still need you! You still have a sphere. If you are in a workplace, talk with your managers or supervisors, or even corporate officers, about making sustainable decisions within your organization. If you have a faith community, talk with your fellow members & leaders about ways that your group can make changes within your meetinghouse and the larger organization. If you have friends or family or neighbors or people you see and exchange words with on occasion, tell them about the changes you're making in your life & why.
#5 You Are Enough
Each time we do any of these things we make a difference in our world. The secret fifth step is to do what you can, but know that you are enough. Don't let it weigh on you that the world isn't perfect, that you aren't perfect. You are trying. You are transitioning to a healthier life. And that is enough.
As always, please "follow" the blog if you'd like to get updates each time I post and share it with anyone you think might find it interesting. I highly welcome comments so we can keep the conversation going. And until next time, my friends, take care.
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