Plastics Challenge

Plastics Challenge

Sec 303 Emma

Casey Klein Kennedy

I find irony in the observation that the most frequently used “one time use” products also exhibit the greatest longevity.

9:30 am: Plastic tooth brush…guess I can’t brush my teeth. Hmm interesting.

-all my hygienic products seem to utilize plastic in some way. Except for my beeswax soap… I guess I can at least wash my hands.

-Shower. Well nearly the entire structure of my shower is made out of plastic excluding the pipes. But seeing how my deodorant is housed in a plastic case, a shower seemed necessary.

-All cotton towel. Nice.

10:00 am: Breakfast. Cereal-no, Yogurt-no, Milk-No, Coffee-No, Banana-Yes! Apple-Yes. Alright. I can have fruit and water. Nearly all of my other food products incorporate plastics in their shipping, handling, preservation, sanitation, and advertisement methods.

10:45 am: Biking to class: Nice, my metal lock and chain, water bottle, and hat work; as well as most parts of my bike... My coat, Backpack, Pens, Binders, Phone, Shoes and certain articles of clothing most assuredly contain plastic. Fail.

11:00 am: Wooden seats in class…solid. But for the projector screen and computer used for instruction plastic seems to be unavoidable.

Lunch: Seeing as how the use of Tupperware and plastic bags is out of the question, I packed a Pb and J sandwich into a paper bag along with some fruit. Due to my hunger, I ignored the plastic containers the peanut butter, jelly, and bread all came in. But the rest of the food in our house, (excluding the venison) is accompanied by some form of plastic.

Class-same story

Dinner: Decided to cook up the venison with an onion I picked up at the store, (No plastic bag though) and since the pasta came in a paper bag with only a small plastic window, I reasoned that it was acceptable. I used the non-nonstick pan but the was forced to use a plastic colander. It’s too bad the milk comes in plastic…I love milk. This plastic restriction may lead to the incorporation of glass milk jars.

Homework: My drafting pencils contain the least amount of plastic ever since I discontinued my use of Ticonderogas..what a bad choice. I wonder which pencils are actually more sustainable…

And finally the all time low of the plastics challenge day came when I sat down to play my beloved electric piano. Plastic everywhere... And although my weighted keys may look like ivory to the untrained eye, I knew the truth. I exhaled in disgust and began to play.