Thanks for starting a conversation about this, Danielle . This makes me sick.
After my son was born, I spent about nine months refusing to buy anything plastic. I was really strict in that I wouldn't buy bread packaged in plastic, yogurt, anything canned (cans are lined in plastic), jars with plastic protective bands around the outside. It was really, really hard to avoid plastic. It really taught me how ubiquitous this material is.
Just this morning my son's teacher requested parents to donate a case of bottled water each month to the classroom for her to hand out to kids if the water bottles they brought from home needed to be refilled. I asked why this was necessary and was told the school hadn't installed bottle fillers for the water fountains on his floor of the school. So what? So the kids can't walk down to the floor below to refill their bottles? Seriously?
Environmental issues are a bit of a passion of mine, which is why I majored in Environmental Sciences in university.
You could always suggest to your son’s teacher that the kids could use the water fountain on the first floor. Why use bottled water when there’s a perfectly good fountain in the building? Fcuking bottled water, it’s so incredibly wasteful.
steve
Big Hand
Songs Of A Lost World *CRUMPET BOY*
On the subject of bottled water, it takes ~3litres of water to produce a 1 litre bottle of water. I used to drink bottled water a lot until a couple of years ago when I learnt that. Now I have three 1.5 litre Dr Pepper bottles that I fill with either tap water & put in the fridge or I can take a ten minute stroll to the mineral spring at the heart hospital by the lake to fill them up with the "good stuff".
I must say I have a problem with tap water. Even though I started to filter it a year ago or so, I can't stand its taste. So I still buy bottled water. I try to choose the water in glass bottles but quite often I buy in plastic ones. I feel bad now...
But I don't see And I don't feel But tightly hold up silently My hands before my fading eyes And in my eyes Your smile
I mistook stars reflected in a pond at night for those in the sky.
On the subject of bottled water, it takes ~3litres of water to produce a 1 litre bottle of water. I used to drink bottled water a lot until a couple of years ago when I learnt that. Now I have three 1.5 litre Dr Pepper bottles that I fill with either tap water & put in the fridge or I can take a ten minute stroll to the mineral spring at the heart hospital by the lake to fill them up with the "good stuff".
Fark! I did not realize that, steve. I mean, I knew it was bad, but...
I want to use that figure in the ran-, I mean discussion, I am having with my child's class.
FWIW, I'm getting really "hot" in that discussion, but am trying to tone it down. It's difficult. People always say they want to do the right thing in terms of the environment, but it seems like hardly anyone actually has the motivation to change any of their behavior.
I try to shop secondhand as much as possible. There are so many great thrift and consignment stores. We're even have lots of "high end" consignment stores, here. I can't afford the stuff in most of them, but, I digress.
Fast fashion is evil, but in the U.S. I think it's what most people probably buy. All the clothes are made of plastic (polyester, PVC) and feel and wear like cr@p. I think people just don't know how to budget their $ to save for better clothes that will last longer. They want instant, cheap gratification and they are slaves to trends, so they want to change things up all the time. Fast fashion lets you do that.
I must say I have a problem with tap water. Even though I started to filter it a year ago or so, I can't stand its taste. So I still buy bottled water. I try to choose the water in glass bottles but quite often I buy in plastic ones. I feel bad now...
I can’t remember what tap water tastes like in Poland (it’s been too long, must visit again soon!), but have you tried a high-quality purifier ? It may cost a bit initially, but if you end up liking the taste, it would likely be well worth the purchase price.
notkristie - consignment stores are the best! Wish we had more of them here! Never gone thrifting in NY, but I’ve had excellent luck in London and Paris.
Once in a while, I’ll go thrifting here (Salvation Army type places), but the quality of the clothes is mostly piss poor, so I rarely buy much. Back in high school though, I pretty much shopped exclusively at thrift stores and found some great items! Oh how I miss my old flight jackets and steel-toed boots ! It was mostly good stuff, and with the money I saved from shopping second hand, I had more money for booze and cigarettes.
I must say I have a problem with tap water. Even though I started to filter it a year ago or so, I can't stand its taste. So I still buy bottled water. I try to choose the water in glass bottles but quite often I buy in plastic ones. I feel bad now...
I can’t remember what tap water tastes like in Poland (it’s been too long, must visit again soon!), but have you tried a high-quality purifier ? It may cost a bit initially, but if you end up liking the taste, it would likely be well worth the purchase price.
Reportedly in my city we have water of high quality but still for me it tastes like Shirt. I'm afraid that a high-quality purifier is out of my reach. The only moment when I could think about it would be a complex renovation. And even though it's needed more and more, as years go by, but it's also beyond my reach now. I guess only looking for water in glass bottles left...
But at least I buy very little clothes. I just like to wear the same things over and over and don't feel the need to change them, I mean buy new ones, often. Washing is enough
But I don't see And I don't feel But tightly hold up silently My hands before my fading eyes And in my eyes Your smile
I mistook stars reflected in a pond at night for those in the sky.
