“I never said it would be easy, I only said it would be worth it.”
― Mae West
Plastic Free July is/was going well, I’m still going strong but I guess I am still upset with how I cracked at the supermarket last night. Ready for a quick story?
Yesterday evening I popped into the supermarket to get a few things because Ben requested beer and I didn’t have anything planned for dinner. So I walked around trying to find things that were not in plastic. I hadn’t a clue what I was going to make for dinner but I wanted it to be something quick because it was already past 6 o’clock. I walked down isles thinking nope, nope, nope can’t buy that then lingered in the organic section of the isle, picked up one can of black beans and decided I’d make vegetarian nachos but then went back to the chips isle and realized – there was ZERO options not in plastic. Damn. I was thinking that we hadn’t had nachos in a long time but it was all for this Sara is buying ‘no plastic’ reason. So I walked away, grabbed a box of beers and with a few veggies and fruit in my cart I jumped on a line to checkout, and the lady in front of me, had every piece of fruit and all vegetables in those pesky plastic produce bags. Even the things like celery and a leek, which aren’t loose so you can’t claim you’re trying to keep them together! Even a single lemon in a bag! That’s when it my frustration started to really make me sour. But then dawned on me… does she not know single use plastic is bad? Or does she not care? I wanted to find out but didn’t know where to start. Sometimes I talk to strangers but to be honest I wasn’t in the mood. I was frustrated, tired and ridiculously hungry. I couldn’t wait to get out of the store so I could have one of the fruits I was purchasing since loose fruit is about the only thing that doesn’t come in plastic. I don’t know what made me do it but I said I’ll be right back, left my cart jogged over to the chips and picked up a packet and went back to the line. I waited my turn and stared down all the plastic packaging around me and thought about how most of it will end up in the landfill but some will inevitably become litter. It was saddening.
I paid for my things and left, not feeling guilty until I got home and looked at my groceries. Usually none or very little bits of plastic (ie. fruit stickers and sometimes sticker seals from glass jars) but this time I would have one large chip packet to add to the bin.
Most people think ‘so what’? But to me I had failed at my plastic free challenge that day. Upon reflection I did remember its not about being perfect, its about making an effort. And that one packet isn’t going to make or break me. I nailed the plastic free dinner last night!
If my individual actions can help plastic from ending up in the ocean, for me, it will certainly be worth it.
