Beyond Plastic Ecochallenge 2025

Marcia Stephenson 7/31/2025 9:26 PM

One "last post"--recommending the shampoo bars at Lush in Park Royal. I admit the shop aims for the boutique luxury market, but the bars may be surprisingly economical, considering how long they last compared to a plastic bottle of chemicals and water. So if you're at Park Royal on another errand, consider stopping at Lush for a shampoo bar. Or I suppose one could order shampoo bars online to be delivered--but that's another story about the fossil fuel impact of online shopping. I've reinforced a few habits begun in the last ecochallenge, and branched out with some new ones this time...let's hope they last.

Barbara Kroon 7/30/2025 11:41 PM

TEAM CAPTAIN
Climate Advocate 🌱

Thanks to my team and to everyone who has participated in the Ecochallenge. This is a great opportunity to not only learn a lot, but also to be reminded of how important every little action can be. I am encouraged by the articles, actions and testimonials. Together, we are making a difference.

Marcia Stephenson 7/30/2025 9:08 PM

Today I tried to avoid excess plastic by taking my own container to the supermarket-- a lightweight oval container with a snap-on lid that I'd saved and washed instead of recycling it after a take-out meal. At the fish counter, I asked the clerk to place the 2 pieces of steelhead I'd chosen in my container instead of wrapping them up in a plastic bag. The clerk was happy to oblige, but I hadn't realized that she had used a sheet of plastic instead of butcher paper to protect her scale when she weighed the fish and created the price tag. So that plastic piece ended up in my container. A small victory (because I avoided the fish prepackaged on a styrofoam tray with plastic overwrap) but not plastic-free. And the small victory was possible because Safeway still hires employees to staff an in-person counter in the meat department.

First Steps: Start with You

What’s one change to your grocery habits that felt more manageable than expected — or harder than expected? Why do you think some products, like produce, started amassing so much plastic packaging? Who is the plastic packaging really serving -- the consumer, the producer, or someone else?

Marcia Stephenson 7/27/2025 8:34 PM

Although I already own a supply of fabric mesh bags, the trick is to have all of them clean and ready to go for produce shopping. With all my bags clean from yesterday's laundry, I stopped at a small produce stand first before moving on to the supermarket. More items are displayed in open bins in the small store, and more foods are seasonal and local in contrast to the supermarket, which features more imported produce pre-wrapped in plastic. Sometimes the pre-packaged produce is cheaper, but often the larger number of items in the wrapper is more than my household of 2 can reasonably eat up before it spoils. Price is just one of many trade-offs. As a retiree who lives within walking distance of a shopping centre, I have the luxury of shopping for a smaller number of items more often--trips that are fossil-fuel free.
The plastic overwrap on prepacked produce is not only there to entice shoppers to buy a greater number of items, but also to provide a surface for the scanner barcode, which facilitates self-checkout lines, thereby reducing the number of store employees.

Lead the Way: Shape Your Community

How did you decide what to include in your guide, and what feedback did you get from others? Share your guide in the feed if you feel comfortable doing so!

Barbara Kroon 7/25/2025 11:28 PM

TEAM CAPTAIN
Climate Advocate 🌱

I'm inviting all my friends to give me any questions they have about recycling and composting, so that I can research the answers and include them in my guide.

Shae Rutherford 7/23/2025 9:03 AM

Camping can really make you more aware of how much single-use plastic is consumed daily. However, it can also provide the opportunity to notice ways to reduce single or short-term use plastics on a daily basis. That's what I've been finding lately, anyway. I think being aware can help you to come up with more sustainble practices that often involve planning ahead and being more prepared. Especially for water consumption!

Barbara Kroon 7/22/2025 11:21 PM

TEAM CAPTAIN
Climate Advocate 🌱

Great video by Wild Hope: How to Save the World from Plastic
https://youtu.be/Fg7LxRr9ux8

Sonam R 7/23/2025 2:47 AM
- Plant Parent 🪴
insightful, thanks for sharing

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Barbara Kroon 7/22/2025 3:47 PM

TEAM CAPTAIN
Climate Advocate 🌱

I am working on a listing for my community of what is compostable, recyclable and what is not. You would think it would be easy to do, but when our area encompasses three municipalities and two different systems, it is not so straight forward. It also varies if you live in an apartment or a single family home. What is encouraging, are new programs to accept a greater range of plastics. Would love to expand this project to how things are actually recycled and composted.

Shae Rutherford 7/21/2025 8:51 AM

I'm am seeking out more plastic reducing and bulk/refill shops around the city. There are more than I thought. I'll definitely be adding some of them to my list of places to check out. Still on the search for larger, portable refillable jugs and bottles though.

Shae Rutherford 7/20/2025 2:18 PM

Each day I seem to think of some additional source of plastic that I use daily, as it seems to be everywhere. It doesn't always seem possible to remove plastic things right away, but I certainly find it helpful to focus on eliminating single use items while keeping the reusable ones. At times plastic items are promoted in order to avoid single use paper ones, so I try to pay attention to how long the plastic item can be used and continue to extend the life of those I already have around me, like whiteboards, phone covers, footwear, storage containers, etc. Avoiding single use anything is increasingly becoming a focus for me. Some days seem more of a plastic reduction success than others.

Julie Mapes 7/20/2025 5:30 PM
- TEAM CAPTAIN
It can be extremely difficult to completely eliminate plastic in today’s age due to how society forces us to use it. I applaud those who have the ability to go beyond and can fully be away from plastics.

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