A challenge - A fortnight without plastic

[Andy Hamilton]

Could it be done? Lasting a whole two weeks without buying anything that is made from plastic? I am not sure if I could do it, what about milk and bread? I will have to start home backing again but the milk would be a problem.

[PurpleDragon]

Well, you can buy the bread from the baker. They would wrap it in paper if they are like my local bakers.

If you contacted the dairy where you buy your milk from (or where your supermarket buys it from) they might well consider providing milk in some other container. I used to know a woman who provided her dairy with two urns and the milkman would deliver an urn and take the other back for tomorrows milk. They were steel I think.

Hmm. Interesting. I shall see if I can take on your challenge, although I don't think it is do-able for me. Can I go half way and cut down?

[Shirley]

Very tricky - Is there a local dairy that might provide milk in glass bottles??

We could manage on the goats milk so in that sense it would be easier for us...

That said... even our local meat producer puts the meat into plastic shrinkwrap type stuff...

[Andy Hamilton]

It is a tricky one, the local baker is a chain - Gregs and they always wrap in plastic. The local milk round here is not that local it comes from wales or dorset so that would be difficult too. Even the ethical supermarket only seems to sell milk in plastic.

Bacon is also a problem, they always wrap everthing up in plastic in butchers. Probally a health and safety measure.

[Shirley]

Isn't there a dairy near Paulton???

[Andy Hamilton]

Isn't there a dairy near Paulton???

Not sure will have to look into it, have not heard of it. This area of Bristol is not the easiest to be eco consious in. You could have a different takeaway every day of the week though.

[Luath]

Bake your own bread; cure your own bacon, make soya milk. It's just for a fortnight - give it a go and see how you get on. We like solutions, not problems
Must be possible.

[Chickpea]

Sounds like it would make an interesting article - what problems you encountered, how you overcame them, discussion of whether it would be possible to live your whole life like that, what people did before plastic etc.

[Muddypause]

Does this also require not using stuff that you already own that has plastic in? That sounds like an idea you should pitch to a TV producer - the cameras follow a family who try to live for a while without using any oil-based plastic at all.

It'd be tough - floorcoverings, furniture, many things involved in modern building work, clothes, shoes, even down to the stitching, cooking utensils, TVs, CDs, computers, as well as food packaging. In fact, I guess the list is near endless. It would need a completely different approach to normal daily life.

[Chickpea]

Aren't there people who are "allergic to the 21st century"? They can't tolerate any modern materials at all and so are forced to find a way to live without coming into contact with them. If this did become an article or a TV show, an interview with somebody with that condition would add an interesting angle.

[Shirley]

You can buy bamboo keyboards and computer monitors (obviously just the surrounds) http://www.gizmag.co.uk/go/5887/

[Andy Hamilton]

Not using plastic at all, no there is a challenge. It would mean no electricity for starters all the switches are plastic here, I guess you could replace them with metal ones but what are the wires incased in, is it plastic or rubber? The fusebox is plastic though.

There was a ch4 program made about people who are allergic to the 21st century I think.

It would make for interesting viewing to see a family try and stay away from plastic. I guess this has been done in a different way with the pioneer house, victorian house and those sorts of shows. TO try and live like that in the 21st century is indeed a challange.

I think the 2 weeks without buying plastic is a do-able experiment for now. All of my mixing bowls are plastic so I would have to do without baking for a fortnight if I was to not use any plastic.

right then to cure my own Bacon I would first have to find a butcher to sell me the cut without wrapping it in plastic first. hmm, vegie for a week it is then.

I will also have to find a shop to sell me soya etc without firstly putting it in a plastic bag, I think there is a health food shop over in Bath that uses paper bags so off to Bath I go

Will start this when I get back from the rounders weekend so that I have just under 2 weeks to think about it and 2 weeks to dedicate to it.

[shiney]

It's certainly a challenge. I eat more yogurt than I could produce in a week. I would have to become a yogurt making factory!

I don't think you can buy milk in churns anymore. When I used to go to the Scillies, we used to able to order your milk and collect it in a little mini churn. Can't even do that because of EU regs now. PAH!

It's an interesting thought...when you look around your environment, there's sooo much plastic.

[Andy Hamilton]

THis is a very interesting company - hemp plastics including musical instruments.

[PurpleDragon]

Not using plastic at all, no there is a challenge.

And no using computers either. Man, I would be lost!