(WARNING : YOU WILL BE READING THE WORD “BIODEGRADE” SO MUCH, EVEN I AM JUST NAUSEOUS TYPING IT. JUST READ ON, THANK YOU)
I guess we are due for a check-in since it is now half the year in. Earlier in January, I have stated (in IG stories) a few year-goals I’d like to achieve.
I cannot say that I have been true to what I’d like to accomplish. However, I do believe that I have done the very best and to me, this is very important. I say this because besides putting unrealistic goals for ourselves, we are too hard on ourselves when we don’t achieve it. Resulting in just throwing out the goal out the window. Worst, way too early in the year.
So here, is my half year check in.
My first waste-less swap was : BABY DIAPERS
You would think, how?? Cloth diapers, people. Cloth diapers. As you know, most named brand diapers are NOT biodegradable. As google said it, 500 years to biodegrade in its restricted conditions. Yea so we will never ever get to see any of our generations’ worth of babies’ diapers fully biodegrade. Basically, an average baby uses 10 diapers a day, I know it gets lesser as they get older. Just calculate it. How disgusting the numbers are going to be (cough*7000*cough). So I took a step to change that. Yes, “a step”, not “a leap”. We made our transition from normal diapers to cloth diapers with our son and that was the best decision ever. Not only was it cost efficient, I felt so darn good after a few months into it. Another blog post as to how we are fairing with it. All I can say is, right now, we are alternating cloth diapers with disposable diapers that are ECO-FRIENDLY.
That’s right friends. So if you feel like you cannot commit to cloth diapers fully, do not ever feel guilty to still continue using disposable diapers. Alternating by using cloth diapers sometimes and disposables sometimes will in fact, still reduce waste. Even 2 cloth diapers a day, still reduced 2 disposables out of the equation. Here is another good news, as times are changing, there are indeed a higher demand and availability of disposable diapers that are more gentle to the earth.
Although those greener diapers are still only 25-75% of it able to biodegrade, a little guide to a better choice to choosing your diaper, to name a few would be;
-made out of sustainable materials
I admit, you will be spending more, but trust me, 7000 diapers per baby that are not decomposing well on earth? ugh! So all in all, tough transition but DOABLE and ACHIEVABLE. Better yet, be fully accustomed to cloth diapers! If you wanna know what was my motivation besides the eco factor? THE CUTE PRINTS! Here are some that I own
My second waste-less swap is : PLASTIC BAGS
All my friends would know it is one of my most outstanding habits that I will have shopping bag on me at all times. I sometimes even carry 2 just in case my friends don’t have one while we are out shopping. And yes, I will give a stare down (at my own friends) when they accept a plastic bag when they have a handbag large enough to contain the purchase or they already have another shopping bag that can hold the new purchase. SERIOUSLY, you know who you are. I think I started this way back in 2007 when Fairprice will discount 10cents off your bill if you brought your own bag. It just stuck to me since then! I take pride with my LOQI bags. I will ask for it back like its money. Lose it and I might unfriend you. Don’t try me. I had to give up a few bags and I remember them even it was $2 bags. My husband knows that I will always ask him if he has a shopping bag before he leaves for work. He too, has a few of his own and I’m so proud of him.
So just refuse plastic bags and use your own bags! I don’t care if they have packed it, I will remove it and return to the cashier. I have had a salesperson told me, “its okay! its just a bag, take it”. My face just blanked out on her. After she realized I’m really not joking about not wanting the bag, she nonchalantly said to me, “oh you want to save the earth is it?? okay..”. Guess who is not patronizing her little shop anymore? Yes one little bag COUNTS. ok guys? if you walk pass me, yes prod your reusable shopping bag into my face and I would go YEAAAAHHH!!!!! (just kidding, please don’t attack me like that)
My third waste-less swap : PAPER PRODUCTS
I would like to add that I am in transitioning to be waste-less in a few other areas. Including feminine products, (some options you can try are menstrual cups, reusable menstrual pads and eco-friendly pads. Something I do not have good knowledge of yet due to low frequency in period)
facial cotton pads, (These are all homemade by us at ONEshoulder. You may purchase them in 6s at www.oneshoulder.store)
bath products, (try opting for bar soaps. Since we own a bath product company, I haven’t purchased shampoos and bath soaps in about 2 years now. If we are not using our own products, why do we sell them right? duh)
side note : ONEshoulder.sg is working towards a no-plastic movement soon. We are phasing out all plastic and its one of the toughest decisions we made. Mainly due to how well it ships and quality. We are in the works for a very long and what you shop now are no longer new plastics we bought. Instead, they are all re-used from what we receive from our supplier or already have. eg: bubble wrap, plastic mailing bags, plastic bottles. We also try to recycle used paper to have our notes and messages for customers printed at the back. I hope all our customers are patient with our change and appreciate this step we are making in order to have a more greener Earth!
and like I said, basically everything in general. I made myself washable kitchen towels too, swapped my normal tissues to bamboo tissues from Cloversoft(for guests) and when I’m out, my tissue choice is a cotton handkerchief. Wow so old school right? Something that I have a habit of for more than a few years now. Yes, besides the grocery shopping bags.
My guilty plastic-use that I hope to improve include:
BUBBLE TEA– guilty guilty guilty. Plus the straws, although I do have a thick stainless steel straw, it tastes funny. Am I the only one who feels this way?
BOTTLED MINERAL WATER – Although most times I have my own water bottle, I just couldn’t find a water dispenser when I need water immediately. Or sometimes meals comes with drinks and they do not have a non-plastic option. When I shop now, I try to buy glass bottled drinks or tin cans.
So that concludes what I wish to let you know. A check-in with our progress. If you have any suggestions on other clever hacks I should try, do sound off at the comment box! I really wish to hear from you guys. Will you try something new to help reduce plastic waste? Let me know!!
CHECK-IN. What change did we make? (WARNING : YOU WILL BE READING THE WORD "BIODEGRADE" SO MUCH, EVEN I AM JUST NAUSEOUS TYPING IT.
