6 things to do before you leave the house to rock the day, plastic-free
- Nov 10, 2017
- 3 min read
Is it even possible to go to class tomorrow and be a total, plastic-free boss? Yep. How awesome would it be to win the day with your epic, zero-waste skills?
Here's your game plan: start planning the day before! Think about what your day will look like.
What are your mornings like? Are you a grab a coffee and a bagel sandwich at ABP before class kinda person? If so, you've probably got a fun little collection of trash happening: an ABP cup, a cardboard sleeve, lid, and the paper wrap from your sandwich.
Can't NOT hit The Cage for carnitas tacos after class? That means adding a plastic food container (these aren't even recyclable!!!), a drink cup, lid, and straw (also not recyclable!) to your list.
Srsly, most of the stuff you accumulated today is landfill bound. ABP and Starbucks cups? Landfill. Greasy sandwich wrap? Landfill. Plastic food containers? Landfill. *Can we just have a moment to think about how crazy it is that we even have plastic food containers that aren't recyclable?
Ok. Moving on. Here are 6 things you can do the night before to have all the earth-saving feels tomorrow.
1. Find yourself a reusable coffee mug that makes you feel unstoppable. If you have some random travel mug your dad got from a work thing, you're basically gonna forget it every morning.
Sounds weird, but you need a mug that you connect with. Morning coffee is a ritual, and you need your spirit animal coffee mug.
Next step, put. it. in. your. backpack. now. Like, right now. Even if you're running super late, there's no way you can forget it tomorrow because *gasp it was already in there. Notice the complete lack of smh moments.
This mug screams: I have perfected my sustainability game.
This mug says: I'm good as adulting.
2. If your day involves a cold brew or a pink drink, you need one of these in your life - and in your bag. Tonight.
Look how easy it is to bring cups with you.
3. And, it's totally fine to bring your own cup to a hang out. Srsly, look how this stainless cup is totally dominating the red cups. You've made it this far not accumulating trash, don't stop now. Bonus: at least you'll know which cup is yours now.
4. Let's face it, a lot of people suck. You don't have to be one of them - you can actually help save the world by simply not sucking anymore. Plastic straws end up in our oceans and up turtle's noses (youtube it). Plastics, like straws, kill 1 million sea birds and 100,000 marine animals every year. #stopsucking by bringing your own stainless straw. Stash one right in the pencil pocket of you backpack.
5. Copycat your fave ABP snack box and save yourself $5-7! You might want to low key take a pic of their snack boxes for ideas.
6. Plastic bag challenge. See how long you can go without using a plastic bag or any bags from any retailer. Say nope to bags at the grocery store, Target, Forever 21, Francesca's, Ulta, & Sephora. Hang your bags on the front door, so you can grab them on the way out, or keep them in your car.
Look at these examples of bags ready to win the day.
Set yourself up for success. Get everything ready tonight and walk with sustainability swagger tomorrow. Don't forget to hashtag your adventures in going waste-free with the tag #nccrecycling101.
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