Fru-Gal Friends

Very Valuable Member Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 389

Drum- roll please.....

*Less packaging material!!!*

When making purchases this month please try to choose items packaged with a minimal amount of paper/plastic packaging material.
If at all possible drink water from reusable water bottles instead of those 16.9 oz. disposable water bottles.
Buy snack foods in large bags or containers & portion them out for school & work lunches, so that there is less wasteful packaging material to be thrown away. Please try to portion the snack foods out into waxed paper sandwich baggies or reusable snack containers. or there's always home-baked treats!! and don't forget to use your lunch box/reusable bag for carrying those snacks in!! Laughing

So that also means no individually wrapped snacks, etc. I would also think that ice cream novelties fall into this catergory too.
Buying in bulk helps with this challenge tremendously! Very Happy

This is just to make everyone aware & conscious when shopping, and just do whatever you can, every little bit helps!

If anyone has any suggestions, comments, tips, etc. about this, please share!! We can all learn from each other!!
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Subject: Re: January ecochallenge!! Sat 05 Jan 2008, 7:22 pm

I have been doing this for the most part as it is cheaper and during November and December I was doing so much baking that I wouldn't even buy snacks and such. I purchased sandwich containers for the 2 littles ones before school and they have been using them and then out of the blue Bailey came home last week without hers and when I asked where it was she said on no I think I threw it away! I have it written down to get a new one. I am guilty of buying the chips in individual pkgs though. I will have to watch this!

I also purchased dh some divided microwave dishes for lunches from the dollar store. Unfortunately with him we forgets to bring the dishes home and by the time he remembers they are so badly molded they get thrown away. I can't tell you how many dishes I have lost due to this and I don't know how to get him to bring them home everyday!
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Vicki

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Subject: Re: January ecochallenge!! Sat 05 Jan 2008, 10:24 pm

Great challenge idea cheapy.

I already buy larger pack sizes with many household items, especially cleaners.

I don't buy many snack products but do use plastic lidded food containers when I do.

So many people plastic-bag loose fruit & veg. at the supermarket, then it goes into another bag at the registers, I have been guilty of this too and am trying to stop!
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~ By sowing frugality we reap liberty, a golden harvest. --Agesilaus ~

Very Valuable Member Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 389

How about trying a microwave safe glass or ceramic dish that can't destroyed in the microwave? Personally. I have stopped heating things up in my microwave in plastic bowls & plates, again...too damaging to the plastic especially after a while, PLUS again, bad for your health. Something about that chemical in plastic again that emits something bad & leaks into the food you're heating up.

The only thing that I continue to do is heat up my coffee in my plastic travel mug...however, I just found a solution to that (other than using ceramic mugs which I would occassionally do, but I LOVE my travel mug!!)...I have discovered 100% corn plastic travel mugs! yup! CORN! (will last for years and when you do need to get rid of it, it only takes 2-3 years to break down in a landfill as opposed to 1000 years!!)
Guess it can also be recycled, too.

As for getting hubby to remember to bring home the glass/ceramic dishes....nag!! Laughing

(my only solution for you at the moment!!) and write his name on the bottoms of the dishes in black sharpie pen. maybe RED sharpie! and LARGE, so he can't miss it.
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Subject: Re: January ecochallenge!! Sun 06 Jan 2008, 7:54 am

Thanks cheapy I may just have to do that. I have always avoided the glass for him because he isn't careful with anything and I can just imagine him tossing his lunch in the truck and the glass hitting something and breaking. Will look today when I go shopping to see what I can find
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Vicki

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Very Valuable Member Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 389

Vicki, the dollar store may have some inexpensive glass plates/dishes/bowls. If you use the "shower-cap style" covers to covers them, those can be washed & saved. You'll probably need to remind hubby to bring those home, too...but hey, he doesn't have to do anything! Just put all the empty dishes/covers back in the bag he brought them in when he's finished, and you will wash 'em (it's obviously easier to take care of that at home, for you & him! Laughing

)
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Very Valuable Member Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 389

Subject: Re: January ecochallenge!! Sun 06 Jan 2008, 8:15 pm

Well I purchased 3 small glass anchor hocking dishes today at Walmart. They were $5.00 so hopefully DH won't break them. The dollar store didn't have anything except plastic!
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Vicki

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Subject: Re: January ecochallenge!! Mon 07 Jan 2008, 10:54 am

We use plastic containers for lunches. I re-use my plastic baggies for cookies or snacks and throw them out when they"ve really past using anymore. I bought a lot of Tupperware containers that can be used in the microwave. I know they're a bit pricey, but they last longer than less expensive items.

Very Valuable Member Joined : 12 Oct 2006 Posts : 389

Just a little reminder that this month's challenge is about less packaging, less waste in general.

Let's all see how little trash we can make this month!!
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Subject: Re: January ecochallenge!! Mon 07 Jan 2008, 7:44 pm

I didn't purchase any snacks therefore less trash there however I did purchase the small bags of chips. I really have got to break that habit.

I also purchased a 3 roll pack of paper towels instead of 1 roll a week so less plastic there.

I had them bag groceries in paper bags instead of plastic not less but better.

Purchased larger quantity of laundry detergent also.
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Vicki

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Subject: Re: January ecochallenge!! Tue 08 Jan 2008, 12:07 am

I done this for years not for eco reasons for being frugal ..

my Kids took lunch and Mom would leave notes if you left yourself stuff ..

I love my reusable bags and boxes most stores know I dont want those little bags I do get some brown paper but I reuse too

Frank learned from his Mother God bless her and my kids knew not to leave Mama stuff .. so even now as grown men they bring home the coolers and continers ... I am tough and I know it

cheapy thank you for mentioning the shower cap bowls I recently for shower caps for 10 for $1.00 and I brought 50 ..

I try to buy in bulk and cut on packing ... and I love my Tupperware ..
it still one of the best ...
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Gayla

"They take great pride in making their dinner cost much; I take my pride in making my dinner cost so little."

---Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862)