Plastic Challenge

This blog documents my, failed, attempt to live one day without using any plastics or objects containing plastics. I chose a Saturday and attempted to live out my usual routine of waking up late, watching cartoons, eating cereal and other similar activities. I had a notepad and pencil and documented every object I could not use with a time.

1:34 – Woke up and got out of bed. My mattress contains plastics which means I can not go back in. In addition to the bed, my futon, refrigerator and tv all contain plastic. The only thing left to do in my room is to sit on the floor.

1:38 – Almost brushed my teeth but realized that the toothbrush is made of plastic. The toothpaste container is also made of plastic. To really exacerbate my hygiene failure, the soap dispenser in the bathroom is made of plastic. I leave the bathroom with no hygienic improvement.

1:45 – Can not use computer to watch videos because most electronics contain plastics. I decide instead to simply read. Homework is out of the question because my textbooks, laptop and binders all contain plastic. I can only read paperback novels.

3:45 – Need to eat something but everything I have to eat is contained in plastic. While getting ready to go to the convenience store to pick up food, I realize that my shoes and jacket are both made from plastics. I put on a sweatshirt and winter socks and walked over to the convenience store.

4:00 – Most foods are off limits to eat. The food I ended up getting were doughnuts. There were no other options for me to get. Not the most nutritious meal but its better than starving.

5:23 – I’m absolutely dying of boredom and can no longer carry out the experiment. I’m pulling the plug.

Too many things are contained in plastic. Almost everything that can be bought is hermetically sealed in plastic bags, which ties food and plastic together for consumption. Electronics are all composed at least in small part of plastics. When so many recreational activities depend on electronics, the only way to stave off boredom is to use plastics. So few things that we use in our everyday lives are not made with plastics. Even the items that don’t use plastic were probably made with something containing plastics at some point in its manufacturing. Plastics are very pervasive and have come into contact with almost all goods. Living without interacting with plastics is not possible in our society unless you’re satisfied with walking around barefoot and eating only cheap doughnuts.

Ethan Rosen --- Section 304