Plastics Challenge--Candice Peak

It is 9am and I have already failed the Plastics Challenge. My alarm clock went off I had to use it in order to shut it off. Then I had to get ready for the day, my shower curtain is made out of plastic and I thought about not showering, but I decided that would not be a good idea. The simple things I use to get ready in the morning were all made out of plastic and I really could not avoid using them. Then I got dressed and noticed the buttons on my sweater were made of plastic. Fail again.

Now onto breakfast. I usually have some yogurt and granola in the morning and the yogurt comes in a plastic case. So I kind of cheated and took the yogurt out of the plastic and put it in a glass bowl instead. At least I didn’t eat the yogurt straight out of the yogurt cup like I usually do. That has to count for something.

I had a phone interview at 10am, and my phone contains plastic. So I weighed my options: don’t use the phone and be unemployed and live with my parents the rest of my life, or use the phone and attempt to be hired upon graduation. I think it’s safe to say you know what my choice was.

After the phone interview I went to a local coffee shop to work on assignments due within the upcoming weeks. I usually get myself around campus via bike, but since my bike has plastic parts, I decided to walk. I get to the coffee shop and guess what? THERE IS PLASTIC EVERWHERE. The table I sit at has plastic stools and a plastic table. There are some fabric couches to sit on but I came here to do homework, not take a nap. I usually get some tea in a to go cup which is made out of mostly paper, but has a plastic top, but today I asked for a glass mug. Finally something that I can successfully substitute.

I had to go pick up a few things at the grocery store and it was like plastic central. I’m pretty sure every single product within the grocery store contains some sort of plastic material. I got food for dinner and I tried to pick things up that did not have plastic casing.

It’s time to work out and as I’m getting ready, I am just thinking about all the plastics that I am about to come into contact with. Maybe this could be an excuse not to work out today? All workout machines have some sort of plastic parts and I also wanted to go swim at the SERF. In order to get into the SERF you need your student ID which is, surprise, surprise, PLASTIC. My goggles are made out of plastic too. I don’t know if you have ever tried swimming in a pool for an hour without goggles, but I don’t recommend it. After my workout I shower again but since there are no shower curtains I didn’t need to use plastic to shower! Except for my shampoo bottle…

I’m back home and I am watching a friend’s cat for the weekend (her name is Princess) and even Princess has failed! It’s time for her to eat and her food dish is made out of plastic. I don’t think my friend would be too happy if I starved his cat. I have to eat dinner too and there is no way I’m going to be able to avoid using plastic unless I also want to starve along with the cat. Maybe I’m being a bit dramatic but a girls got to eat.

Clearly, this plastic challenge for me was an epic fail. Unless I were to completely plan out my day literally step by step there is no way it could have gone any better. Even if it was totally planned out, there really is no way to avoid plastics. I decided to do it today (Friday) a day that I don’t have class, thinking that it might be easier, but I was totally wrong. Although I failed right from the start, today’s plastic challenge made me realize how much plastic is actually being used, just in my own life. Plastics are everywhere and are in almost everything. Unless we all run around naked, don’t use any sort of technology and communication, restrict our diets, and don’t use any personal hygiene products then we will all fail the plastics challenge.